Sister Karen Bland is being featured as one of six Catholic women religious who are making a difference in the United States, as part of the national #SisterToAll campaign. As Executive Director of Grand Valley Catholic Outreach, she has served those suffering from homelessness for 17 years and is known in Colorado for her leadership, in both preventing and ending homelessness.
While other shelters give up on the chronically homeless, Sister Karen makes them a priority. Through her leadership, Grand Valley Catholic Outreach has constructed 62 apartments to house those who need extra support. Her organization also provides a soup kitchen, free clothing, food bank, teen programs, and more.
Sister Karen serves on a number of boards or councils, including the Governor's Pathway Advisory Committee. She was also selected to participate in the inaugural Sisters in Public Leadership project in Washington, DC earlier this year. At that time she said, "Although I have served in a leadership role for many years, effective leadership is a life-long journey in learning." We, along with so many, are grateful for her example of humble yet effective leadership. She is a role model for many of us!
As Catholics around the world celebrate the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta this month, the Hilton Foundation's Catholic Sisters Initiative launched a campaign to lift up Sisters who continue to minister to those on the margins of society. Sister Karen was chosen to be among the Sisters featured for a special aspect of ministry. To learn more about Sister Karen's work or to learn more about Sisters, in general, visit the #SisterToAll campaign website here.