Ignatian Solidarity Network
This past month, numerous high schools, colleges, and universities, including Creighton, participated in IFAM. IFAM is a way for groups all across the country to participate in advocacy actions in solidarity with one another. To learn more about IFAM and how you can participate next year, click here!
On Friday, February 22, Representative Lee Terry met with students and faculty in the CCSJ to discuss environmental issues. Those present at the meeting shared their belief that we must show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation (an idea stemming from Catholic Social Teaching).Care of the Earth is a requirement of our Catholic faith, and therefore we must take immediate action against human-caused climate change.
A major issue in Nebraska is the proposed building of the Keystone XL Pipeline. We told Representative Lee Terry that while building the pipeline, would create temporary jobs, it would also speed up the process of climate change by burning tar sands oil and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Senator Terry replied that he believes it would be more ecologically responsible to have the US receive the tar sands oil than having it go to Canada. One reason he gave in support of this was that in the US, the refining process is much cleaner.
This meeting was a great chance to open up dialogue with our representative. Although we may disagree on the issue of the Keystone Pipeline, it was insightful to hear his reasons for supporting it. The meeting was a chance to exchange ideas about the importance of environmentalism, for the future of the United States and for our world. An important takeaway is, as said by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops, “effective measures to address climate change are urgent and necessary.”
Leah Shaffer
Arts and Sciences
Class 2015
The CCSJ blogs are meant to be a place for Creighton students, faculty, staff, alumni/ae, and friends to reflect on their experiences with programs sponsored by the office or related to its mission. The views expressed in these reflections, and all other blogs found on or linked to from this website, are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily those of Creighton University, the Creighton Center for Service and Justice (CCSJ), or any of the University’s affiliates. The University and the CCSJ are not responsible for the actions, content, accuracy, or opinions expressed in these blogs.
If you are interested in getting involved in learning and participating more in advocacy, join one of our office teams!
1. Ecology and Management of Natural and Mineral Resources (Sustainability): Meets every Sunday at 1pm in the CCSJ. For more information email haleywarren@creighton.edu or ryanfreeman@creighton.edu
2. Peace, Non-violence, and Human Rights: Meets every other Thursday (Next meeting is 2/7/13 at 5pm in the CCSJ). For more information email mirandahinnenkamp@creighton.edu or jacquelinegreene@creighton.edu.
3. Economic Justice/Access to Education: Meets every other Thursday at 8:15 in McGloin. Fore more information email elizabethsamson@creighton.edu or leahschaffer@creighton.edu.
4. Migration: Meeting time TBA. For more information email amalbarre@creighton.edu or michellevillegas@creighton.edu
By Anna Ferguson
Picture gallery from the weekend can be found at the end of the article
Student coordinators, volunteers, and leaders kicked off a weekend of Advocacy Training, presented by Catholic Relief Services, in the Creighton Center for Service and Justice (CCSJ) in typical CCSJ fashion: with a meal.
Beginning with dinner on Friday, August 24th and lasting throughout Saturday the 25th, students learned how to be effective social justice advocates on campus and beyond.
The training weekend provided Student Coordinators and volunteers who work in the CCSJ—as well as student leaders from different groups on campus—with the chance to learn and practice communication, research, and lobbying skills that are key to advocacy.
In addition, students participated in simulations and multiple small group discussions that looked at the effects of social injustice in society and how to respond to them on the local and national levels.
The training focused primarily on the CCSJ’s justice component, reiterating the importance of not just serving those who suffer from injustices, but going a step further and working to end those injustices through advocacy.
Advocacy, the students learned, ranges from forming groups on campus that work in response to various social justice issues to meeting with local community leaders to visiting with representatives in Washington D.C.
The CCSJ focuses on a few specific justice and advocacy priorities, such as migration, peace, economic justice, and sustainability. These justice priorities, coupled with the seven pillars that the office emphasizes particularly through its service trips and weekly service sites, (service, justice, sustainability, community, reflection, solidarity, and simplicity) provide the groundwork for the Student coordinators and an example for other student leaders.
By learning more social injustices and attending training sessions and workshops such as the one put by CRS, the CCSJ gives students practical, powerful ways to make a difference on campus and in the community.
By Becca Harvey, ’11
I set out to write this to let you know about my recent advocacy adventures. (I thought you would be pleased!)
One of my guests here at Casa Vides in El Paso, TX has recently won political asylum, but immigration didn’t give her an I-94 (a type of visa that is used as an ID for legal immigrants). It’s caused a ton of problems for her getting public benefits, but also just trying to function without a legal ID. She’s not the first asylee we have seen come through without this paperwork. So, I set up an appointment with Congressman Reyes’ office.
Because of my work on advocacy team and my experiences at Creighton, I felt very comfortable doing this, wasn’t nervous at all for the appointment, and was able to prep the guest on what to expect. I gathered resources, wrote up a summary letter to leave with the aid, and went to the meeting.
The meeting was this afternoon. I think it went really well, and I hope the aid/congressman can help this specific guest attain an I-94, but also address the bigger systemic issue. It was refreshing for me to meet with a democratic representative, as she was sympathetic rather than antagonistic.
Being part of advocacy team prepared me for this experience, and I wanted to thank you!
The CCSJ blogs are meant to be a place for Creighton students, faculty, staff, alumni/ae, and friends to reflect on their experiences with programs sponsored by the office or related to its mission. The views expressed in these reflections, and all other blogs found on or linked to from this website, are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily those of Creighton University, the Creighton Center for Service and Justice (CCSJ), or any of the University’s affiliates. The University and the CCSJ are not responsible for the actions, content, accuracy, or opinions expressed in these blogs.
By Michael Rossmann, SJ
Four Creighton students and I participated in a phone bank held at the Creighton Center for Service and Justice calling registered voters in Nebraska to urge their Senators to vote “yes” on LB 599 – a bill to restore prenatal care for low-income children.
Nebraska previously insured prenatal care for all low-income children for decades, but that policy changed in 2010 when almost 1,600 low-income women lost access to prenatal care coverage.
Last week, the Nebraska Legislature voted 31-15 to pass the bill to restore prenatal care, but Governor Heineman vetoed the bill. The Legislature will vote this Wednesday whether or not to override his veto.
Nebraska Appleseed organized the efforts to contact constituents and encourage them to leave messages in support of LB 599 for their Senators. While these Creighton students had contacted elected officials before, this was their first experience of participating in a phone bank. These quotations capture some of their reflections on the experience:
“I was so surprised by how supportive people actually were. One woman told me, ‘Thank you so much for volunteering to do this! Yes, I’m in full support. I’m going to put my kid to bed now, but can I get the number of my Senator and call later?’
“I never did advocacy until college, but this gives me a lot of hope. I should do this in my free time!”
“I was surprised by how uneducated people were about the bill, but then again, I may not have known about it if I wasn’t in the CCSJ office. I also wonder what important legislation I’m unaware of in my home state.”
“I was surprised by how some people said they were supportive but that they did not want to call their Senator. Through my work with the Ignatian Advocacy Team I realize how it is not a scary thing to contact one’s elected officials, but I think people are hesitant to make that phone call and don’t realize how big of a difference they can make.”
“I think we were hesitant to do this because it seemed a little pushy, but this doesn’t have to be a negative thing. We shouldn’t be uncomfortable with it; we’re just trying to get people informed. Even if they didn’t want to be transferred to their Senator’s office, at least now they know.”
