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Center for Social Concern

The Two Feet of Social Action

Whoa! There are a lot of problems out there in the world! Poverty, war, climate change, racism... the list goes on and on. Yet people of faith (regardless of the faith tradition) are called to help make this world better. Catholic leaders and theologians talk about two general types of action--charity and justice. In the Center for Social Concern, we offer many opportunities for students to be involved in one or both of these. Walk with us!

Jacqueline Romo: Journey of the Heart

Artist Jacqueline Romo will be on campus on March 7 to lead two events focused on the intersection between immigration, Catholic Social Teaching and Jesus' passion, death and resurrection. Her "Monarca Migrante Stations of the Cross" illuminate a sense of hope in the midst of the challenges of the journey. Join her for a Table of Plenty lunch dialogue from 12:30-1:45 in Liberty Hall RM 08 (RSVP below) and an evening program of prayer and reflection followed by bilingual Mass, starting at 6:30pm in the Adele McGinnis Room.

RSVP for the Table of Plenty
Marianist Civil Discourse

Timothy Shaffer, PhD, will speak on "Engaging the 'Other' for the Common Good: Civil Discourse in Marianist Higher Education" on Monday, March 11 at 4:00pm in Sears Recital Hall.

Faith/Mission 02.06.24

UD alumna Sophia Bair ’23 is spending a 'gap year' before medical school gaining clinical experience at the St. Vincent de Paul Gateway Shelter.

Read more

Wholemakers Eco-spirituality Group

Join us in exploring what it means to care for God's creation. We'll look at everything from Scripture to science, prayer to action in our weekly meetings. We'll meet on Tuesdays from 8-9pm in Liberty Hall RM 114. Sign up or just show up. See you there!

Programs from our Campus Partners

All-day training in skills of nonviolence, including bystander intervention and de-escalation, with trainers from Meta Peace Team. Saturday, March 2 at the Adele Center. This will be open to students as well as interested faculty and staff. Cost for those not in the Peacebuilding course REL 357 will be $15. (The backup date in case of weather problems is March 9.) Sponsored by the Ferree Chair for Social Justice.


Tuesday, March 5, 6-7:15pm, Torch Lounge. Public lecture by Dr. Nana Afua Yeboah. This presentation will share the results of a ground-breaking research report, commissioned by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, on problems of anti-Black racism in the U.S. immigration courts. Co-sponsored by the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work.


A conversation series hosted by the Dialogue Zone

Wednesdays March 6, March 20, & April 3, 2024

2:30-3:20 PM

Roesch Library 107 - the Dialogue Zone

Open to all UD faculty, staff, and students

Join the Dialogue Zone for a three-part series in which we focus on different aspects of mental well-being within our UD campus community and society as a whole. We aim to explore personal experiences and stories related to stressors in university life, mental health, and stigmas. These dialogues are open to students, faculty, and staff; all voices are welcome. Participants can attend as many sessions as they'd like.

Session one: Mental health and stigma (Mar 6)

Session two: University community health (Part 1) (March 20)

Session three: University community health (Part 2) (Apr 3)

Register for these sessions at this link.


A conversation co-sponsored by the Dialogue Zone, Campus Ministry, and GIA

Tuesday March 12, 2024

9:30-10:45 AM

The Dialogue Zone (Roesch Library 107)

Open to UD students, faculty, and staff

What are some of the joys and challenges of being a part of a campus where multiple faith traditions are represented? How do we make space for all faith traditions on a predominantly Catholic campus? Come join us for a dialogue that explores student experiences of faith at UD.

Register for this program at this link.

 


A conversation sponsored by the Dialogue Zone

Wednesday March 13, 2024

2:30-3:20 PM

The Dialogue Zone (Roesch Library 107)

Open to UD students, faculty, and staff

This dialogue examines what is a disability and the ways we talk (or not talk) about disability.  Participants will explore stigmas and the vulnerability around naming and disclosing a disability. In addition, participants will explore why it may be difficult to use the D-word. Lastly, the participants will process the impact of disabilities on families, workforce, and communities. 

Register for this program at this link.


Tuesday, April 9, 5-6:30PM, Adele Center, McGinnis Room. Public lecture by Dr. amaha Sellasie. A lifelong community organizer, amaha currently serves as president of the Gem City Market Board, co-founder of West Dayton Strong, a STEAM based summer and afterschool program in public housing, and co-creator of the Dayton Lab, a community-based participatory research lab and partnership between University of Dayton and Sinclair Community College, located in west Dayton. His talk will engage the formation of Gem City Market, the relationships between food justice and community health, and the importance of cooperative economics and collective wealth to Black self-determination and community wellbeing in Dayton.


The 3rd annual Imagining Community Symposium will be held April 11-12 at the Hub in Downtown Dayton. Our theme is Health and Environmental Justice, and our keynote speaker is Dr. Monica Unseld who is the founder and Executive Director of Until Justice Data Partners.

A conversation co-sponsored by the Dialogue Zone and the Ethics and Leadership Initiative

Thursday, April 4, 2024

3:35-4:50 PM

The Dialogue Zone (Roesch Library 107)

Open to UD students, faculty, and staff

The Olympic motto was updated in 2021 to Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together. Sports are seen as cutting across difference, across politics, across religion. They are open to all and bring together the unlikeliest of fellows. On the other hand, we live in a world unfortunately fraught with violence and corruption. What are we to do when the two meet?  For instance, several recent high-profile sporting events and leagues have taken place in countries accused of significant human rights violations.  Join us in a dialogue in which we will explore the complexities of inclusive sport in the face of an exclusive world.

Register for this program at this link.


SERVICE Saturday

Get sweaty with hands-on service at a community organization on Saturday morning. It could be working in a community garden, sorting donated clothes, serving lunch at a shelter, etc. Plus, a free lunch and new friends!

Dates and Projects

Church in Progress Podcast

Campus Ministry's Center for Social Concern has a NEW PODCAST! Check out Church in Progress: Margot Sommers interviews guests who offer fresh perspectives on how we can create a more just and equitable Church. Currently available on Spotify and coming to Apple Podcasts soon!

Spotify

Table of Plenty

Free lunch awaits as long as you participate in a table discussion on a complex social justice topic and how it is related to religious beliefs. We hope to have people with a broad spectrum of opinions join us for respectful conversation where all sides are heard.

Dates and Topics
Stay Up-to-Date

Every Tuesday, we send out an email newsletter called "Ways to Engage" with information on all the things that are coming up!

Join our GivePulse page to learn about service opportunities in the Dayton area and to register for SERVICE Saturdays, REAL Dayton, Plunges and lots more.

CONTACT

Campus Ministry's Center for Social Concern

Liberty Hall
300 College Park Ave.
Dayton, Ohio 45469 - 0408
937.229.2524
CSC Website