IVC member Kelly Maltagliati spent a career solving highly complex criminal cases as a special agent with the U.S. government. In retirement she’s taken on a new role: helping to manage the office at IVC partner agency Africa Faith & Justice Network (AFJN). She’s glad to be part of the team!
Founded in 1983, AFJN advocates for empowering Africans to be agents of their own destiny and to thrive in a just and equitable society. Working with Catholic missionary congregations and Africa-focused coalitions, they lead efforts to improve U.S. economic and political policies to benefit Africa’s poor majority. The network also seeks ways to end armed conflict, establish equitable trade and investment with Africa and promote sustainable development.
Now in her second year at AFJN, Kelly supports the office by handling bookkeeping, data entry and event planning duties one day each week. Taking part in staff meetings helps her become familiar with grants under development and their impact on her assignments. “It’s like a family,” she says in describing AFJN’s full-time team of four. “The office reflects what their real mission is, focusing on the dignity of the person.”
“We are very blessed to have Kelly working with us again this year,” says AFJN Executive Director Steven Rogers, Ph.D. “She has been very helpful in the sense that she is versatile, quick to learn and does more than just one task.” IVC has partnered with AFJN for many years, with members like Kelly providing key assistance. “We have benefitted a lot from IVC because we are a small organization and don’t have resources. We have only a small budget and can’t afford to hire a full-time person for the work Kelly is doing.”
Kelly first learned about IVC through a parish bulletin announcement. A placement at AFJN felt right, especially as she was connecting more with her parish’s growing African community. She also brought with her a background as a member of the church’s finance committee and understands how budgeting for grants works from her experience as an investigator.
In addition to opportunities for service, IVC’s spiritual component really caught her attention. “I liked the aspect of having a spiritual reflector, taking part in retreats, and meeting with like-minded Catholics to help me grow on my journey,” she says.
AFJN staff frequently travel to African nations where they work together with their community of believers for Africa to empower those in need at the grassroots level. The Women Empowerment Project educates local people about addressing social injustices, including land grabbing, domestic and gender based violence, child labor, human trafficking and domestic servitude. Other areas of focus include fighting corruption and toxic dumping and improving the continent’s food system.
With the support of IVC, AFJN can achieve even more of its goals. “It speaks to our faith because volunteers like Kelly are grounded in our mission,” says Dr. Rogers. “She sees what our programs do and is a part of our office.” For Kelly, being at AFJN is more than volunteer work – it’s transformative. “Being here in the office and seeing staff helping others in Africa is very moving. It takes into your heart change that needs to be made. Here, they listen to those in need and address the desperation in their lives and how to get out of that.”
Learn more about ways to support AFJN here.