Immersion Trips Focus on Changing the System

Ned Stowe (left) giving a tour of the green building of the Friends Committee on National Legislation
during the environment immersion trip. GBHEM photo by Vicki Brown.

 

 

By Vicki Brown*

The new chair of the United Methodist Student Movement Steering Committee said the location of Washington, D.C., provided the potential for a new and different kind of leadership development experience at Student Forum.

“The gift of the General Board of Church and Society in organizing these trips is difficult to measure,” said Jen Heald, a graduate of the University of Maryland who is entering Emory this fall. “We are not often able to focus on changing the system that is responsible for putting people in unjust situations.”

Besides the “Racism of Mascots” immersion trip, students attended 10 other immersion experiences:

Poverty and Homelessness

The group heard speakers from the Presbyterian Church (USA), Bread for the World, the Children’s Defense Fund, and the National Coalition of the Homeless. Megan Dotson, a Middle Tennessee State University student who attended that trip, said she got useful and important information that she will take back to her campus ministry.

Immigration

Eliezer Valentín-Casañόn, associate general secretary of the UM General Commission on Religion and Race, briefed students about the denomination’s response to immigration issues. They also heard from Justice for Our Neighbors, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and Church World Service.

HIV/AIDS

Linda Bales, director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project at General Board of Church and Society and Luke Pepper, an advocacy intern at the project, led off this immersion trip. Greg Smiley, senior policy adviser at UNAIDS, was also among the speakers.

Gentrification

John Opoku-Aush, a student at the Univerity of Hawaii, said the tour of the U-Street Corridor, where much property was burned during riots in the 1960s, was especially informatative. “Now the subway has come in and there has been an influx of well-to-do people, so the prices of the homes are going up,” he said.

Rhonda Rutherford said she enjoyed the opportunity to meet with members of a tenants’ organization to learn what is happening to the people who are being displaced by gentrification.

Environment

Courtnika Hudson of Paine College said the boat tour of the polluted Anacostia River, the visit to the Sierra Club, and the green building of the Friends Commission on National Legislation gave students a chance “actually see what’s going on.”

She was particularly impressed with Christina Yagjian of the Sierra Club’s presentation. “She really pushed us to listen and to think about things we should do,” she said.

The tour of the Quaker building allowed students to see how buildings can be constructed or renovated without damaging the environment. The building, located across the street from the Hart Senate Office Building, uses geo-thermal heating and air, recycled materials, and other earth-friendly construction.

Faith and Politics

Jim Winkler, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, opened this session, which was held at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill. He reviewed the Social Principles for the students, who also heard from K. Hollyn Hollman, general counsel of the Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty; Martha Coven, senior legislative associate for the Center for Budget Policy and Priorites; Beth Brent, vice president of the Faith and Politics Institute; and Danielle Mutone-Smith, senior associate for Church Outreach for Bread for the World.

The group discussed separation of church and state, trips the Faith and Politics Institute organizes to Selma, Ala.; and how religion has effected this year’s presidential election.

“I hope what’s beginning to bubble up is how complicated this is. If you are a member of Congress and you are a member of a church with a political agenda, who do you represent?” Brent asked the students.

Civil Rights

Students visited Howard University and ate lunch at the well-known D.C. restaurant Ben’s Chili Bowl in an area of town damaged during 1960s rioting. John Coleman, communications director for the UM General Commission on Religion and Race, addressed the students about the denomination’s commitment to Civil Rights and equality.

They also heard presentations about institutional racism related to drug policy, identifying community strengths, and putting faith into action.

No Child Left Behind? Children’s Rights and Public Education

Craig Stephenson of the University of Missouri said the presentation on rural schools in South Carolina was particularly interesting, as was a presentation by Jill Morningstar, education policy advisor for the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor.

“She talked about what to expect in No Child Left Behind,” Stephenson said. “I’m a political science major, and education is my passion.”

Women’s Rights

The trip started with a visit to the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, where Bethune lived while she and the Council spearheaded strategies and developed programs that advanced the interests of African American women and the Black community.

The group also heard from Stephanie Anna Hixon of JUSTPEACE and Neil Irvin of Men Can Stop Rape.

Health Care and Living Wage

Kathleen McFarlain, a nursing student at McNeese State University, was particularly impressed with the discussion about single-payer health care programs.

And Brianna Lesley, University of Central Oklahoma, said she had not thought the minimum wage needed to be increased, but changed her mind after hearing presentations by staff at UNITE Here, ACORN Living Wage Center, and Jobs With Justice.

*Brown is associate editor and writer, Office of Interpretation, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

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