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Students Engage Issues of Social Justice at Arrupe Leaders Summit
The first weekend in March, four Loyola Academy students traveled to Cleveland for the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s Arrupe Leaders Summit, which invites emerging student leaders and faculty chaperones from Jesuit high schools nationwide to deepen their understanding of “a faith that does justice,” to share ideas and resources for social justice programming and to become empowered to effect positive social change in their local and global communities.
“Being surrounded by students who are so passionate about various social justice issues and being able to discuss these issues while learning leadership qualities was really special,” says sophomore Grace Cutler.
“I learned a lot about myself and loved having conversations with people from other schools about our commitment to social justice,” adds Bryn Buikema ’19.
Over the course of three days, students explored leadership through the life lens of Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, former Superior General of the Society of Jesus, known for his commitment to leadership and solidarity with all of humanity.
Campus Minister Mr. Christopher Knoth chaperoned this year’s trip. “As a Jesuit college preparatory school, Loyola emphasizes cura personalis, caring for the whole person,” he says. “Such weekends as the Arrupe Leaders Summit enable students to gain perspective on a variety of topics related to service. This encourages students to be open to growth and committed to service, two of Loyola’s grad-at-grad values.”
Selected for their dedication to service work and their involvement in clubs such as the Loyola Academy Service Team (L.A.S.T.) and the Arrupe Service Program, students participants included Tobias Bahrmasel ’20, Bryn Buikema ’19, Grace Cutler ’20 and Everett Munez ’19. “Tobias and Grace already have over fifty hours of service,” explains Knoth. “And Bryn and Everett have over one hundred hours. These students were the first to express interest in attending the summit and showed a true desire to continue developing their commitment to doing justice.”
The weekend was divided into teaching sessions based on five leadership best practices: “Model the Way,” “Inspire a Shared Vision,” “Challenge a Process,” “Enable Others to Act,” and “Encourage the Heart.” The first session, for example, asked students to examine the values and experiences that drive their desire to work for peace through a process of discernment and group sharing.
A special social justice “round robin” paired up representatives from different schools to discuss the culture around faith and justice at each school as well as to share social justice programming ideas. “Students in the past have started new programming at their schools as a direct result of conversations started at the summit,” says Knoth.
“I believe that this was a great experience for anybody at Loyola,” says Everett Munez ’19. “Going to the summit and talking to a variety of schools across the nation has taught me that there are ways in which everyone needs to improve. Everyone needs to become a leader and bring about justice to first their communities and then the entire world.”
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