Global Symposium

The exciting topic at our 4th annual Global Education & Serviam Symposium on March 22, 2017 was "Fashioning Global Change." The globalization and sheer scale of the fashion industry has created the new consumer norm of disposable "fast fashion." It has resulted in a number of ethical issues which we explored as a school community.

We heard from women who are global change-makers in the industry. Our first keynote speaker was Elizabeth L. Cline, journalist and author of "Overdressed – The Shockingly High Cost of Fast Fashion." Ms Cline described the incredibly labor-intensive nature of the fashion industry. She also described the amount that goes to waste.

Our second keynote speaker, Ms. Rebecca Magee, Manager of Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Eileen Fisher, Inc., shared some of the company's social consciousness and manufacturing improvement initiatives. In the Question & Answer session, Ms. Magee talked with students about the human rights question of what is the fair wage to pay garment workers.

The afternoon portion of the Symposium began with Mara Brockwell ‘18 reporting on a recent visit by Ursuline students to the Youth Forum of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations and participating in dialogue to help create resolutions for gender equality. Alice Varghese ’17 described the activities of the club Women for Women International.

Our third keynote speaker was Ms. Jane Mosbacher Morris, CEO & Founder of TO THE MARKET, an online marketplace of fashionable, artisan goods. Ms. Morris enlightened us about the importance of economic independence and changing lives through the dignity of work. She encouraged the students to discover how they can make a difference by first considering their own talents, then deciding on their focus, and keeping in mind the needs of others. She reminded the girls that no positive action is too small.

During the break-out sessions, our students gathered in small groups and pursued a variety of projects.

The middle school students repurposed cloth, yarn, and other materials into art objects. The 9th and 10th grades watched the video "True Cost" and then conducted team discussions on various human rights issues from the perspective of different constituencies in the clothing manufacturing industry.

Juniors worked in teams with Eileen Fisher Leadership Institute on a creative marketing project. Our girls were joined by a group of students from our sister school, Academy of Mt. Saint Ursula. Seniors spent time with Ms. Morris and then, in teams, created a "go-to-market" strategy for the country they were assigned.

The April 15, 2016 Global Education & Serviam Symposium on Global Climate Impact asked Ursuline students to think of both daily, personal changes that could help the environment as well as big, innovative ideas to help change the world. The day began with Hannah Zamor '17 sharing her personal experience from her summer trip to Ethiopia with Global Concerns Classroom. Hannah explained the effects of climate change on the lives of the villagers she met.

The morning keynote speaker, Amy Freeze, WABC-TV Eyewitness News Meteorologist Saturday & Sunday Morning programs, shared her expertise on the basic principles of extreme weather patterns, the potential causes and how this relates to global climate change.

The following day Amy Freeze included her positive experience at Ursuline during her live WABC-TV Eyewitness News broadcast: Watch it here.

The 7th and 8th grades enjoyed a valuable break-out session with Kenyan Storyteller Alice Otieno-Pala who spoke to the students on the challenges growing up in Kenya in a small village, faced with climate issues such as drought and the chore of walking and carrying water for her family on a daily basis.

The 9th and 10th grades learned about the effects of climate change in Bangladesh. They created Bangladesh awareness campaigns via posters and social media. This was facilitated by Margi Bhatt, Education Officer at Global Concerns Classroom, a non-profit organization which has partnered with Ursuline since 2015.

The 11th and 12th grades watched an excellent documentary called “Racing Extinction” about the loss of biodiversity.

In addition, Ursuline film class students learned tips about broadcast journalism from Amy Freeze, in SCBS, our broadcast studio. The students posed candid questions about women in broadcasting and the future of media from a career perspective.

The afternoon session featured keynote speaker Baba Brinkman and his "Rap Guide to Climate Chaos." Baba is an award-winning playwright who performed at the 2015 COP21 Paris Climate Conference. His unique "lit-hop" presentation challenged the students and faculty to be advocates for big change in the world.

Students had prepared for the symposium earlier in the week in several classes, by watching films such as NASA’s Eyes on the Earth, calculating their carbon footprint online (pictured below), reviewing the papal encyclical Laudate Si and discussing Pope Francis' message to care for the earth.

During the week leading up to the Symposium, students also participated in a water carrying exercise during Physical Education class. Carrying large bottles of water several times around the field provided perspective on the everyday challenge faced by girls and women in other countries. Carrying water from wells a great distance each day often takes the place of education for many young women.

This year’s Global Education & Serviam Symposium on Global Climate Impact offered inspiration and a sense of gratefulness for all we have.

Our second annual Global Education & Serviam Symposium took place in April 2015 and addressed a global health topic. Blinding trachoma is an infectious eye disease that is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. In the late 1990s, Pfizer Inc. scientists discovered that one dose per year of their antibiotic Zithromax could prevent trachoma and its painful, scarring effects. Though treatment is easy and affordable, the focus today is on improving education and distribution in order to eradicate the disease.

On April 17, 2015 Ursuline was honored to welcome Constantine Clemente who served as Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs, Secretary, and Corporate Counsel of Pfizer Inc. and founding chair of the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI). He was joined by Julie Jenson, Director of Supply Chain, Corporate Responsibility at Pfizer Inc. where she coordinates emergency relief and targeted international donations of Pfizer products. Dr. Arthur Clemente, Mr. Clemente’s son and family practitioner, rounded out the panel by providing a valuable medical perspective and explaining the epidemiology of the disease.

A multimedia presentation produced by Ursuline students led off the symposium and helped everyone understand the human dimension of trachoma. After a welcome and introduction by Diyu Pearce-Fisher ’15, Mr. Clemente began the discussion with the fascinating history of ITI and a description of the SAFE Strategy used to combat trachoma (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial Cleanliness, and Environmental Improvement.) He also shared the success story of Morocco where blinding trachoma has been effectively eliminated. Mr. Clemente hoped that students would realize through the symposium that, even as one person, they were capable of changing lives.

Ms. Jenson spoke of efforts to eliminate trachoma today and the logistics of drug delivery and education. She emphasized that many different skills would be needed to combat trachoma and all neglected tropical diseases over the long term – including research, technology, medicine, communications, marketing, and education. No matter your field of interest, you can play a part.

After the presentation, Ursuline students from global awareness and service clubs joined with facilitators from Concern Worldwide and The END Fund to work on various projects. Some met in classrooms to develop action plans and raise community awareness. Their plans were judged by Margi Bhatt of Concern Worldwide who hailed their insight and creativity. Student marketing plans included benefit concerts, blindfold challenges on YouTube, logos, Twitter hashtags and slogans (“See the World as They See It” and “Leave Blind Behind.”) The END Fund representatives led an exercise in understanding the challenges of blindness. With red END Fund bandanas covering their eyes, students experienced how everyday activities become difficult, and were surprised by their feelings of disconnection and isolation.

Our first annual Global Education & Serviam Symposium in April 2014 addressed the theme Educating Girls Around the World.

Our inspiring panelists are pictured below with Ursuline School President Eileen Davidson, at far left. Panelists, from left, were: Amy Freeland representing Global Poverty Project, Isabel Sheinman representing Library for All, Sylvia Wong representing Concern Worldwide, Atti Worku, founder of Seeds of Africa, and Jeff Ash representing Arrive in Kenya,

In the spirit of Serviam, students donated school supplies to help girls in other countries. Team Ursuline completed the 4K Spring Walk organized by Concern Worldwide in Central Park, New York City.