Drs. Eric Strauss and Michele Romolini, and Drollinger Environmental Fellow Lisa Fimiani, participated in the 12th Annual Center for Reconciliation and Justice (CSJ) Symposium entitled, Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor: The Issue of Water, hosted by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange.
Sister MaryAnne Huepper, Associate Director of CSJ, welcomed attendees, and introduced Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., President of Loyola Marymount University. It was announced that Loyola Marymount University has signed on to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, a global initiative inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical On Care of Our Common Home (Laudato Si’) that will guide LMU’s journey to ecological renewal by 2030.
Their opening remarks of the 3-day forum on Tuesday, January 30th was followed by a prayer by Reverend Adelia Sandoval, Spiritual Overseer (Púul) and Cultural Director for the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation.
Michael McNaught, Assistant Director of Operations and Programming for CRJ, then introduced filmmaker James Thebaut, whose keynote address set the stage for the critical issues around water that were showcased later that afternoon in the screening of his latest documentary, California’s Watershed: Healing. Attendees in the morning session were then invited to discuss water issues during a panel discussion between Dr. Strauss and James Thebault, with Michael McNaught inviting guests to ask questions during a Q&A period
CURes staff were able to participate in or be present during many of the presentations throughout the 3 days, and during the afternoon of the 30th Dr. Strauss and Lisa Fimiani answered questions posed by Michael McNaught about parallel water issues in the South Bay triggered by the screening of the investigative documentary Colorado River in Crisis by the Los Angeles Times, and participated in a Q&A with the audience.
On Wednesday, January 31st Dr. Michele Romolini gave a locally and internationally pertinent presentation on the work CURes does with Tree Canopy Analysis and efforts to regreen underserved neighborhoods in Los Angeles County.
Immediately following Michele’s presentation and Q&A session the CURes team got to chat with Sister Judith Royer, who has inspired social change and been a champion of unheard voices throughout her long and prestigious career as an LMU Theater Arts Professor, as well as an advocate within CSJ and Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange.
Later in the afternoon Josh Petteruti, VP of ASLMU’s Sustainability and Operations department, gave a presentation on Composting, and while CURes staff were not able to attend this session they all were recorded and will be made available for folks to see through CSJ in the coming weeks!
On the last day of the symposium Lisa Fimiani was able to represent CURes by attending the morning session on “Are We Making Progress? Methodologies and Measurements for Ecological Renewal”, with Jeff Thies, Clinical Associate Professor of Management and Director of the Institute for Business Ethics and Sustainability, LMU College of Business Administration, Dr. John Sebastian, Professor of English and VP for Mission and Ministry, and Ian McKeown, Campus Sustainability Officer.
While we were not able to attend the next session, with Roberta Espinoza, Professor of Sociology and Vice Provost of Global-Local Affairs (GLA), and other speakers, Melissa Fitzpatrick, Assistant Professor of Management, LMU College of Business Admin, and Rebecca Wall, Assistant Professor of History, LMU Bellarmine College; Lisa and Michael proudly displayed the logo pin of GLA during the symposium.
Thursday evening Eric Strauss joined a closed session of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform Working Group (LSAP) Working Group to unpack all of the exciting topics covered during the 3-day symposium.
CURes is very hopeful about the future of LMU and the path unfolding as we follow the Laudato Si’ Action missives.
