Roger Yockey, SFO

email Roger

What is your connection to the Franciscan Family?
Secular Franciscan- professed, with my wife, Marilyn, in 2005
Served on the NAFRA Work Commission
JPIC Committee member
Regional vice minister and former councilor, Troubadours of Peace Region
Councilor, Poverello Fraternity, Kirkland, Washington

How have you been involved in justice, peace, and care for creation, and for how long?
Worked for decades in the Labor Movement as organizer, editor, staff director, political and community action director. Author of two books, one about an African American leader in the civil rights and Black Lay Catholic movements, and the most recent about a 1989 struggle of union grocery store workers against corporate greed.

Volunteer service work with my wife in United States, Portugal, and Latin America. Co-host of a monthly radio interview program about workers, unions, and progressive issues.

Why did you join FAN?
I advocated for working men and women, economic and social justice, and peace for many years in state legislatures, and in Congress. I learned of the value, importance of many voices being heard on issues. I also learned that facts. reason, discussion , debate, listening, and respect are important elements in reaching agreement for the common good. The Franciscan Action Network brings those elements to the national and state political arenas as a Franciscan voice. FAN is a means, a vehicle for going from Gospel to Life.

What are you working for in your area?
Comprehensive, meaningful immigration reform, especially the breaking up of families through arrests, detention, and deportation; social and health services for the poor, and halting attacks on public employees and their unions. Working, with my wife, and others as volunteer at a soup kitchen in Seattle.