Author Archives: Rachel Roseman

Privilege & Poverty SHECP Interns Present at Closing Conference

Privilege & Poverty interns and staff at the Closing Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. From left: Rachel Roseman, Tiffany Nourse Sargent ’79, Jill Stauffer, Rebecca Strull, Audrey Pan, Jeanette Moreno, Alejandra Mendoza, Treasure Faith Brooks.

 

6 Middlebury College students convened in Cleveland, Ohio for the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty’s (SHECP) 2018 Frueauff Closing Conference to report on their efforts supporting poverty alleviate during their internship experience.

The Freuauff Closing Conference was the culmination of an eight-week internship program that provided students with the opportunity to engage in experiential, community-based learning in cities across the country. Interns learn about issues regarding economic inequality while working with nonprofit organizations in industries such as community and individual services, education, healthcare, and legal aid.

Keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, encouraged students to challenge systemic racism, economic inequality, and ecological detestation in their local communities. Theorharis’ keynote address focused on the power of resiliency and hope in public interest work and community activism.

Treasure Faith Brooks, rising sophomore, echoed Theorharis’ sentiments during her presentation. Brooks interned at the Office of the Public Defender in Baltimore City, MD. During her presentation, she discussed the lack of opportunities for rehabilitation and redemption in the current legal system and how the experience changed her previous views on mass incarceration and prison abolition. “Humans are not meant to be discarded,” Brooks reflected, “but at this point in time, there is no optimal solution.”

About the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty: The Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP), is a consortium of colleges and universities that are committed to the study of poverty as a complex social problem, by expanding and improving educational opportunities for college students in a wide range of disciplines and career trajectories. SHECP institutions support undergraduates toward a lifetime of professional and civil efforts to diminish poverty and enhance human capability. For more information, please visit ShepherdConsortium.org

Privilege & Poverty Academic Director James Davis Explains Why Civility Is Essential to Democracy in Op-Ed

Privilege & Poverty Academic Director and Professor of Religion James Davis explains why civility is essential to our democracy in an opinion piece in the New York Daily News. Read the article linked below.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-why-civility-matters-20180628-story.html

Congressman Jim McGovern Addresses SHECP Opening Conference 2018

 

Congressman Jim McGovern address the 2018 cohort of SHECP interns

Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) was the keynote speaker at the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty’s 2018 Opening Conference at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia on June 8.

More than 120 interns, faculty members, and staff listened to Congressman McGovern share his views on social issues such as economic inequality and food insecurity. “I’m grateful these young leaders are stepping up to build a future where everyone is valued and no one is left behind, and proud of everything they’re doing to make a positive difference in communities across our country,” said McGovern.

McGovern commented that poverty is not a political issue, but rather a matter of values. He encouraged the interns to treat everyone with dignity and respect, adding that if “we do this right, we’re all going to do better.” McGovern, by virtue of being present, demonstrated that the actions of young adults carry significant weight. He encouraged the interns to call their local representatives and be vocal on policies for which they do not agree. Before leaving, McGovern left the interns with the following charge, “You’re already leaders. I’m looking for you to step up.”

 

 

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Rachel Roseman is an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer (2017- 2018) at the Center for Community Engagement at Middlebury College. Literatures & Cultures Librarian Katrina Spencer poses some questions and has Rachel share on the Privilege & Poverty Academic Cluster and balancing core duties with creative projects. Find the original article linked below.

 

Rachel Roseman, the CCE, P&P and the LSAT!