The Huether Lasallian Conference is an annual gathering of Lasallian educators in the Region. Location and theme change each year with a focus on innovative educational issues. All faculty and staff of Lasallian ministries are welcome to attend. Through a thoughtful blend of keynote addresses, panel presentations, breakout sessions, and prayer services, we call upon scholars from within and outside the Lasallian tradition in matters pertaining to each year’s theme.
The Christian Brothers Conference - Huether Lasallian Conference this year was on the theme of Compassionate Dialogue and Courageous Conversations: Pathways to Equity and Belonging.
Friday, 11/19
Session 1: Who We Serve & Equity
(Declaration One) How do we create healthy, brave and respectful environments, defend the rights of children, young people and adolescents, and create situations where duties and rights are defended, respected and promoted? How can we better achieve a “student-centered” philosophy in our policy and practices as educators?
Session 2: Association & Belonging
(Declaration Four) How can we foster a sense of community in our ministries that promotes the harmonious growth of people, helps to find meaning in life, makes it possible to create bonds of affection and solidarity, communicates security and respects differences leading to building common dreams and transformative commitments?
(Declaration Five) How can we better use our Lasallian association to better respond to the needs of children and the youth of the world?
(Declaration Six) As we provide an environment that makes possible the search for and transmission of the truth, how do we as educators build authentic relationships in our communities leaving meaningful, character -building, impactful, and lasting impressions on our students?
Where are you currently on your journey towards creating a more inclusive community in your school, workplace, community, church, etc.?
Saturday, 11/20
Session 3: Transforming Lasallian Education
(Declaration Seven) Our educational proposal has to be a real engine of commitment to an integral ecology that challenges alternative paradigms, predatory consumerism, technocratic tyranny, lifestyles inconsistent with human and integral development. How can we engage those we encounter to vision a new paradigm?
(Declaration Eight) Education builds equity to the extent that it generates opportunities for personal, community and social development, while dignifying people and transforming societies. In what ways are we doing this in our local realities? In what ways can we create more opportunities in our local realities?
(Declaration Nine) The objective of Lasallian education is to form people of mature and robust faith, with clear ethical criteria, who exercise leadership through service and who are committed to working for the common good and the building up of more just and peace-promoting societies. What are ways we can walk with those entrusted to us to incorporate these goals into their lives?
How do we use activism as a necessary response to policies that seek to divide marginalized groups, and that young people have the power and agency to create change and transformation through solidarity?
Session 4: Creative Fidelity & Justice
(Declaration Ten) We believe that the presence of God's love in every man and woman reveals the sacredness of life and peace as the greatest good of our living together. We are Gospel people (or Torah people, or Qur'an people,....the list goes on). With the current disaffiliation from organized religions, how do we connect students to the values of respect for people, love of neighbor, mercy and compassion, freedom and responsibility, justice and equity, care for life and nature?
(Declaration Eleven) How can we transform our current ministries to better respond to the signs of the times and the needs of children and youth? What new ministries need to be brought into being to replace or complement our current ministries?
(Declaration Twelve) In what ways can we use our educational ministry to change the world by educating for peace, justice and solidarity?
What will we lose and what’s to be gained from an open and honest discussion of actualizing justice in our ministries?
Our Lasallian Response Panel Discussion
This panel encouraged participants to reflect on our conference discussions and consider:- Diversity - Taking a deeper look, not just physical diversity, but what do diversity and inclusivity truly look like? Can it exist in the midst of systems of priviledge? What would we gain as a community if we increase our diversity, equity, inclusion, and sense of belonging in our Lasallian institutions? What would we lose?
- Unpacking belonging - How do we foster Inclusive communities? How can Lasallians balance feelings, perception, and identity? With the issues of anti-blackness and oppression of marginalized groups and the lack of conversations surrounding diversity and inclusivity, coupled with the disparity of minorities in positions of power, how does this impact our organizations and sense of belonging in Lasallian schools and organizations?
- Considering Creative Fidelity - What do we do now as we look forward, looking inward and outward? What role should Allyship play in our work? As we look forward, as a Lasallian family in our districts and region, RELAN, we are enlightened with all the rich conversations. How do we move forward in this work, united and independently? How do we promote accountability and actionable movement towards progress?