Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
"raising the consciousness in the Duquesne community on issues of peace and justice"
Introduction
As a part of Spiritan Campus Ministry, Just Youth is a group of students dedicated to raising the consciousness of the university community on issues of peace and justice by speaking out for the marginalized and disadvantaged through awareness, education, reflection and responsible action. Just Youth also serves as an umbrella organization that brings together different university student groups and volunteer organizations to collaborate and work toward social justice and the promotion of peace.
Back to topHistory
The concept of Just Youth started in the United Kingdom by Spiritans who were working with youth from varied backgrounds. While some parts of society tended to write off youth as not really being able to accomplish much in terms of social justice because they were “just youth” the Spiritans saw potential in the idea of youth coming together. They took this idea and brought youth from a variety of backgrounds together to work toward justice and to make a difference in their own lives and communities as well as throughout the world.
Fr. Ray French, C.S.Sp., University Chaplain and Director of Spiritan Campus Ministry, brought the concept of Just Youth with him to Duquesne where it was adapted for students three years ago. The original concept of Just Youth remains the same – students coming together in the hope of building a better and more just society by giving their time and talent to people in need. Here at DU, the concept of Just Youth is combined with the Spiritan understanding of faith in action – that is, students meeting Christ in their everyday experiences through interaction with other people. With this as the starting point, Just Youth is dedicated to raising the consciousness of the University community on issues of peace and justice by speaking out for the marginalized and disadvantaged through awareness, education, reflection and responsible action.
Back to topAn Umbrella Organization
Just Youth also serves as an umbrella organization that encourages and promotes collaboration among different groups on campus that strive to promote justice and peace through their work. This would include Spiritan Campus Ministry groups such as St. Vincent de Paul, CEL, Pax Christi, and Evergreen as well as other student groups on campus that serve the community such as students volunteering with DUV, Commuter Students who come together to serve in the Pittsburgh area, as well as Greek Life, the Athletics Department and Service Learning to just name a few. The thread that binds all of this work together and makes it ministry is that through action in the community, students strive to promote justice and peace by their involvement. By the very fact that you are doing something to promote justice and peace, no matter what type of volunteer work you are doing, you are in effect working in collaboration with Just Youth!
Back to topConsistent Ethic of Life
Another vital part of Just Youth is the articulation and promotion of a "consistent ethic of life." This means that we encourage and support life in all of its different stages - from conception to natural death - and that we encourage life in our interactions with others. From the March for Life in Washington DC to feeding the homeless in downtown Pittsburgh , by working with offenders in and just out of the prison system to understanding our place as global citizens who are connected to our brothers and sisters throughout the world we work toward promoting life in its various forms. And while this understanding of ministry and promoting a consistent ethic of life is rooted in our catholic tradition, Just Youth embraces people of all denominations and all faiths, recognizing that there is a similar call in many other religious traditions to serve the poor and disadvantaged.
Back to topService and Collaborations
The types of volunteer work and ministry that Just Youth offers is varied so that their might be opportunities for students to promote justice and serve others in ways that best suit their likes and skills. Some students care passionately about the homeless and concentrate on that particular aspect, while others feel called to work with disadvantaged youth or people living with HIV or AIDS. As mentioned above - we consider ALL of this work as ministry and social justice work and understand that students each have particular interests and gifts that they feel called to share. Thus, there is not just "one" way of promoting justice and life - rather we are called to use our individual gifts and interests to serve others. This is what makes Just Youth such a unique idea - that through all of these different types of ministry we understand that we are all working toward the same goal. And it is through collaboration of and among the different groups within Just Youth that a unified understanding of peace and justice develops. Thus, one does not have to "belong" to Just Youth - rather one is a part by doing the very ministry that they are called to in their individual lives.
Just Youth does offer specific volunteer ministry opportunities for those who are interested. Some of the places that we volunteer and serve at include Holy Family Institute, a residential facility for marginalized children, Michael's Place, a residential home for ex-offenders who are currently in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, Shepard's Wellness, a gathering of community members affected and infected with HIV and or AIDS, homeless outreach in downtown Pittsburgh, and providing hospitality ministry at the Allegheny County Jail. These are ongoing volunteer opportunities and students are free to join in according to their own schedules - whether it is one time or monthly. SCM and Just Youth also offer large, one time events for the entire University, including Spring Cleanup and Sleepout for the Homeless.
Another part of Just Youth's ministry is making connections between our local community and the larger national and global need for justice. SCM offers cross-cultural mission trip experiences: to Appalachia for 5 days in November and to Immokalee, Fl, New Orleans and Camden , NJ during Spring Break. These experiences offer students a more in-depth experience, allowing them to be exposed to the variety of issues and problems that people face as well as allowing them to serve in different capacities.
Back to topSee, Judge, Act
In addition to providing short and long-term volunteer opportunities, Just Youth is also dedicated to raising awareness on campus about justice and peace issues. This educational component is vital in that students are not just "reacting" to an issue but rather have spent time reflecting on the cause of the injustice and determining what the best course of action would be for them to address it. This reflection/action model is summed up in Just Youth's motto "See, Judge, Act." Just Youth sponsors lectures, roundtable discussions, and group experiences so that students really understand the issues and incorporate the "See" and "Judge" part of the process.
At different times throughout the year, Just Youth will also bring students together socially to celebrate the work and ministry that is happening. This social time encourages students to interact with other people who are involved with ministry and volunteer work as well as allow students to build community and strengthen their own commitment to justice.
In the past year students from diverse parts of the university participated in Just Youth activities or Just Youth sponsored activities and collaborated with other students groups in over 45 activities and volunteer experiences. This year we hope to further our collaboration with student and university groups as we all work toward promoting a more just and peace-filled society.
