Plunges
A Day of Learning is a Day of Service
Plunges are day long immersion experiences raising awareness of a social justice issue and making learning a form of service. Plungers visit places where social injustices are seen clearly and talk to people affected by them. Although participants may see injustice that can lead to hopelessness and apathy, they also are shown opportunities to live out one’s Christian faith through service and advocacy.
Plunges are offered at no cost to the participants. If you do register for a plunge, please honor your commitment or let us know well in advance if you need to cancel so we can offer the spot to another participant. Thank You!
Urban Farming Plunge
Date: September 24 - 8:45 am - 4:30 pm
Location: Mission of Mary Cooperative
This plunge will dive into the growing local food movement in Dayton. Participants will look at the benefits and challenges to growing local food through visits to a few urban farms, gardens, markets and discussions with the farmers themselves. Plungers will also get their hands dirty by helping out with needed tasks. Meals on this plunge will include the fruits of local labors. Discussion and reflection on food justice, distribution, and the environmental impact of growing and shipping food will provide plungers with a starting point to act toward a more just system and to re-evaluate their own food choices.
Immigration Plunge
Date: TBD
Off Campus Location
Even though Dayton is a very welcoming city for immigrants--in fact, the City has a Welcome Dayton program, office and staff--many immigrants here have a difficult time. All the details have not been worked out yet, but our hope is for participants on this plunge to meet members of the local community who are immigrants and refugees and those who work on their behalf. We hope to visit the Welcome Dayton office, Dayton Catholic Hispanic Ministry, and Catholic Social Services' Refugee Services. We will also spend some time learning about the very complicated immigration process, who gets priority to be documented and why.
Martin Luther King Social Justice Plunge
Date: January 21, 10:00am-4:00pm
The MLK Plunge is an opportunity to engage on the issues of poverty and food insecurity, both locally and nationally. Participants will screen an excellent documentary, have a panel discussion and participate in site visits in the city. Lunch that will be provided.
Criminal Justice Plunge
Date: March 4
“We are not yet free. We have merely achieved the freedom to be free, the right not to be oppressed. We have not taken the final step on our journey, but the first step on a longer and even more difficult road. For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” –Nelson Mandela
Join us on the Criminal Justice Plunge as we go into a jail and talk to inmates, learn about recidivism, the need for education/tutoring, and explore places for ex-cons to go after they get out of prison and try to find work.