Social Justice and Advocacy

Today started off bright and early with a trip to the North Carolina General Assembly in downtown Raleigh. There, we learned about the different types of meetings that go on with the House of Representatives and in the Senate. At 9:30, we went to go watch a Senate session, but they must’ve met very briefly and very quickly because a sign stated they were in recess until 4:00 PM. Bummer! At 10:00, we went downstairs to meet with Representative Grier Martin to learn about what his job entails. He described to us what he loves about his job, the difficulties, how he got there, and so much more. Rep. Martin even gave us an insight on his views on recent pieces of legislature that have been passed or are in the process of being passed. His story was so interesting, and really inspired us all.

Today, the Social Justice DT welcomed Milena Wuerth and Matt Martin to the CA community. Milena Wuerth highlighted her experiences in helping refugees at a school in Berlin during her gap year. She expressed how important this experience was as it helped find her place in potential future careers. Matt Martin is part of the NC Aids Action Network, and he highlighted the activism aspects (like volunteering) in advocating for things you believe in. In the afternoon, we continued working really hard on our art projects!

On the first day of the final week of DT, CA alumni Savannah and Aditi spoke with us about college advocacy and how it differs from their prior experience at CA. They highlighted the fact to take advantage of every opportunity given to speak for what you believe in, and to keep going even if they ignore you for the first few times. Before lunch, we watched The Mask You Live In, a documentary about the idea of masculinity and how it effects society. Later in the afternoon, we continued working on our art projects!

On Friday, June 2nd, we watched Salam Neighbor, a documentary about the daily life of Syrian refugees at a refugee camp. Later, we visited One World Market, a fair-trade non-profit store and organization in downtown Durham. There, we questioned the different aspects of fair-trade and ethical spending. After we looked around and bought a few things, we walked down the street to Monuts and had a lovely lunch. When we returned, Yasmeen Mansour came and shared her thoughts about the current refugee crisis and the importance of advocating for their rights.

It’s the first day of June, and students in the Social Justice & Advocacy discovery term watched Milk – a movie about the gay rights activist and politician, Harvey Milk. After watching the film, students discussed the themes expressed throughout it, and how it connects to modern day movements. In the afternoon, students took time to work on their art pieces that can be shared at the end of the term!

Today in the Social Justice and Advocacy discovery term, our focus was women’s rights. We watched the film “Equal Means Equal” and then debriefed for a good hour and a half. It was quite the discussion! We talked about the injustices women face in the workplace, in the home, in politics, and on the streets. After lunch, Sarah Preston, a woman from Lillian’s List, came in to speak. Lillian’s List is a North Carolina based organization that seeks to get progressive, pro choice women elected into political office. Ms. Preston talked about the namesake of Lillian’s List, the mission, and her own personal story. Needless to say, we all learned a lot today!

On Tuesday May 30th, the Social Justice and Advocacy discovery term made a trip to the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh to visit an exhibit about race. The exhibit featured interactive parts, short videos, lots of reading material, and a place to safely discuss race. It was an awesome visit, and we recommend everyone take a trip!

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