Page 11 - SPIRIT-SPRING-2017-18 Flip Book

Maureen said. “When we talk about STUDENT-TO-STUDENT most Wednesday afternoons
differences of any kind, we have reiter- ENCOUNTERS to learn from the students they
ated how ‘messy’ these conversations It’s not only the adults at Cor Jesu serve. (Their story can be found in the
can be. It’s not easy to be uncomfort- who are learning how to be instru- January 25, 2018, issue of the St. Louis
able, but the alternative is to deny and ments of inclusion. Students, too, are Review.)
not address what is so apparent. We are creating opportunities to expand their Then there’s junior Rana Issa’s poi-
called to be one, to form community, roles in fostering diversity, student- gnant speech that she delivered at the
to be of one mind and one heart. This, to-student. Take the CJ seniors who Harmony Prayer Service at SLUH this
really, has been the starting point of our launched Adventure Time at Our past January. A native of Iraq, Rana
conversations. But this is the ideal that Lady of Guadalupe School in North and her family left the country for
we strive for.” County. Syria with plans to move to Australia
Two people who have helped to Sparked by a conversation at the as refugees. But after Australia
engage faculty and staff in that con- Archdiocese’s Crossing the Delmar changed its position on accepting
versation know the impact of racism Divide pilgrimage, the idea for the refugees, the Issa family was given a
DIVERSITY IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION: from first-hand experiences. Khatib CJA student-led after-school program choice: return to Iraq or come to the
U.S. They chose America.
A. F. Waheed, a national presenter
took root last year. With social justice
How Cor Jesu is Answering the Call to Solidarity from St. Louis who leads Racial Equity as their template, seniors Claire recounted her first-hand experi-
Now settled in St. Louis, Rana
Learning Exchange Sessions (RELE),
Koster and Naomi See designed the
was invited by Sr. Veronica in August weekly after-school program as a ences of racism before coming to Cor
to discuss community empowerment, transformative experience: to create Jesu. But despite others’ disparaging
“[Solidarity] is not a feeling of vague over the past 60 years, it is no secret ’74. “We know that in order for us to social justice and racial equity. Building remarks, she has hope for the future.
compassion or shallow distress at the mis- that racial diversity among students facilitate meaningful conversations upon Mr. Waheed’s presentation was age-appropriate activities that encour- “Everything I lived became memo-
fortunes of so many people, both near and age creativity and conversation, as
far. On the contrary, it is a firm and perse- and faculty and staff has always been with our students about discrimination Adam Layne, director at InspireSTL, well as give CJA students opportuni- ries that lie in the past. [Nowadays]
vering determination to commit oneself much lower than the national average. and inclusion from the perspective a program that provides rigorous people have a better understanding
to the common good; that is to say, to the According to the National Catholic of Catholic Social Teaching, we also academic support for at-risk students ties to learn from young students who of the concept of ‘a melting pot.’ We
good of all and of each individual, because are members of the diverse com-
we are all really responsible for all.” Education Association (NCEA) in need a broader understanding of how from middle school through college. munity at Our Lady of Guadalupe. know how to respect others and their
–St. John Paul II, On Social Concern 2016, “the [national] minority popu- to bring sometimes difficult conver- Throughout the three training ses- Since Claire and Naomi launched the differences and the fact that America
[Sollicitudo rei Socialis], no. 38 lation accounted for 19.8 percent sations to the table with empathy sions that he developed and facilitated program this past fall, 12-25 CJ stu- was built by refugees. They were the

In 2014, when the Michael Brown of the Catholic school population for and understanding of everyone’s during the first semester, Mr. Layne dents join the Guadalupe students on Continued on page 15
case thrust the national spotlight (16.1% Latino; 7.7% Black/African experiences.” focused on perceptions and biases that
on race relations in St. Louis, it also American; 5.5% Asian American; 5.9% play key roles in helping or hindering
forced the entire community into an Multiracial).” At Cor Jesu, the student BUILDING AWARENESS essential dialogue. CJA OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOLIDARITY AND DIVERSITY AWARENESS
examination of conscience: What are minority population averages six per- Coordinating the efforts to foster As faculty and staff, “our goal in
we doing, individually and collective- cent, due in large part to the demo- dialogue and understanding is Sr. working on diversity awareness is YWCA of Metro St. Louis—Witnessing Whiteness Program | Key CJA personnel meet monthly to
discuss difficult topics that center on race and white privilege.
ly, that enables and allows racism to graphics of its location. As a Catholic Maureen Fitzgerald, ASCJ ’70, who is to increase our CJ community’s cul- Interrupting Racism Workshop | Representatives from CJ attended the National Conference for
exist in our community? Are we feel- school that educates the whole person, spearheading the school’s Diversity tural literacy regarding the differences Community and Justice of Metropolitan St. Louis in February to cultivate a stronger awareness of racial
ing a “vague compassion or shallow we are called to candidly reflect on how Inclusion Initiative. Since this past among us at our school, in the St. Louis socialization, how it impacts interactions and ways to interrupt racism when it arises.
distress at the misfortunes of so many that reality affects the entire school summer when Sr. Maureen was named community and in our world,” said Teaching Tolerance/Southern Poverty Law Center Workshop | Sr. Maureen to attend the workshop
people”? Or, are we embracing “a community’s perception of what to the position, she has engaged the English teacher Dr. Elise Aasgaard. “At that facilitates critical conversations about equality and inclusiveness.
firm and persevering determination diversity means. And how can we, as faculty and staff in various opportu- Cor Jesu, our approach is to educate Cor Jesu Diversity Committee | Faculty and staff members formulate the “next steps” for diversity
and inclusion awareness for the CJ community: Elise Aasgaard, Helen Colston, Sr. Maureen Fitzgerald,
to commit ourselves to the common a faith-based institution of learning, nities that build skills for listening to the whole person, and because our ASCJ ’70, Laura Gantner ’03, Brian Hohlt, Peggy McGraw, Kathleen Wobbe Pottinger ’88, Bridget Rush,
good”? foster greater understanding of differ- and discussing difficult topics with the school mission and cornerstone of our John Schalda, Katie Magee Thiemann ’81, Mark Tueth and Principal Sr. Veronica Beato, ASCJ ’74
The raw and candid questions ences, inclusion and solidarity among students, as well as provide factual in- Catholic identity is ‘sharing the love of Catholic High School Diversity Group | Faculty representatives at Cor Jesu and interested Catholic
ached for answers, resulting in critical students, faculty and staff? formation to guide the discussions. the heart of Christ,’ that includes learn- high schools meet monthly to plan and share activities for students.
and challenging conversations across “Those are questions that Cor Jesu “Our teachers and staff have com- ing empathy for all so that we can treat Student Viewing of “The House We Live In: RACE—The Power of an Illusion” | All students watched
the film, which is a three-part series, and had discussions in designated classes. The faculty and staff
the country, as well as right here at administrators have been exploring mitted themselves to these coura- each other with respect, kindness and saw the film in August.
Cor Jesu. and discerning for quite some time,” geous conversations, knowing there dignity.” All-school Presentation by Dr. Stephanie Afful | “White privilege,” is a term that is not always
For anyone who has attended CJ said Principal Sr. Veronica Beato, ASCJ are no definitive or easy answers,” Sr. understood. Dr. Afful, associate professor of psychology/social and behavior sciences at Lindenwood
PHOTO: CJ students and students from Our Lady of University, discussed its meaning and the implications it has on society as a whole to the entire school
Guadalupe School engage in after-school activities. community on March 5, 2018.
8 COR JESU ACADEMY