After returning from the 15th annual White Privilege Conference, Emmanuel Cannady, Notre Dame student and Assistant Director of Outreach Services of the Gender Relations Center on campus, had this to say about his experience and that of the other Notre Dame students who attended the conference:

“From March 26-29, 2014, a seven-person Notre Dame delegation experienced the White Privilege Conference -15 (WPC-15) in Madison, WI.  It was a challenging and emotionally-draining experience for everyone; however, the conference allowed us all to investigate the breadth of our humanity.  As was written in the syllabus for the preparatory class titled Introduction to the Intersections of Privilege, “The goal for each participant is personal transformation: to leave the class and conference more aware of injustices and be better equipped with tools to disrupt personal, institutional and worldwide systems of oppression.”

In Blessed Basil Moreau’s charism for Holy Cross education, he calls the art of education “helping young people to completeness.”  As we strive to live by and uphold this at Notre Dame, you will see in excerpts of the students’ journals how their experiences at the White Privilege Conference have helped them toward completeness—through personal transformation, intellectual stimulation, professional networking and commitment to Notre Dame Community improvement.”

To read more about the conference and Emmanuel’s experience, check out this WPC-15 Journal Summary. And make sure to sign up for next year’s conference!

Lead by former Notre Dame professor Luis Fraga, Mayor of San Antonio Julian Castro engaged with a spirited Notre Dame audience genuinely, generously, and intelligently, in what felt more like a conversation with an old friend than a politician in a public space. Throughout the evening, Mayor Castro answered a series of questions ranging from how students might ensure they get the most out of their time at a prestigious university like Notre Dame to what was next for the urban landscape of his own hometown and his political aspirations. Afterwards, Mayor Castro continued to speak with individuals from the audience, addressing their concerns and even taking photos, too.

Many thanks to the Building Bridges Lecture Series, the Institute for Latino Studies Transformative Latino Leadership Lecture Series, and the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy whose efforts and support were vital in seeing this event succeed.

If you are looking for something insightful and engaging this morning, look no further. Give this article a few minutes of your time!