Alvernia University Students Learn What It Is like “To Be a Refugee”

For the second year, Alvernia University students and the school’s department of Campus Ministry facilitated an interactive event aimed at offering participants a glimpse of what refugees might experience. “To Be a Refugee” is a simulation in which participants receive an identity card that lists the name, country of origin and background of a typical refugee. The students assume this role for the experience and move around the quad to learn about common problems refugees face when emigrating. Student participants were told disease, inadequate shelter, lack of nutrition and insufficient education for school-age children often riddle refugee camps. To raise awareness about these experiences, the facilitators offered interactive activities. In one of these activities, participants were encouraged to lie down on a tarp the same size as the tents many refugee families might occupy while in resettlement camps. The tarp, 5 feet wide and 7 feet long, could barely fit three people and when told that families with multiple children will often have to inhabit a tent this same size for months at a time- many students were struck.

“To Be a Refugee” was developed by an Alvernia alumna, and hosted for the first time, last year. One difference in this year’s program was that it incorporated a prayer vigil for all those affected by the recent violence at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Those gathered prayed for all who face religious violence and discrimination. This impactful event proved successful again and prompted students to think critically about what they can do to support refugees in their struggles.

To read more about “To Be a Refugee” click here. Also, please visit the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ office of Migration and Refugee Services to access additional information about the issues surrounding migration and resettlement.

 

Benedictine College Reminds Students “Slavery Still Exists;” Educates on Human Trafficking Issue

In a partnership with the Kansas Association for Family & Community Education (FCE), Benedictine College brought a diverse panel of attorneys, experts, and those who have personally experienced sex trafficking to campus on October 10 to educate the campus community on the issues surrounding human trafficking. The title of the event was “Human Trafficking: Slavery Still Exists” and the evening included a discussion on the history of human trafficking as well as education on how it is present in the local area. Located in Atchison, KS Benedictine College is very close to the large metropolitan area of Kansas City, which like many other urban areas has been identified as a major center of trafficking.

The panel aimed to raise awareness of the overall issue as well as education on the warning signs of victimization and possible ways to help combat human trafficking. This panel offered participants a way to learn more about a crisis that impacts people globally as well as in their own cities. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offers additional resources for learning more about this issue through their Anti-Trafficking Program.  Benedictine’s panel is a great step in helping people become informed, which the USCCB identifies as an important way to help fight human trafficking.

Another way to join the fight is by becoming an ethical consumer. To find out how your actions contribute to or reduce the demand for human trafficking, visit www.slaveryfootprint.org and www.knowthechain.org. To continue learning about human trafficking and how the Church is called to respond visit the USCCB Anti-Trafficking Program website, here.

University of Dallas’ Annual Charity Week Raises Funds and Fun

On October 15, the University of Dallas kicked off its annual tradition- Charity Week. The week long community event is a series of different programs aimed at raising funds for designated charities chosen by the student organizers. This year, proceeds from the week will be going toward two different Texas charities- Guide Dogs of Texas which helps provide the visually impaired with guide dogs at almost no financial cost, and Rays of Light which is a provider of respite care to Dallas families with children who have special needs. “These charities align well with our UD mission to respect all life because they minister to the disenfranchised and their caregivers in essential, practical ways.” said Charity Week committee co-chairs Lim and Christensen in an email earlier this week to the UD community.

The events throughout the week offer students creative ways to give back to their Dallas community. The week will include Glow-In-the-Dark Capture the flag, a “UD’s Got Talent,” a karaoke night, and a 5K race- just to name a few! To participate in each event, students must contribute a small financial donation. This event is a great example of Catholic college students living out the Call to Family, Community, and Participation. Catholic Social Teaching urges all to participate actively in their community and society and to strive toward the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. The University of Dallas’ Charity Week not only helps students care for those in their greater community of Dallas, by offering ways to support these charities, but it also provides a great opportunity for students to grow in their own understanding of community as they participate and have fun together.

Manhattan College to Host Conference on Refugee and Migrant Education- REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

On November 15-17 the Peace Studies Program at Manhattan College will be co-hosting an on-campus conference that will center on the “responsibility and roles of universities and other institutions in light of the Global Compact on Refugees emerging from the United Nations.” The network Refugees and Migrant Education (MRE) hosted the first conference in Rome last year. The 2017 program ended with a personal audience with Pope Francis, who recognizes the important role of universities in studying the underlying causes of migration as well as “educating consciences” on how to respond to the issues surrounding migration.

The programming will include leading experts from around the world who will present papers, participate in panel discussions or lead workshop sessions. Keynote speakers from Iraq, the United States, Lebanon, the Holy See and other parts of the world will reflect with participants on how to unite universities and NGOs in providing education and resources to, and about, migrants and refugees.

Along with the Manhattan’s Peace Studies Program, which is one of the oldest of its kind in the United States, the event is being co-sponsored by the Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Center and the Catholic Relief Services Faculty Taskforce.

Register here!

For more information, contact Kevin Ahern, Ph.D., assistant professor of religious studies, at kevin.ahern@manhattan.edu or (718) 862-3865.

Carroll College hosts “Sun Run” in conjunction with new solar energy project

Carroll College hosted its second “Sun Run” on October 6^th in an effort to increase the size of a planned solar array that will soon be installed on the roof of the Campus Center. The 38 kilowatt solar array installation is made possible through a grant received from NorthWestern Energy. This grant offers its recipients a $48,000 incentive to bolster their renewable energy sources. The solar panels that will be installed are approximately equal to eight residential solar arrays and will supposedly generate $6,000 worth of electricity per year. In recent years, many Catholic colleges and universities have taken up the role as “stewards of God’s creation” with a renewed vigor, especially in the wake of the publishing of the encyclical “Laudato Si.” The encyclical offers insight pertaining to caring “for our common home.” Eric Hall, Associate Professor of Theology, and Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen Professor of Peace and Justice at Carroll College says of the solar initiative that “Such a project could create a strong witness to a Catholic vision of higher education and the value it places on the natural world.”

The new on-campus solar array will be the largest of its kind in the state of Montana, but the Carroll College community hopes to make their impact even bigger, by attempting to increase funds for the project. The “Sun Run” 5k race was hosted for a second year to raise money for the solar project with the goal of hopefully increasing the size of the solar array to 50 kilowatts. The race brought in over 300 participants from the Carroll College community as well as members of the greater Helena community. To learn more about the solar project at Carroll College, or to consider making a donation to boost their efforts visit https://www.carroll.edu/solar.

Santa Clara University partners with community mothers to bring hope to neighborhood

In 2015, Santa Clara University partnered with a group of San Jose immigrant mothers and formed The Madres Emprendedoras: Mosaicos de la Communidad- Spanish for Entrepreneurial Mothers: Mosaics of the Community. On September 21, 2018 a mural symbolizing two years of tireless work was unveiled at Washington Elementary School. The “Madres” initiative aimed at solving, what the community identified as their three largest social issues- public safety, housing insecurity, and special needs education. The program was supported by SCU sociology professor Laura Nichols and ethnic studies assistant professor Jesica Fernandez, who headed a group of students in researching and investigating solutions to the problems identified by the mothers.

One section of the mural that depicts the mothers’ “10 themes of hope for the future.”

Through this program the mothers and students and faculty at SCU were able to work together to compile useful resources for tackling issues in the community. SCU students also helped connect members of the community to school administrators and officials who could provide additional support in responding to the needs of the community. One recent graduate from the Jesuit university, Alma Orozco, who worked on the “Madres” initiative, stated that the program validated the importance of empowering community members to be “the leaders of their own change.” The recently unveiled mural is filled with vibrant colors and imagery that depicts the mothers’ vision of hope for the future.

You can read more about Santa Clara University’s work in the San Jose community here.

ACCU Now Accepting 2018 CRS Global Solidarity Grant Applications

The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities welcomes applications for the 2018 CRS Global Solidarity Grants which awards up to $3,000 to ACCU member institutions to facilitate creative projects that advance Catholic mission through global solidarity. 2017 grants were awarded to Creighton University to raise awareness on the global refugee crisis and to the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University and John Carroll University for their work on preventing and combating human trafficking.

Deadline for grant applications is November 2, 2018 and grant recipients will be informed by mid-December.  Please visit the ACCU website for additional details and the grant application process.  For questions please contact njalandoni@accunet.org.

 

The Catholic University of America Announces New Master’s in Human Rights

Joining a limited number of schools to offer a Master of Arts in Human Rights, The Catholic University of America is the only one to have bolstered such a program with the teachings of the Catholic faith. The interdisciplinary degree will fall under the School of Arts and Sciences, but incorporate coursework from the schools of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies, Law and Canon Law as well. The program is being offered through Catholic’s Institute for Human Ecology, an academic institute aimed at “increasing scientific understanding of the economic, cultural, and social conditions vital for human flourishing.” To inaugurate the new program, expert in human rights, Robert George has been invited to lecture on the subject. This degree program will offer a strong “Catholic voice” in the field of human rights, says William Saunders, director of the new master’s program. The advent of such a program is timely, as 2018 marks the 70^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

To learn more about the new Master of Arts in Human Rights program, click here. To inquire about admission to the program contact Sykeem Lewis, Graduate Admissions Coordinator for the School of Arts and Sciences at lewissy@cua.edu or by phone at 202-319-5253.

Loras College Wraps Up “Peace and Justice Week”

Continuing a 15 year tradition, Loras College hosted it’s annual “Peace and Justice Week” from September 21-28. This week long event offered a variety of programs aimed at helping faculty, staff, students, and visitors start to think of peacemaking in a comprehensive way and recognize that everyone can play a role in creating peace and justice on individual and communal levels. The week kicked-off with a keynote address from Paul Engler, author of “Non-Violent Alternatives to War.” From Iowa himself, Paul inspired the Loras College and Dubuque communities and helped participants envision a world free from violence. Throughout the week a historic poster exhibit was displayed, commemorating the 70^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Other events included a group hike that aimed to raise money for refugees, and a workshop set on instructing how to communicate nonviolently based on Dr. Martin Luther King’s six principles of nonviolence.

One session of “Peace and Justice Week” was concentrated on the man who inspired the creation of the Father Ray Peace and Justice Center at Loras. The center hosts weekly meetings to discuss and raise awareness about local and global social justice issues. Fr. Ray Herman, was a priest in the Archdiocese of Dubuque who engaged in missionary work in Bolivia for thirteen years before being murdered in 1975. Students gathered to watch a short documentary of his life followed by the first person narrative of Fr. William Joensen, Dean of Spiritual Life, in which he recounted his own recent mission to Bolivia.

One Loras College student, Jenna Roskoph, said of the program- “The entire week helped me grow in my understanding of what it means to be an active peacemaker. I especially loved learning more about Fr. Ray Herman and his life of radical simplicity and dedication to the poor and vulnerable.”

To learn more about more about Peace and Justice at Loras click here.

University of St. Thomas hosts forum on Immigration

On September 25^th, University of St. Thomas hosted a public forum on immigration titled “The Gospel Transcending Borders.” The event, which was cosponsored by Catholic Charities and the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops, shed light on the current issues facing migrants. The Houston university hoped to offer a better understanding of “how to answer the Gospel call to welcome the stranger” in such a broken immigration system, a system which Cardinal Daniel Dinardo sought to understand better when he recently visited the border himself. The forum featured a diverse panel of speakers, including a representative from Catholic Charities, who shared her experience as an attorney for a center that provides legal assistance to immigrants. Other speakers included a woman who immigrated herself and now advocates for those with undocumented status. There was also a former refugee on the panel, who shared her insight from serving in both the Houston community as well as the community of Sierra Leone.

To learn more about this forum and other similar events happening at University of St. Thomas, click here.