Agnes S. Thomas, PhD
Research Associate, Centre for Learning, Social Economy and Work,
OISE, University of Toronto.

Did you feel culturally uprooted when you immigrated to Canada? Do you feel rooted now? How do you find your identity? What makes some people fail in the immigrant journey and others sail through?
Yes, there was a constant comparison of what was lost and gained with the move in the early years. However, the later years showed the complexities of such an experience and how it is not black and white. There were things I missed so dearly about being in India, but I was embracing so much here. Living and assessing everything from deeply rooted beliefs and systems through a cultural, communal, and religious framework made it more difficult. On the other hand, having a sense of independence and safety to make decisions and to live freely as I am was more manageable here. Over the years, the feeling of up-rootedness disappeared; in that space began a growing sense of an intercultural identity which opened up learning and un-learning in me. For example, my appreciation for silence/solitude changed significantly before and after.
There is no secret formula to successfully settle here or anywhere. Uprooting is hard even if it were one’s own personal choice to move. That said, our willingness to learn, adapt, and change makes it easier to settle. People who choose to remain the exact way they were before the move will find it difficult to settle and integrate. Like a plant, when we are being replanted into new soil, it takes time to grow roots; we have to be patient until we adjust to the new ‘earth.’ Even if everything else is the same, we have to learn and allow our roots to go deep in the new country. In short, our openness, flexibility, resilience, and hard work often lead to a successful immigrant experience.

As a leader, I ask myself if I allow others to grow and live their best lives when working with me? Are we making a difference to the people we are called to serve?

Why is a positive approach to life necessary? What is the basis?
Our attitude can make or break our life experiences. An invaluable lesson I learned over the years working with diverse groups is that it is critical to be aware that our attitude does not just impact us alone. It can negatively or positively impact other people’s lives. I have also learned that people who carried a positive attitude towards life were easy to be around and inspired others to be positive.
So far, I have yet to meet anyone who never cried in their life, nor anyone who has only experienced joy in life. Everyone had their share of joys and sorrows, pain and growth. A distinguishing factor that kept some people apart was their attitude towards life when things got tough. Thus, I believe that having a positive attitude can make or break people. My definition of a positive attitude is to have hope, trust, and faith that there is more to life than what we can see and measure, and it will keep us going. When situations and people are approached with hope and trust, miracles are possible, forgiveness is doable, renewal is closer, and transformation is a legitimate experience.
The basis of having a positive outlook in life comes from the simple faith that we are mere humans, and everything is possible and doable when love is at its core.

You have a passion for advocating for the rights of marginalized groups; what causes marginalization, and what makes refugees a marginalized group? What makes you passionate about working with the marginalized and poor?
Marginalization is often not the outcome of one event leading the other or born out of a single incident or individual experience. It is multifaceted and complex. It includes systems and practices and has historical roots. It is a culmination of several factors working together or working against a person, group, or community to be partially or fully excluded from the everyday life of a society. Depending on the context, any individual can experience marginalization. The factors that often influence the experience of marginalization are class status, gender, race, disability, religious beliefs, etc. Often you will see it is interconnected and keeps the individual/group at the margins with little or no power to influence or change their status without intervention. Poverty and marginalization often go hand in hand. The struggles of our tribal communities and people with disabilities are examples of this in our midst. A simple observation of our leadership, policymakers, and people in power in our local and provincial/state/ Federal governments and other depts can quickly tell us how we deal with the issue of equity and equality and who is representing whom?
There is no one particular reason but several factors that made me passionate about working with the poor and marginalized. Not as a cliché’ but Jesus greatly influences my commitment to social justice. A careful examination of Jesus’s life and teaching reveals how he exemplified the call to ‘radical love.’ His ‘radical love’ often meant standing up for justice and being among the poor and marginalized. The story of the women caught in adultery and Jesus’s response is an excellent example of this (John 8 remains one of my favorite verses for reflection). As a young girl, I spent a lot of time reading, and I read everything that came my way; the word and stories strongly influenced my understanding of the world and how societies worked. A final factor was, as a curious youngster, I watched the comings and going of our small-town life and the people in it, their various status, options, and choices. All these led me to have a deep desire for a just society and the world, and I wanted to do my part the best I could. My chosen field of study and work deepened my understanding and conviction that I should make social change a reality to address the marginalization of all people.
Refugees are one of the most marginalized and vulnerable in our midst. According to UNHCR, there are 84 million forcibly displaced people in the world in 2021, and out of these, 35 million are children. When people are displaced and uprooted by force or by circumstances such as war or other natural calamities, they often run to safety and leave everything they know and have behind. The outcome is often dire with statelessness/homelessness, uprooted, and displaced. The situations and dangers refugees find themselves in make them one of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups. They carry many layers of trauma, and they need proper support and care to settle well. I also find our communities need to be informed of this as many are unaware and strongly judge refugee communities.

You were with Jesus Youth and L’arche; what did you learn for life with your experience with the two associations? The two remind you of the story of the Ark and the story of Jesus; how do the two play in your life?
While Jesus Youth shaped my journey as a young Christian woman, the community of L’arche made me aware of my responsibility as a social being and as an individual part of a wider community. It will be hard to provide a complete picture here but in essence, my experience taught me much about human dignity, respect, the sacredness of human relationships, and the power of love and forgiveness in transforming individuals, families, communities, and societies. My life with people with intellectual and other disabilities taught me that every person matters and has something tangible to contribute to society. I went there to serve/help others but instead learned it was I being served, supported, and transformed in the community. Community life was not easy by any means; some days were unbearable. Yet, through it all, I was blessed to discover relationships as the key to community life and that there is no straight path to it. You earn a relationship in the community as you journey with each person, sometimes in their moments of pain and agony, amidst community prayer, in the garden planting. Being in ‘community’ with the other also means that you have to choose to do it every day, invest time and energy, and opt to love again and again. It is a call to constant learning, letting go, seeking, and forgiving.

You are the leader of an organization, and addressing social issues is a big part of it; how do you live your faith and values in your leadership role?
My leadership style is strongly influenced by my faith and values. As I mentioned earlier, I have a great example in Jesus about social justice and leadership. Two fundamental aspects of that are living and leading by example, not by words alone; secondly, love your neighbour as yourself. My time at L’arche and being part of Jesus Youth solidified this for me in the early years of work and affirmed that it is possible to live and lead this way. I believe each individual, regardless of their title, is a leader in their area/scope of work, and it is defined by how they do their job. For example, you can be a janitor and be the best janitor out there and influence others by your work and attitude to life. As a leader, I ask myself if I allow others to grow and live their best lives when working with me? Are we making a difference to the people we are called to serve? What is the impact of our time together? These questions help me ground myself and focus on what is critical and needed.
The core values that I hold dear to my heart as a leader are the following:
Integrity/authenticity- be true to me and others in everything I do.
Gratitude- each day is a gift, and live the moment with gratitude for our life.
Courage- be courageous in facing challenges and make a choice to move forward even when the road ahead is not clear or easy;
Consistency- show consistency in words and action
Commitment: if you are to lead and make a difference, you need to be committed to your vision. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Col 3: 23).
Creativity: we need it to stay renewed and look at life with enthusiasm and a fresh perspective. Sometimes it is not lack of resources that stop us from doing but our lack of creativity.
Hope- hope keeps me going. it allows me to dream even when things are rocky; there is always a better tomorrow. Hope allows me to see that life is bigger than any problem.

You seem to like reading and walking; how do they help you as a person and as a woman of faith?
Reading allows me to widen my perspective, change my biases, challenge me to think beyond my understanding. As a lifelong learner with a limited understanding of the world, I find reading a solace and solution to address my ignorance and remedy related issues. Walking is a way to connect with the earth and reflect on stuff I read and conversations I have with people. As a woman of faith, this daily ritual allows me to go deeper into my soul and being. It allows me to reflect on my own humanity with its limitations and gifts and be compassionate to myself; this also helps me practice ‘Love your neighbour as you love thyself’ in a small way. I am also a firm believer that if you are not well, you cannot take care of the other, so reading, walking, and a few other hobbies I passionately do make me feel grounded and focused. It allows me to be at rest with my creator.

You lived in India, and now you are in Canada; how do these cultures view human life? What did you learn from Canada and India as regards human life?
The difference in how human life is treated or seen from one place to another is so much based on the socio-economic and cultural/religious influences that shape the norms and values of a society, which shape individual and group values and practices. From a socio-economic value perspective, human life is more protected and valued by a more economically viable and supported system. However, that does not mean individuals are happier or satisfied in life. Thus, the question or analysis should be based on how culture and society treat their most vulnerable, such as the elderly and children, people with disabilities, etc.
Human rights are taken more seriously, and application of it is more evident through various policies and initiatives in Canada than in India. Another difference will be that people are aware of their rights here, which allows them to access services and support.
Be it in India or Canada, I believe dignity and respect should be an expectation and an ingrained value in all human interactions regardless of one’s class, religion, gender, sexuality, etc. A dignified and respected human has a place in their community; they are visible, their voice matters, and they matter.

In one of your talks, you discussed “the interior castle of St. Theresa of Avila” St. Augustin said, “do not go out, return to thyself. Truth dwells in you”. What is in the interior, and why is it important?
I believe the only way individuals can transform themselves and others in the process is through action and reflection. As you know, it is not a new concept – St. Paul and many Saints talk about them. Almost all spiritual traditions emphasize the need for silence, meditation, and prayer. In the process of silence, we learn to listen and observe the inner happening of ourselves and evaluate our thoughts and actions, which often leads to meaningful engagement with others in life.
santhoshthomas@utoronto.ca