Students Brianna Jacobson ’21 and Jordan Malikowski ’21 along with Colleen Dunne, director of Campus Ministry, attended the national Catholic Relief Services (CRS) SALT Summit in Baltimore July 16-18. Working with CRS University Engagement and joining 60 other colleges and universities from across the country, students spent time learning about what CRS does, advocacy, fair trade, systematic solutions to poverty, and global disaster relief. In addition to a day of workshops on the campus of Loyola University in Baltimore, they also spent a day at the CRS national offices in Baltimore and in arranged meetings with their state representatives in Washington, D.C. Saint Mary’s participants were joined by students and staff members from four other Lasallian colleges and universities, including Lewis University, La Salle University, Christian Brothers University, and Manhattan College.
Saint Mary’s University has an active chapter of CRS Student Ambassadors working to bring awareness to issues of global injustice and disaster relief. On our Winona Campus, CRS Student Ambassadors sponsor Fair Trade coffee every Friday morning in Saint Mary’s Hall in partnership with Chartwells. Over the last year the group has focused on human trafficking, climate change, and ethical trade. Fair Trade coffee will continue to be offered in the fall semester, and the ambassadors also plan to focus on developing programs for recycling on campus and bringing awareness to issues of environmental justice.
