In October, 2018, Simone Campbell, SSS, served as the Keynote Speaker for the Leviticus Fund’s 35th Anniversary celebration. In July of 2022, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Four years ago, she shared inspirational stories gathered from Nuns on the Bus, the cross-country publicity trips she organized to highlight policy issues related to health care, poverty, hunger and shelter.
In her remarks, she encouraged us to be more attentive to the needs that we see all around us, yet to remember that we are not alone in the struggle for economic justice. Together we are part of a much larger community-based force for positive change.
The medal is the United States’ highest civilian honor, “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors,” according to the press release from the White House.
“I am deeply honored by this unexpected recognition, which highlights the important work of lifting up the experiences of ordinary people in our nation in order to make policy that works for all,” she wrote Friday in The Washington Post. She is grateful to President Biden “for this honor and trust that our work for economic justice and political healing might receive a renewed focus in these challenging times.”
We hope this meaningful recognition will inspire even more people to join in the important work of creating hope, change and community. Congratulations, Sister Simone!
