In Episode 4 Joanna and Jonny interview ​​Iris de León-Hartshorn about her life, enduring commitment to justice, and the lawsuit for which she is the spokesperson: Mennonite Church USA vs. the United States Department of Homeland Security. She shares the challenges she faced as a young Latina girl growing up in a white supremacist reality and the really interesting, winding path she took to find her place amongst Mennonites and as a Latina Mennonite leader.

Iris serves as associate executive director of Operations and director of Human Resources for Mennonite Church USA (MC USA). During her career, de León-Hartshorn also served as director of intercultural ministries for MC USA, conference minister for MC USA’s Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference, director of Peace and Justice Ministries for Mennonite Central Committee where she supervised several programs including Damascus Road. She served on the executive committee of Mennonite World Conference. de León-Hartshorn was a panelist in the World Council of Churches in Durbin, South Africa, for the UN World Conference Against Racism 2001. In 2001 she co-authored a book with Regina Shands Stoltzfus and Tobin Miller Shearer entitled, Set Free – A journey toward Solidarity Against Racism. de León-Hartshorn is a member of Portland Mennonite Church, Portland, Oregon, She is married to Leo Hartshorn for 51 years and they have three grown children and two grandsons.

Also, on our episode, we share a poem from a listener and reflect on how feelings of despair can paralyze us from action. Joanna’s front light is on Academy Award-winning documentary “No Other Land,” and Jonny’s is on the hilarious Netflix comedy, “Mo.” Two pieces of Palestinian-made media.

To sign Mennonite Action’s pledge, donate, or sign up for our Email list visit www.mennoniteaction.org.

To learn more about MC USA’s lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/mc-usa-joins-more-than-two-dozen-christian-and-jewish-denominations-and-associations-sue-to-protect-religious-freedoms/

“No Other Land” documentary: https://releasing.dogwoof.com/no-other-land
“Mo,” the Netflix series: https://www.netflix.com/title/81134264