Two Manhattan College Faculty Pilot CRS Resource

Margaret Groarke, Ph.D., professor of government and director of peace studies, and Cory Blad, Ph.D., professor of sociology and director of urban affairs, are connecting their students to fair trade and economic justice issues through the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Global Solidarity Network. CRS is a Web-based participatory learning community that links students and faculty in the United States to Catholic Relief Services policy experts and field staff. A few of the other issues that will be analyzed during the school year include: peace building, water, food security and migration.

“I am looking forward to using the Global Solidarity Network in my peace studies classes,” Groarke said. “It’s very helpful to hear from Catholic Relief Services field staff about local realities around the world.”

 “The GSN Fair Trade unit is phenomenal - we've had the opportunity to not only read expert opinions but actively discuss and debate the issues within the context of the class,” Blad added. “I'm amazed at the ease in which these units can be integrated into courses and the opportunity to interact with students from around the country and experts in the field is particularly unique.”

For more information about the CRS Global Solidarity Network go to
http://gsn.crs.org or contact Lois Harr in Campus Ministry & Social Action by phone at (718) 862-7142.