2020

PEACE & JUSTICE NEWSLETTER

Fr. Ray Herman Peace & Justice Center

WELCOME!

This newsletter is created by Spiritual Life interns to share some peace and
justice efforts of the past semester. If you are interested in getting involved
next semester, please contact hannah.eby@loras.edu. Join us - all are welcome!

Like Loras Spiritual Life on Facebook for daily

reflections and updates!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Indigenous Peoples' Day | 2

Black Lives Matter Discussion | 3
Student Reflections | 4, 5

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE

TREC Trips intern Shae Slaven

organized a food drive that
produced 162 items to add to
the Student Life Loras food
pantry. We are grateful for this
generous Loras community that
takes care of our Duhawks!
 2020
PEACE & JUSTICE NEWSLETTER

SENIOR YEAR REFLECTION

The Words of Christ were in my heart

by Peace and Justice intern Chris Zaragoza
“Whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers and sisters of mine, you
did for me”. I tried to bring awareness to
different social justice issues such as
Immigration, LGBTQ+ Rights, and Racial
Equality. Through our weekly meeting
with our supervisor, Hannah Eby, we
were reminded why the fight for social
justice is crucial for our society.

As an intern I had the opportunity to gain

experience on how to design events that
promote awareness to social justice
issues. I met other students who are also
in the work for social justice. I learned
During spring semester of my junior year, I
how to work with other clubs and
transferred into Loras College from a
organizations on campus and tried to
smaller school in Wisconsin. The first
build a relationship with them. Through
semester was challenging since Loras is
this work my faith was nourished in
bigger and I also had to make new friends.
various ways. The Spiritual Life staff were
Another challenging aspect of my transition
always supportive along the way.
was the rigorous academic curriculum of
Loras College. One of the first individuals
In conclusion, despite the fact that this is
that I met on campus was Stacia and those
my last semester at Loras, my work for
involved in Spiritual Life. Right away I felt
social justice will continue. Thankfully, I
their love and their unconditional support
have been prepared through various ways
which made the transition easier.
on how to advocate for the most
marginalized in society. We cannot wait
My senior year, a position to be an intern
for others to act, but rather let us take
for Fr. Ray Herman Peace & Justice Center
the initiative and begin the work that
was offered to me. This was an internship
needs to be done. In this work we are not
that allowed me to put into action all those
alone, for God will help us and give us the
Christian values that were instilled in me
strength that we need.
from an early age.
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PEACE & JUSTICE NEWSLETTER

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY

CELEBRATION

by Peace and Justice intern Isabelle Werner

Shae Slaven (21’) gave a hand in volunteering at

In recent years, many states, cities, and
the celebration and had the following to say
educational institutions have voted to replace
about her experience: “I appreciate the effort of
Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
the Dubuque community in both the
Rather than celebrating a figure that inflicted
acknowledgement and celebration of its
violence, abuse, and genocide, Indigenous
Indigenous history. While long overdue,
Peoples’ Day hopes to honor and acknowledge
it is exciting to see this positive movement in
Native populations. Celebrating Columbus Day
our community and I hope that we can continue
not only perpetuates further trauma, but also
to embrace the rich diversity present in
discounts that Indigenous people lived in
Dubuque.”
America for centuries in sophisticated and
harmonious ways. As a part of this movement,
Through the efforts of many groups and
Dubuque proclaimed Columbus Day to be
individuals, it was a beautiful day of learning
Indigenous Peoples' Day. In addition to this
and celebrating the Indigenous community in
proclamation, the Dubuque Indigenous Peoples'
our area. While there is still much to be done in
Day Committee hosted a celebration the
reparation and reconciliation towards the
following weekend on Saturday, October 17 in
Indigenous community, this event was one
Washington Park.
small step in the right direction, and Loras
Peace and Justice was honored to participate.
The event showcased Native speakers,
Meskwaki drumming and youth dancers, and a
variety of delicious food. The Fr. Ray Herman
Peace and Justice Center provided volunteers
and was part of the planning committee for the
event.
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PEACE & JUSTICE NEWSLETTER

Not a lot of people know about the

founders or where the Black Lives Matter
movement started from, but the Black
Lives Matter movement started when
these three individuals made the hashtag
#BlackLivesMatter on social media. This
was created after the 2012 murder of

Creator: Kayla Reefer | Credit: Kayla Reefer for

Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black
TIMECopyright: ®2020 Kayla Reefer Photography
teenager.

There is so much systematic racism built

BLACK LIVES MATTER
into this country that has yet to be
DISCUSSION dismantled. That is why the Black Lives
Matter movement is an organization for
by TREC Trips intern Pablo Rodriguez building Black power and creating Black
leaders. And we can be part of this within
Putting together the Black Lives Matter
the Loras College community.
discussion event with Forward Thinking
on November 16th was something that
In our November discussion event,
was really impactful to myself personally
students shared that we can take action
and others. I’m glad we were a piece of
in many ways. They include speaking out
the puzzle, so we can keep coming
when someone makes a racist remark,
together to fight racial injustice. The
educating yourself and family
three founders of the Black Lives Matter
members/friends, and being part of the
movement are Alicia Garza, Patrisse
bigger movement.
Cullors, and Opal Tometi. Alicia Garza
was born in Los Angeles, California and
Find more information at
studied in UCSD. Patrisse Cullors was
https://blacklivesmatter.com/herstory/
also born in Los Angeles, California and
studied in UCLA. Opal Tometi was born in
Phoenix, Arizona and studied in
University of Arizona.
 2020
PEACE & JUSTICE NEWSLETTER

MY FAIR TRADE REALITY

by Peace and Justice intern Isabelle Werner

So what is this Fair Trade thing? If you’ve ever heard me talk about my internship through Spiritual
Life, you’ve probably heard me mention this term. In short, Fair Trade is a global movement that
ensures all people are paid a fair and living wage and given clean and safe working environments. In
addition, Fair Trade products are made without child labor. There are more specifics about
cooperatives of workers, sustainable production, and guidelines for companies to follow, but in
general, Fair Trade is just what it sounds like -- making sure when I buy a product I know it was
produced fairly.

I’m going to be honest. As much as I try to advocate for this amazing movement and the products and
companies that adhere to it, I often fail to participate in the movement myself. Yes, I try to thrift the
majority of my new clothes, which takes money away from fast fashion companies that don’t follow
Fair Trade guidelines. Yes, I am more inclined to buy something that has a Fair Trade logo on it. And
yes, since learning more about this movement, I have become more intentional about seeking out Fair
Trade products. However, I still fall into the tight grip fast fashion and convenient consumerism has
on me. I still scroll through the Old Navy website when I’m bored, I still order from Amazon, and I’m
still a sucker for a deal that not only sounds too good to be true, but is too good to be fair. As a
college student trying to maintain a budget, buying fair trade can (but not always) be more expensive
and less convenient. It often seems like an uphill battle to advocate for something that I struggle to
implement in my daily life.

So why do I still attempt a Fair Trade lifestyle? Well, I believe in the mission more than I believe in
my consumption habits. I believe that each person has human dignity, and therefore, I find it crucial
that I try my hardest to buy and support local, second hand, and Fair Trade stores and products. I
always feel better when my personal money doesn't go into an organization that exploits a human
that has dreams, aspirations, and those they love, just like me. While our Fair Trade purchases may
only be a drop in the bucket, if we work together, that bucket will become so full it will overflow.
Companies will have no choice but to notice, implement changes, and take part in creating a fairer
market.

I know I’m going to continue to make mistakes. However, as a Catholic, I believe that God does not
ask for my perfection. He asks for my willingness to become more loving. God calls me to a
continuous, consistent, and incremental conversion. Part of my own conversion, I believe, is making
incremental and important changes in where I put my funds. For I believe I have been blessed,
and I want to extend another blessing to someone else.

“What you have received as a gift, give as a gift.”

Matthew 10:8