“It was wonderful -- all the schools in the Jesuits West province came together to make it meaningful for students,” said Director of Christian Service, Elizabeth Slamkowski DiTommasso.
The 2020 teach-in, themed “Prophetic Resilience: Breaking down and Building Up,” featured keynote addressesses by well-known voices in social justice including Sister Helen Prejean, Fr. James Martin, S.J., and Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. It also offered on-demand recorded sessions on the most pressing issues we face including the environment, immigration and racism.
Gonzaga Prep’s own Director of Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Ben Krauss co-led a live Q&A on implicit bias.
Time spent with the teach-in also provided another opportunity for the students to earn service hours that are a vital part of the Christian Service program at Gonzaga Prep. During the weekend part of the teach-in, Bullpups connected with St. Ignatius Prep in San Francisco in breakout sessions.
“Ten of our students were able to be on campus, and participate remotely in live discussions. with their peers at other schools. It was so accessible!”
The Ignatian family Teach-In For Justice is the largest annual Catholic social justice conference in the U.S. Since 1997 the Teach-In has been commemorating the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador and their two lay companions and inspiring people to act for social justice in the spiritual tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
“I couldn’t believe the level of engagement,” DiTommasso said. “It is so life-giving.”
Learn more about the Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice.