In February, CAST (College of Applied Science and Technology) Connections students attended the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center’s annual College Leadership Summit in Chicago.
This was the second annual trip organized by CAST Connections in collaboration with the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences (CJS).
“This is the second year of organizing the trip, and each year, students are inspired and motivated to make a change within their communities,” said Tamekia Bailey, the director of CAST Connections.
Held annually, the summit is designed to equip students with tools to become leaders who advocate for social justice issues that matter to them. This year, students participated in a number of activities, including breakout sessions where they heard from specialists in the fields of social justice, genocide prevention and activism. They also got the opportunity to network with peers from different backgrounds through group discussions and other networking activities.
The event’s breakout sessions were led by three organizations, The Peace Exchange, which focused on nonviolent protest; Chicago Votes, whose focus was on advocacy, organizing for political change, and encouraging people to vote; and the Jewish United Fund, whose focus was on confronting contemporary antisemitism.
Tonika Johnson, a social justice artist and the keynote speaker of the conference, discussed her work against the injustices and inequities in Chicago’s South Side Englewood neighborhood.
“The summit was a great experience. We learnt about the importance of advocacy and developing a foundation in leadership and civic engagement. I was particularly impacted by the keynote speaker’s insight on the socio-economic disparities in Chicago that perpetuate the cycle of poverty that still exists today,” said Mahalia Jackson, a CAST student who participated in the summit.
CJS students and CJS Clinical Assistant Professor Dewhitt Bingham were also among the attendees.
“The summit was very inspiring, enlightening, and educational for our students. They were able to increase their activist skills, learn how to confront contemporary antisemitism, and were given a nonviolent toolbox for social justice,” said Bingham.
CAST Connections will host more events geared towards teaching students about ways they can grow in their personal and professional endeavors in bringing about positive change.
Visit its website for upcoming events.
