ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥

"Unitas in Action: Fighting Poverty and Living Sustainably"

Ìý

April 18, 2023
8:45 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ Room
Connelly Center

Join us onÌýTuesday, April 18Ìýfor ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ University's second annual Anti-Poverty Symposium in collaboration with the ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ Sustainability Leadership Council and the Office for Mission and Ministry.ÌýThis symposium will assemble experts in poverty alleviation and sustainability to discuss and motivate the community to contribute to the significant effort of building a sustainable planet free from poverty. This year’s discussions will be broadly framed around the intersections of poverty, ecocide and the path toward ecological justice.ÌýThis event is open to everyone; please select the option to register asÌýAlumni, Family, & Friends.ÌýPlease contactÌýuaevents@villanova.eduÌýfor questions.Ìý

The event will feature renowned experts and other powerful presenters with a range of experiences and policy and research perspectives.ÌýSessions will feature lively conversations among guests who bring different theoretical, methodological and disciplinary approaches to analyzing and mitigating climate crisis and poverty.

The symposium's events will kick off on Monday, April 17 with an evening concert performed by the Pastoral Musicians in the St. Thomas of ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ Church. Throughout the symposium, we invite you to stop by the Exhibit Walk with art installations from featured organizations which will be located in the Connelly Center. We hope you will join us in April and for the series of lead-up events throughout the spring semester.Ìý

This interdisciplinary event is part of a University-wide initiative on poverty and inequality made possible byÌýa gift from Paul Tufano Esq., '83 VSB, '86 CWSL and Christine Tufano '84 CLAS, '86 MA.

Agenda

Subject to change;Ìýall in-person seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis

Monday, April 17

8:00–9:00 p.m.: Evening Concert at the St. Thomas of ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ ChurchÌý

Missa Gaia: A Musical Celebration of Mother EarthÌýperformed by the Pastoral Musicians

Originally performed by the Paul Winter Consort,ÌýMissa GaiaÌýis a contemporary ecumenical and ecological concert-Mass celebrating the Earth. This major work incorporates texts from Saint Francis of Assisi, the Bible and the Roman Liturgy and draws musical inspiration from the sounds of the natural world. In addition to student soloists, hear the Kyrie intoned by an Alaskan tundra wolf, and the Sanctus sounded by a humpback whale.ÌýThe work with be performed by the ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ Pastoral Musicians, ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ University’s liturgical music ensemble of vocalists and instrumentalists, and offers listeners an invitation to rediscover a sense of awe before the great family of creatures to which we belong.Ìý

Morning Sessions

The Exhibit Walk with featured organizations will be displayed in the Connelly Center throughout the day.

8:45–9:15 a.m.: Opening Remarks

• Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, '75 CLAS, President of ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ University
  
• , Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies
  
• Stephanie Sena, Anti-Poverty Fellow at ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ University Charles Widger School of LawÌýand Founder of Student-Run Emergency Housing Unit of Philadelphia (SREHUP)
  
• Rev. Kevin M. DePrinzio, OSA, PhD,ÌýVice President, Office for Mission & Ministry
  
• Rev. Anthony Banks, OSA,ÌýAssistant General of the General Council of the Order of St. Augustine

9:15–10:05 a.m.: Panel 1:ÌýLaudato Si’ Action Platforms:Ìý A Call to Conversion, A Vision for Action

• , Bishop of San Diego
• , Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social SciencesÌý
• Moderated byÌý, Executive Director of Catholic Climate Covenant
  

10:10–11:00 a.m.: Panel 2:ÌýThe Road to Repairing our Broken Ecosystem, and the Right to Be Hopeful

• , Senior Contributing Writer forÌýThe InterceptÌýandÌýNew York TimesÌýbestselling author ofÌýHow to Change Everything: The Young Human’s Guide to Protecting the Earth and Each OtherÌý(2021)
• , Co-director of The Ants & the GrasshopperÌýand Co-author ofÌýInflamed: Deep Medicine and The Anatomy of InjusticeÌý(2021)
• Moderated byÌý, Author ofÌýThe Flag, the Cross, and the Station WagonÌý(2022), Co-founder of 350.org andÌýFounder of Third Act

11:00–11:10 a.m.: Break

11:10 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Panel 3:ÌýPathways to Sustainability at ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ University: Innovations and Challenges

• William Lorenz, Director of Sustainable Engineering Program, ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ University
  
• Fr. Art Purcaro, OSA,ÌýAssistant Vice President of Mission and Ministry, ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ University

12:05–12:55 p.m.: Panel 4:ÌýInequality, The End of Nature, and the Fight for a Fairer Future

• , Author ofÌýThe Flag, the Cross, and the Station WagonÌý(2022) and Co-founder of 350.org
• Moderated byÌý, Emmy Award-winning Producer known forÌýSuccession,ÌýThe Night OfÌý(2016),ÌýOnly Lovers Left AliveÌý(2013)ÌýandÌýBrokeback MountainÌý(2005)

12:55–1:55 p.m.: Lunch with Exhibit Walk

Afternoon Sessions

1:55–2:45 p.m.: Panel 5:ÌýHealing the Land, Ending Poverty Through Kincentric Wisdom and Indigenous Storytelling

• , Author ofÌýBraiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of PlantsÌýand Distinguished Teaching Professor & Director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment, SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestryÌý(virtual)
• ,ÌýCo-Founder of Indigenous Climate ActionÌý
  
• , Co-Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians & Student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences & the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program at Cornell University,Ìý
• Moderated byÌýMeg Martin, First Nation Student featured inÌý

2:50–3:40 p.m.: Panel 6:ÌýGlobal Perspectives in Climate Crisis Solutions

• , Founder and Executive Director ofÌýBlack Girl Environmentalist
• , Co-director ofÌýThe Ants & the GrasshopperÌýand Co-author ofÌýInflamed: Deep Medicine and The Anatomy of InjusticeÌý(2021)
• ,ÌýPresidentÌý& CEO ofÌýCatholic Relief Services
  
• Moderated by Dr. Chiji Akoma, Professor and Chair of theÌýDepartment of Global Interdisciplinary Studies, ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ University

3:40–3:50 p.m.: Break

3:50–4:40 p.m.: Panel 7: Local Perspectives in Climate Crisis Solutions

• ,ÌýCo-founder and Co-director of Cooperation JacksonÌý
• , Owner of R and B Farms and Member of the Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council
• ,ÌýChairperson of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living
• Moderated byÌýLuz Escobar Zapata '24 CLAS
  

4:45–5:00 p.m.: Closing Interfaith Prayer Service

• , Prior Provincial of the Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥
• Rev. Julia Sheetz, PhD, Director of Multifaith Ministry, ÄÌÌÇÖ±²¥ University