Faith and Justice course taps community resource to apply Catholic social teaching to life, literature
This semester students in NDCL's innovative Faith and Justice in Life and Literature have connected with inspirational persons throughout northeastern Ohio to learn how the values of Catholic social teaching can make a difference in the world.
Common Pleas Judge Michael Shaughnessy and English Department Chairperson Ms. Victoria Frabotta '86 arranged a variety of intriguing experiences, ranging from direct service to the poor to efforts to transform societal systems.
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LEARNING TO TRANSFORM: Students in Ms. Victoria Frabotta's Faith and Justice in Life and Literature class meet with Mr. Brandon Chrostowski, founder and CEO of Edwins Leadership and Restaurant Institute.
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Students spearheaded a collection of food, personal hygiene items, and grocery and gas gift cards for Project Hope, the only homeless shelter in Lake County. Students visited with shelter staff to explore the complex factors that lead to homelessness.
Several guest speakers have also visited the class. In September Ms. Andrea Pollock introduced students to Next Step, a home that helps young adults transition to stabilized independence after experiencing hardships such as abuse, neglect, and homelessness.
Later that month, students interacted with a panel of prosecutors and defense attorneys explored the criminal justice system and its impact on individuals and families. Participants included civil rights attorney Mr. Bobby DiCello, Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Anna Fragalia, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney Kristine Pesho, Geauga County Prosecutor James Flaiz '95, Geauga County Public Defender Bob Umholtz, and attorney Jeff Black.
Theresa Santoiemmo '03, who spoke about toxic stress and childhood adversity effects, explained that we too easily judge others by asking what is wrong with them. Instead, she urged students to reframe their thinking to show compassion by asking others what has happened to them.
The students saw firsthand how childhood adversity impacts people when they visited Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Hollie Gallagher's mental health court. Judge Gallagher works with a team of social workers, parole officers, and mental health providers to transform lives by providing effective alternatives to incarceration.
Last week the class learned more about the power of personal and social transformation by visiting with social entrepreneur Mr. Brandon Chrostowski, who founded Edwins Restaurant and Leadership Institute to train formerly incarcerated people in the service industry. The Edwins program boasts a less than 1% recidivism rate for its participants.
As he toured students through the Edwins complex near Shaker Square, Mr. Chrostowski encouraged students to develop, use, and share their talents to help make the world a better place.