Addressing Urban Poverty and Injustice at the Brother David Darst Center in Chicago

This February, a group of students traveled to Chicago for an eye-opening service retreat focused on understanding urban poverty and the root causes of inequity and injustice. Hosted at the Brother David Darst Center, the trip provided a unique opportunity to explore the systemic issues facing marginalized communities in urban areas while learning how Catholic Lasallians and other people of faith are actively working to address these challenges.

The week was centered around education, reflection, and hands-on service. The students began by engaging in discussions about the complex factors contributing to urban poverty, such as lack of access to quality education, systemic racism, housing instability, and inadequate healthcare. Through these conversations, students gained a deeper understanding of how these issues converge and how poverty is usually not just a single problem, but a connected one that requires a collective response.

The group also explored the role of young Christians stepping into leadership roles to walk with communities in need and to be a part of the ongoing efforts to better empower the marginalized. Through prayer, reflection, and discussions as a group, students were encouraged to think about how they can help bring about change in their own communities and advocate for a more just and equitable society. The week reinforced the importance of faith, service, and advocacy in making a difference and helped students realize the power of community action in creating meaningful change.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn, serve, and grow alongside the Brother David Darst Center and the communities it serves. This experience has inspired us to continue working toward justice, peace, and equality in our own lives and to ground all our efforts in better modeling Christ’s Gospel love.