Spring Break
Human Rights Day to promote community outreach
Laura Lepczyk
Issue date: 11/10/06 Section: Campus
For a day, Miami University will look beyond the Slant Walk to hunger, homelessness and forced migrations.
To kick off Miami University's third annual Human Rights and Social Justice Day, Xavier Benavides of Oxfam America will be presenting "Fighting for Justice in a Changing World," as the keynote speech Nov. 15.
Training and outreach coordinator for Oxfam America, a nonprofit organization that works to end world poverty and strengthen communities, Benavides will educate students on local and global issues at 4:30 p.m. Nov.15 in Shriver Center Multipurpose Room C.
"A lot of times we are overwhelmed by these global issues and we ask ourselves, what can I do?" Benavides said. "There is a lot you can do. Vote - find out where your representatives stand, look at the types of things you buy, support local agriculture. Find out what you are most passionate about and take action."
The variety of activities scheduled during Human Rights and Social Justice Day are meant to raise awareness about the issues of hunger, homelessness, poverty, modern slavery, forced migrations, physical and mental abuse and genocide. Activities will range from film screenings to information on volunteer programs.
"Bringing visibility to the issues of human rights and social justice is important," said Nicholas Longo, a member of the Human Rights and Social Justice Day planning committee and the director of the Harry T. Wilks Leadership Institute at Miami. "I hope this day will build momentum so that this can become a larger part of the culture at Miami."
The past two years, Miami has had an informational fair and film festival for Human Rights and Social Justice Day, but this year, the event's planning committee decided to devote a whole day to the topic because of the increase in sponsors and activities.
"The first goal is to give the community the opportunity to learn more not only about human rights and social justice in general, but to be conscious about what it means," said Jacqueline Rioja Velarde, coordinator of the Human Rights and Social Justice Day planning committee and assistant director of the Center for American and World Cultures. "Our hope is that this day will create opportunities for the community to be part of human rights and social justice networks locally, and in the future, possibly expand to global networks."
To kick off Miami University's third annual Human Rights and Social Justice Day, Xavier Benavides of Oxfam America will be presenting "Fighting for Justice in a Changing World," as the keynote speech Nov. 15.
Training and outreach coordinator for Oxfam America, a nonprofit organization that works to end world poverty and strengthen communities, Benavides will educate students on local and global issues at 4:30 p.m. Nov.15 in Shriver Center Multipurpose Room C.
"A lot of times we are overwhelmed by these global issues and we ask ourselves, what can I do?" Benavides said. "There is a lot you can do. Vote - find out where your representatives stand, look at the types of things you buy, support local agriculture. Find out what you are most passionate about and take action."
The variety of activities scheduled during Human Rights and Social Justice Day are meant to raise awareness about the issues of hunger, homelessness, poverty, modern slavery, forced migrations, physical and mental abuse and genocide. Activities will range from film screenings to information on volunteer programs.
"Bringing visibility to the issues of human rights and social justice is important," said Nicholas Longo, a member of the Human Rights and Social Justice Day planning committee and the director of the Harry T. Wilks Leadership Institute at Miami. "I hope this day will build momentum so that this can become a larger part of the culture at Miami."
The past two years, Miami has had an informational fair and film festival for Human Rights and Social Justice Day, but this year, the event's planning committee decided to devote a whole day to the topic because of the increase in sponsors and activities.
"The first goal is to give the community the opportunity to learn more not only about human rights and social justice in general, but to be conscious about what it means," said Jacqueline Rioja Velarde, coordinator of the Human Rights and Social Justice Day planning committee and assistant director of the Center for American and World Cultures. "Our hope is that this day will create opportunities for the community to be part of human rights and social justice networks locally, and in the future, possibly expand to global networks."
