Are immersion experiences “life-changing”? “Life changing” is the phrase often used about immersion trips. Thousands of Americans – some estimate 1.6 million college students annually – participate in immersion experiences and mission trips each year. But in fact for most college students, it’s unclear what changes they make in their lives, still less how their experience helps to improve the …
Fourteen Cabrini University faculty learned from a master teacher of social justice, who, by his own admission, said he could read only on a third-grade level. David had spent 25 years on the streets of Philadelphia, homeless. He is now a staff member at Project HOME, In all that time, David resisted social workers’ requests because he felt they were …
Course work, experiential learning, and a variety of curricular and co-curricular opportunities must be pursued in order to cultivate students’ dispositions and develop their desire to pursue a commitment to social justice.
The December 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference was a landmark because countries such as the US, China, and India finally joined most of the rest of the world in an action plan to reduce carbon emissions and global warming. In addition, the Green Climate Fund was established to assist developing countries to adapt to the effects of climate change and to mitigate …
Some of life’s turning points are predicable. If you are a senior in college, you know your life will be irrevocably changed on graduation day. Wedding days are planned a year in advance. Other turning points come unexpectedly: you fall in love, someone proposes to you. Many turning points occur early on in your life. Mine too. But I can …
We flew into Accra and spent the night. Then we flew up to Tamale and spent the night. Then we drove to Bugeya and spent the day and a night. Then we drove for three hours to Kpatia and spent the day and night. Then we drove back to Tamale where we spent three days at a conference at the …
Open defecation is a major challenge in poor countries, but Dr. Philip Darko, of Catholic Relief Services, glows with pride as he shows off a newly built latrine for school children in the far northern section of Ghana. He explains with glee how the vent pipe of the pit latrine was built so that flies that enter the latrine will be …
Just as mosquito nets or polio vaccines are essential for keeping families healthy, free menstrual pads should be viewed in the same way. Kelly Parsley, chair of public health sciences at Carroll College (Montana) and chair of the Lewis and Clark County Board of Health, came to that conclusion after visiting villages in the northern region of Ghana and speaking with …
It was as if they were carrying something sacred. The first woman brought forward a blue metal box, the size of a toolbox, but with three brass padlocks on three of the sides. She placed the box on a plain wood table. She was followed by three women. The first woman, tall and striking in a lime-and-black striped dress, approached the …
First of all, I wouldn’t presume to know the answer to that question, but here is a little of what we 11 university professors working with CRS have learned so far. We have met with and spoken to some remarkable young women who have impressed us all with their intelligence, poise, and forthrightness. Our group’s focus during this week with …
Yesterday and today we 11 university professors traveling with Catholic Relief Services in Ghana were warmly welcomed by village chieftains and Muslim imams. We entered the chieftain’s home on Monday and the imam prayed with and for us. In return the CRS representative presented our thanks. As we sat together both days, we, as a delegation representing CRS, and they, …
When you come right down to it, it’s for the children. We were able to sit with these young children here. We also spent time sitting and talking with teen boys and girls like these. When you do that, you can see the universal hope that parents have for their children. Today in the village of Bugya we saw the incredible …
The 11 university faculty from around the US all brought considerable background to water, sanitation, and health (WASH) issues. We come from around the US and were selected by CRS for an 11-day immersion into its approach to WASH in Ghana. We are professors and researchers in engineering, marketing, peace building, public health, environmental science, and more. But what we …
Our day started at 6 a.m. at a hotel in Baltimore. Our CRS organizer, Kim Lamberty, and her diligent assistant, Gladys Files, had found a more-than-comfortable hotel for our one night in the city before we – 11 professors from around the country – departed for Ghana to study water, sanitation, and hygiene. My hotel room, although standard in accommodations, …
Cabrini Alumni: Thurs., Jan. 21 6 PM – 8 PM Great American Pub, 123 Fayette St,, Conshohocken, PA 6-7 PM (drinks and food), 7-8ish PM (talk and discussion) Hosted by Cabrini CRS Ambassadors Alumni Topic: Refugees: a first-hand report from CRS. Alumni, please come to Global Justice on Tap – an informal, social gathering of Cabrini alumni interested in discussing …
The website “ConfrontGlobalPoverty.Org” interviewed me about teaching young adults to do advocacy. Here is a portion of the interview. Young adults today are growing up in a time of political polarization, cynicism about leaders and often a lack of inspiration. They are disengaged from the traditional processes of citizenship. While they are often generous and involved with service, the larger …
Refugees Seeking Safety simulation began as a topic of study within a course, grew into a Cabrini Day project, but then continued outside of class through the spring semester as new opportunities occurred. What engaged these students and how did their engagement grow? 1. Finding a topic. The topic itself, within the broader course theme, captured their imaginations. The ECG 100 …
What to put on your resume for your advocacy experience
Are there defining moments and choices that set the direction of our life or is it really an amassing of many small choices that makes us who we are?
Felicia Melvin was the first. She made a great video. Then the Wolf went into Philly on Wednesday. Cabrini Convergence went to Philly and DC on the weekend. Kelsey, Danielle, and Roxanne headed up to NYC. “ ON OUR WAY TO NEW YORK! Excited to see the MSCs and #OccupyWallStreet! @kelsey_kastrava @DanielleAlio Prayers much appreciated! #AMGSsCJ RoxanneDLT October 13, 2011 …
Henry Ford was not alone in the auto industry, but who thinks of Studebaker, Rudolf Diesel, or Ransom Olds?
With the provocative title, “Now Grandma Can Win a Trip Too,” Nick Kristof opened up his contest to people over 60. One young person and one old person can report with him in developing countries. Here’s my entry.
For two days in August a third of the Cabrini faculty travelled to Baltimore and Washington to deepen our knowledge of social justice and Catholic Social Teaching. Each of us wrote a reflection after the trip.
ECG 200 AND ECG 300 Guatemala: Faces of Justice (includes spring break short-term study abroad). On spring break in March 2016 you could go to beautiful San Lucas Mission to meet, work alongside, and learn from the Mayan people of Guatemala.