A New Board Member Welcome to Michelle Burton-Brown

One of the four new Merton Center board members is Michelle Burton-Brown. Many of our readers may remember Michelle from her past leadership roles at the Merton Center, especially as the Development Director in 2009 when the Center honored Professor Angela Davis with its annual Thomas Merton Award.

Michelle recalls the roots of her peace and social justice values in her upbringing. Her mother Juanda Burton put into action the works of mercy fostered by her Catholic faith especially in her advocacy for people imprisoned.

When Michelle moved from the suburbs to the Garfield section of Pittsburgh in 2006, she became a volunteer at the Center. At that time, Tim Vining, was the director at Center. Energy was high and the Center attracted an array of passionate and talented activists. Initially, Michelle got involved in the fight against the employment of people who were poorly trained and overly zealous in law enforcement. She joined the Anti-War Committee protesting U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. This led to involvement in several TMC projects: Book’em, Pittsburgh Organizing Group, Save Our Transit, Fight for Lifers West, the Africa Project, and an Anti-Sweat Shop initiative. Michelle then began her first term on the TMC Board. There, she helped establish the development department and chaired the 2009 Merton Award Dinner Committee honoring Angela Davis.

Michelle is now returning to the Merton Center board. When asked why she is choosing this commitment at this time, Michelle says, “Despite amazing advances in technology and greater access to information, Americans continue to act in ways that are unjust and inhumane. For example, some American politicians are fighting to prevent Syrian refugees from seeking refuge in the U.S. Flint Michigan is a transparent example of environmental and economic injustice in an American city. Officials continue to blame unarmed civilians when they are over killed by law enforcement. Eric Garner was choked to death on a NYC street by police officers. Oscar Grant was killed on the West Coast by transit police. Jonny Gammage was murdered by the police right here in Pittsburgh. As long as injustice exists in the world, peace and justice loving people like myself will need organizations like the TMC.”

Michelle believes that the biggest challenges facing the Center at this time are attracting enough volunteers and members to assist in and support the Center’s efforts to advance civil and human rights locally and globally and eliminate social systems that dehumanize and oppress the people. Michelle shares, “I’m a college educated, African/Native woman who has first-hand experience with oppressive systems. I’ve lived in a white supremacist country my entire life. I’ve experienced racism, sexism and now, ageism. I am bringing my personal experiences and my graduate training in conflict resolution to the Board. I also bring intellect, energy and my love for the people.”

When asked what gives her hope, Michelle says that one of the most hopeful moments in her lifetime was at the time of the election of an African American to the presidency of the U.S. “If a nation founded upon the principles of white supremacy can do something as radical as elect a black president, then I believe anything is possible, even a peaceful and just world is imaginable.”

In addition to her board membership at the Merton Center, Michelle is currently involved with the Innocence Project to secure the release of her brother Shawn L. Burton from prison. She believes that Shawn was wrongly convicted for a crime he did not commit. She invites you to read about his 20-year fight for justice at: http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/shawn-burton-won-a-new-trial-for-a-murder-he-says-he-didnt-commit-and-has-already-served-20-years-for-so-how-come-the-das-office-wont-let/Content?oid=1861038

We welcome Michelle’s return to the TMC Board and her passion and commitment to the Center’s mission.

Joyce Rothermel is a member of the board of the Thomas Merton Center.

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