H.O.P.E. Virtual Service Immersions make a difference over Winter Break

On Sunday, November 22 in the Chapel of Mary, Campus Ministry’s 2021 H.O.P.E. participants were commissioned. H.O.P.E stands for Honoring our neighbor, Organizing for justice, Practicing peace, Encountering God. Below is more information about each virtual service immersion:

H.O.P.E. Racial Justice

A group of 11 will engage with learning about Kingian nonviolence, the history of the Equal Justice Initiative and Mass incarceration in the United States. While grappling with the issue of white supremacy in the United States, our team will delve into movement towards creating a more just and equitable society both on campus and in their local communities.

H.O.P.E. Rural Justice

A group of 8 will work with both the Sunset Gap Community Center out of Tennessee and the Christian Appalachian Project out of Kentucky to explore rural poverty and rural justice through the lens of the Appalachian culture. The delegation will learn about the impact of the pandemic on Appalachian community and seek to understand how justice is possible in this part of the United States.

H.O.P.E. Disability Rights

A group of 9 will serve with the L’Arche Boston North Community situated in Haverhill, MA. They will encounter social justice issues pertaining to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They will experience accompaniment and solidarity while they engage with the community of both core members and full-time volunteers and staff through a fun and prayerful experience virtually.

H.O.P.E. Indigenous Rights

A group of 9 will be serve and learn from the Community Learning Network, an organization which builds stronger communities in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They will engage with indigenous peoples virtually, learn how the pandemic has shaped their lives this year and gain an understanding of what it means to truly be American.

H.O.P.E. Housing Rights

A group of 10 will learn about hunger and homeless in the city of Phoenix where they will have the opportunity to experience the mission of the Andre House of Hospitality. This organization, which provides a wide variety of services to the population of Phoenix experiencing homelessness, was established through the Congregation of Holy Cross and grew out of the Catholic Worker Movement. During their time with Andre House, they will learn about the root causes of homeless and what they can do to work towards access to affordable housing and food security.

H.O.P.E. Life of Freedom

A group of 10 will embark on an experience working with Sharing One Love and the Life of Freedom Center to explore issues around sex trafficking in both Miami, Florida and their local communities. The delegation will come to learn about how to best advocate and make change in this system of human slavery present throughout the country.

H.O.P.E. Immigrant Rights

A group of 10 will explore the topics of immigration, migration and farmworker rights during their immersion with the Hope CommUnity Center out of Apopka, Florida. Engaging directly with families, learning about advocacy and immigrant rights issues will allow this delegation to ask some important questions about what we are called to do and be as people of faith who fight for the rights of farmworkers and those who are undocumented.

H.O.P.E. Community Development & Women’s Empowerment

A group of 9 will work with International Partners in Mission to learn about the history of the Dominican Republic and the community of El Cercado on the northern border of the country. Community members will explain what integrated community development looks like through learning about agriculture, health care, spiritual development, education and microfinance all with the centering of women as the backbone of this incredible community.