Bellarmine College Prep held its annual Justice Summit on February 15. The topic of Walking with the Excluded, one of the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Jesuits (www.jesuits.org), was explored throughout the day during all-school assemblies, breakout sessions, activities, and small group discussions.
The opening ceremony featured keynote speaker Joanna Williams, executive director of the Kino Border Initiative (www.kinoborderinitiative.org), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote humane, just, and workable migration through direct humanitarian assistance and holistic accompaniment of migrants; education and encounter between migrants and others that transforms people and communities towards solidarity with migrants; and policy advocacy in Mexico and the U.S. “We have personal responsibility at every level of exclusion,” said Ms. Williams, who explained the interpersonal, community, and societal levels of exclusion and that those are also levels of inclusion for which we are called to take responsibility.
“Our Summit days are an annual tradition,” said Dr. Sonya Arriola, Bellarmine principal, in her welcoming remarks. “We set aside these days specifically to create a pause in our daily rhythm. These days are designed to challenge our community to consider how and where various forms of injustice persist in our world today – and what each of us can do to be agents of change and champions of justice. We do this because ultimately, that is what a Bellarmine education is about: preparing all you young people for the world that awaits you – a world that is full of possibility and a world in dire need of your leadership.”
The 40 breakout sessions and activities were led by Bellarmine students, faculty, staff, and representatives from many organizations whose work aligns with the theme of Walking with the Excluded. Topics ranged from racism to homophobia, representation in media to inclusivity at Bellarmine.
The Justice Summit was presented by Cora Antonio, Bellarmine Religious Studies teacher and assistant director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and the Justice Summit Committee, which included faculty members Geronimo Desumala ‘02, Carlos Jiménez ‘02, Katya Lohngoen, Danny Martin, Peng Yav, An Vu, S.J., and Gregg Carlson ‘94.
Previous justice themes at Bellarmine have explored topics including those of gender, poverty, human trafficking, sustainability, immigration, hunger, and race. The 2022 Justice Summit theme was Care for Our Common Home, which is also one of the four Universal Apostolic Preferences.