Thank you to our generous sponsors who work to make this event possible!
Social Action Summer Institute (SASI)
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who made the 2023 Social Action Summer Institute (SASI), which took place in-person at Emory University in Atlanta, GA from July 12-15 a success! This year’s theme was Out of the Shadows: Shining a Light on Human Trafficking. Programming emphasized the various facets of human trafficking, including sex, labor and migrant trafficking, as well as how the Catholic Church, people of faith and/or community organizations respond to this pro-life issue.
Roundtable is especially grateful to the event sponors: The Aquinas Center at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Offices of Justice, Peace, and Human Development and Migration and Refugee Services.
Below includes the participant resources that are available:
- Photos
- Participant List
- Presentations (*slides are included below in the Schedule of Events)
- Prayer Resources
Schedule of Events
Below is a draft schedule, but please note that it is subject to change.
OPTIONAL PRE - EVENT SCHEDULE (SEPARATE FEES APPLY)
Tuesday, July 11
8:00 - 11:00 AM - Registration and Check-in
11:30 AM - Bus departs Emory with boxed lunches
12:00 - 2:00 PM - National Center for Civil and Human Rights
2:30 PM - The King Center and Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church
3:00 PM - Reflection and closing prayer service by Exec. Pastor Vaughan at Ebenezer Baptist Church
SASI 2023 SCHEDULE
Wednesday, July 12
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM - Registration and Check-in
12:00 - 2:00 PM - Exhibitor Set-Up
3:00 PM - Opening Liturgy with Fr. Urey P. Mark, Campus Ministry & Chaplain, Atlanta University Center (AUC) - Lyke House/Georgia State University
4:30 PM - Opening Keynote Address, Shining Like the Sun: Human Dignity & Catholic Social Teaching, by Mr. Gregory Hillis, Executive Director, Aquinas Center
6:30 PM - Dinner at Lyke House
Thursday, July 13
7:30 - 9:30 AM - Breakfast
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM - Exhibit Hall open
8:30 AM - Opening Prayer sponsored by Catholic Charities USA
9:00 AM - 2023 Harry A. Fagan Award Presentation honoring the US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking sponsored by Catholic Relief Services
9:30 AM - Plenary Presentation, A Look at Modern Day Slavery, by Mr. Jeff Hancock, Director of Minsitry Partnerships, North American Partner Programs, International Justice MIssion.
10:15 AM - Break
10:45 - 11:30 AM - Plenary Presentation, Slavery in the Land of the Free, by Ms. Theresa Flores, SOAP International
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Lunch
1:00 - 2:15 PM - Workshops Round A
- Church Engagement is the Key to Ending Human Trafficking by Susan Patterson, Through God's Grace Ministry
- Fighting to End the Issue of Human Trafficking through the Lens of Catholic Social Teaching by Felicitas Brugo Onetti, USCCB-Migration and Refugee Services, and Yohan Garcia, USCCB-Justice, Peace and Human Development
2:15 - 2:45 PM - Break
2:45 - 3:30 PM - Plenary Presentation, A Look at Labor Trafficking, by Ms. Alia El-Sawi, Victim Assistance Specialist, Department of Homeland Security
3:30 - 4:00 PM - Break
4:00 - 5:15 PM - Workshops Round B
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Reducing Demand for Sex and Labor Trafficking: A Guide for Individuals and Organizations by Mr. Tony Talbott, University of Dayton, Human Rights Center/Abolition Ohio
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Combating Human Trafficking Holistically and Humanely by Ms. Christy Williams, Catholic Charities USA; Ms. Sandra Perez, Catholic Charities Palm Beach; and Ms. Brandi Bynum, Blue Campaign, Department of Homeland Security
5:15 - 6:00 PM - Break
6:30 - 8:00 PM - Offsite dinner
Friday, July 14
7:30 - 9:30 AM - Breakfast
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM - Exhibit Hall open
8:30 AM - Opening Prayer sponsored by Catholic Charities USA
9:00 - 9:45 AM - Plenary Presentation, Human Trafficking and Hardened Borders, by Mr. Dylan Corbett, Hope Border Institute
9:45 - 10:15 AM - Break
10:15 - 11:30 AM Workshops Round C
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How Can Corporations Impact Human Trafficking? by Mr. Christopher Cox, Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility; Ms. Julie Tanner, Christian Brothers Investment Services
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Addressing Online Sexual Exploitation of Children from a Faith-Based and Evidence-Based Perspective by Ms. Brooke Ruffin, Street Grace
11:30 - 1:00 PM - Lunch
1:00 - 2:30 PM - Catholic Campaign for Human Development programming
2:30 - 3:00 PM - Break
3:00 - 4:30 PM - Exploring Connections: Climate Change, Hunger and Conflict, Catholic Relief Services' Experiential Learning Programming facilitated by Ms. Beth Knobbe, Catholic Relief Services
4:30 - 4:45 PM - Break
4:45 - 6:15 PM - Roundtable Members Meeting
6:30 PM - Dinner on your own in Atlanta
8:30 PM - Optional movie night on campus, Wind River
Saturday, July 15
6:30 - 8:30 AM - Breakfast
7:00 - 8:45 AM - Checkout for those with morning departures
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Exhibit Hall open
8:45 AM - Prayer Labyrinth closes
9:00 - 10:30 AM - Closing prayer service
11:00 - 11:30 AM - Closing Remarks
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM - Checkout for those with afternoon departures
SASI 2022 AVAILABLE RESOURCES
The Social Action Summer Institute titled, The Spirituality of Justice featured presenters and workshops touching on spiritual advocacy, accountability, justice, and more. On behalf of the board of directors, we thank you for your participation at thisyear's event. Below are the recordings, excerpts, and resources that are now available for your use.
Wednesday
Social media excerpts from the opening keynote by the Most Reverend Mark J. Seitz, Diocese of El Paso
Video presentation of Magisterium of the People: The Story of the People's Pastoral from the Catholic Committee of Appalachia
Thursday
Keynote, Dialogue and Encounter: Spiritual Prerequisites for Social Action in our World Day by Mr. Sebastian Gomes, America Media
Presentation, Loyola Institute for Ministry survey results on The Status of Catholic Social Teaching by Dr. Tom Ryan, Loyola Institute for Ministry, Loyola University of New Orleans
Catholic Campaign for Human Development Panel Presentation facilitated by Juan Aranda, CCHD Area D Grant Specialist and featuring the following organizations:
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- Ostara Initiative
- Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha
- Elpis Enterprises
- Catholic Labor Network
Friday
Keynote, Justice as Balm, Organizing as a Bridge: Synodal Call to Repair the Tapestry of Community by Ms. Ogechi Akalegbere, St. Rose of Lima Parish, Gaithersburg, MD
Workshops
- Truth, Healing, Accountability: Confronting the Relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Catholic Church by Maka Black Elk, Red Cloud Indian School, Inc. and Rev. William Critchley-Menor, SJ, Red Cloud Indian School, Inc. The following is a list of resources that was provided during the workshop:
- National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
- Guide to Catholic Records About Native Americans (Marquette University)
- Department of the Interior Report on Federal Indian Boarding Schools
- Red Cloud Truth and Healing Website
- Papal Visit to Canada
- Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- How Tradition Catholic Teaching Can Help Us Think About Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations by Brett Salkeld
- Money Matters: Spirituality, Justice, and Financial Decision-Making by Kelli Reagan Hickey, Center for Social Concerns, University of Notre Dame
EVALUATIONS
Please complete the daily evaluations if you have not already done so. Your feedback is important so that we can continue to provide high quality programming at a low cost to participants. Thank you in advance for your input!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
SASI 2021 Recordings and Resources
August 2021 - Virtual SASI 2021 titled, Mercy and Mental Health: Strengthening Our Pastoral Response, ran from Wednesday, July 14 through Thursday, July 15. It was the first time that SASI was offered in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) thanks to our sponsors. Recordings and resources wil be available on this page until October 1, and then they will be archived in the Members Area of the website.
agosto de 2021 - SASI virtual 2021 titulado, Misericordia y salud mental: Fortalecando nuestra respuesta pastoral, se desarrolló desde el miércoles 14 de julio hasta el jueves 15 de julio. Fue la primera vez que SASI se ofreció en inglés, español y lenguaje de señas estadounidense gracias a nuestros patrocinadores. Las grabaciones y los recursos estarán disponibles en esta página hasta el 1 de octubre y luego se archivarán en el Área de miembros del sitio web.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021 (*All times EASTERN!)
- 1:00 - 1:10 PM - Opening Prayer and Introductions
- 1:15 - 1:55 PM - Keynote Presentation: Responding to the Social Determinants of Mental Health by Fr. Ragan Schriver, Catholic Charities USA (slides)
- 2:00 - 2:45 PM - Workshops Round 1
- Mental Health Ministry: Roots in the Social Doctrine of the Church by Chris Miller, Ed.D, Council on Mental Illness, National Catholic Partnership on Disability and Lisa Ziv, National Alliance on Mental Illness (slides)
- Creating Health Communities: Understanding Human Life and Dignity for those Experiencing Mental Health Conditions by Rebecca A. Yazzie, PhD, LCSW, George Fox University (slides)
- Reconocer y responder a la disparidad de salud mental entre la comunidad indocumentada by Isaac Cuevas, Archdiocese of Los Angeles (slides)
- 2:45 - 2:55 PM - Break
- 2:55 - 3:40 PM - Workshops Round 2
- Trauma-Informed Social Action in a Parish Context by Fr. Jon Pedigo, STL and Bridget Balajadia, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County (slides)
- Faith, Culture, and Mental Health: Healing the Discontentment by Claire Shynett, MA, Council on Mental Illness, National Catholic Partnership on Disability (slides)
- ¿Cómo a través de Catholic Relief Services, la Iglesia está liderando el camino en fortalecer a la familia para que los niños prosperen en todo el mundo? por Mary Beth Iduh, Kelley Bunkers, y Brenda Urizar de Arreaga, Catholic Relief Services (slides)
- 3:40 - 3:50 PM - Break
- 3:50 - 4:35 PM - Workshops Round 3
- Surviving in Ministry: Catholic Employees and Mental Illness by Adam Fitzpatrick, MA, Th.M, Center for Mission, Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis (slides)
- Ministering to Workers in the Wake of the Pandemic by Clayton Sinyai, Catholic Labor Network and Unite Here worker
- El llamado del Papa Francisco a "un mejor tipo de política": cómo Fratelli Tutti puede ayudarnos a superar la polarización y sanar las divisiones por Yohan Garcia, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Lia Salinas, Archdiocese of Baltimore; Leyden Rovelo-Krull, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
- 4:35 - 4:45 PM - Break
- 4:45 - 5:25 PM - Facilitated Roundtable Discussions
*English speaking offerings*
- Mental Health and Policing with Dr. Chris Miller, Council on Mental Illness, National Catholic Partnership on Disability
- #2 Mental Health and Policing with Genevieve Mougey, Archdiocese of Washington
- Bread for the World's Offering of Letters to Congress: A Diocesan Model with Dulce Gamboa, Bread for the World; Nicole Schmidt, Bread for the World; and Brian Hickey, Diocese of Joliet
- What do we do now? Loyola Institute for Ministry survey results on social action offices across the country with Kevin Fitzpatrick, Archdiocese of New Orleans
- #2 - What do we do now? Loyola Institute for Ministry survey results on social action offices across the country with Scott Hurd, Catholic Charities USA
- Surviving in Ministry: Catholic Employees and Mental Illness with Adam Fitzpatrick, Center for Mission, Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis
- Developing a Collaborative Approach to Substance Abuse Ministry with Sara Seligmann, Archdiocese of Cincinnati
- Mental Health and the Well-Being of Migrants and Refugees in Detention with Leyden Rovelo-Krull, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
- Addressing Systemic Trauma within Native Communities with Emily Schumaker-Novak, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Racism towards Asian American Communities with Jill Rauh and Sr. Myrna Tordillo, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Prison Ministry and Mental Health with Emma Tacke, Catholic Mobilizing Network
*Spanish - speaking offerings* - Mental health and wellbeing of children/migrants/refugees/displaced people with Yohan Garcia, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Thresholds Reentry Programs with/Programas de reingreso con Herman Delgado and Dcn. Robert Vigil, Archdiocese of Santa Fe
- La Salud Mental Después de la Pandemia: Retos y Oportunidades con Esther Garcia, National Catholic Partnership on Disability
- 5:25 - 5:30 PM - Closing Prayer
Thursday, July 15, 2021 (*All times EASTERN!)
- 1:00 - 1:10 PM - Opening Prayer and Introductions
- 1:15 - 1:55 PM - Keynote Presenter (en español): El sufrimiento psicológico de Jesucristo: reflexiones en medio de la pandemia de salud mental by Maribel Laguna, In His Image Counseling, PLLC
- 2:00 - 2:45 PM - Workshops Round 1
- Pope Francis’ Call to “a Better Kind of Politics”: How Fratelli Tutti Can Help Us Overcome Polarization and Heal Divisions by Jill Rauh, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Sabrina Burton-Schultz, Diocese of St. Petersburg; Kathryn Windels, Archdiocese of Washington (slides)
- Mental Health Ministry in Our Dioceses by Dcn. Ed Shoener, Diocese of Scranton (slides)
- Duelo, emociones y pandemia por Dcn. Robert Vigil, Archdiocese of Santa Fe (slides)
- 2:45 - 2:55 PM - Break
- 2:55 - 3:40 PM - Workshops Round 2
- A Catholic Response to the Intersection of Capital Punishment and Mental Illness by Emma Tacke, Catholic Mobilizing Network (slides)
- After Abortion: The Church as a Field Hospital by Julia French, Archdiocese of Washington (slides)
- Escuchando para entender por Dr. Roy A. Salgado Jr., University of Holy Cross
- 3:40 - 3:50 PM - Break
- 3:50 - 4:35 PM - Workshops Round 3
- How the Church through Catholic Relief Services is Leading the Way in Strengthening Families for Thriving Children around the World by Mary Beth Iduh, Severine Chevrel, Vivi Iglesias, Catholic Relief Services (slides)
- Chatbots and Small Groups: Equipping Parishes to Help Heal Hurts by Scott Hurd, Catholic Charities USA and Michael Carotta, Ed.D, consultant with Catholic Charities USA (slides)
- Mujeres Floreciendo: Los grupos de auto-ayuda como herramienta de salud emocional para las mujeres migrantes por Dr. Cary Rositas-Sheftel, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago; Maria Vidal de Haymes, Loyola University of Chicago; y Dr. Graciela Polanco Hernández, Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México (slides)
- 4:35 - 4:45 PM - Break
- 4:45 - 5:00 PM - Sending Forth
Resources from Virtual SASI 2020
Virtual SASI, Combating Racism: Transforming Words into Action took place virtually on Thursday, July 23, 2020. Programming began with an opening spiritual reflection by the Most Rev. Shelton J. Fabre, bishop, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and chairman of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism. Workshops followed, and the afternoon concluded with a short prayer service. Please see the Members Area for recordings and resources.
Resources from SASI 2019
All resources are availabe in the Members Area of the website.