January Break Seminars

Experiential Learning Seminars with an immersion during winter break in January 2010. 

Border Issues Seminar
This seminar focuses on immigration and related issues that surface between the United States and Mexico. Participants travel to El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to meet with refugees, work with parish organizations, and discuss policy issues. Annunciation House is the host organization.

Church and Social Action: Urban Plunge Seminar
The Urban Plunge is a one-credit experiential learning course designed to expose students to the sights and sounds of poverty in most major cities in the U.S. in close proximity to their home town. During the 48-hour immersion each student will have the opportunity to meet people affected by poverty as well as those working to eradicate it. The plunge is scheduled for two consecutive days in early January.

Organizing, Power and Hope Seminar
This six-day winter seminar is an opportunity to experience the gospel in action on the streets of Chicago and learn from local church, school, not-for-profit leaders, and unions about community organizing initiatives to improve life in Chicago neighborhoods.

Urban Poverty and Causes of Homelessness Seminar — New this year!

Over 16,000 people, including more than 2,000 children, live without adequate food and shelter in the state of Oregon. Although the city of Portland, Oregon manages to provide shelter for almost half of this population, the number of individuals affected by poverty and homelessness continues to rise. This seminar examines the many myths associated with homelessness and explores the larger cycle of urban poverty from diverse interdisciplinary perspectives.