Category Archives: Front Page

Sr. Thea Bowman in a featured image for Black Catholic History Month

Love With Action: Black Catholic History Month

Love With Action

Black Catholic History Offers Strength and Hope in Our Quest for Justice

Ralph McCloud
November 4, 2025

 

I met Sr. Thea Bowman a couple of times. What is there to say about meeting a living saint? It was an honor? A joy? It strengthened my faith? 

Absolutely! 

Meeting Sr. Thea challenged me in my mission as a baptized believer. Her 1989 address to the U.S. bishops is a landmark event in Black Catholic History in the United States, and I try to revisit it every November, if not more often. 

Sr. Thea Bowman walks past future NETWORK Fellow Ralph McCloud at a gathering of Black Catholics in the 1980s.

I had no idea I was four feet from a future saint. (I’m seated cross-legged in the front row.)

November is Black Catholic History Month, an observance that coincides with the feast of St. Martin de Porres (November 3), and the birthday of St. Augustine (November 13). It begins with All Saints and All Souls Days, which evoke the reverence for ancestors in African history. For us, this cloud of witnesses isn’t merely watching. They inspire us, help us, and hold us accountable. 

Sr. Thea still encourages me with the awareness that, in her words, a Black Catholic brings “my whole history, my traditions, my experience, my culture, my African-American song and dance and gesture and movement and teaching and preaching and healing and responsibility – as gifts to the church.” 

But gifts are not always appreciated or received with grace. She also noted: 

“I see it: Black people within the church—Black priests, sometimes even Black bishops—who are invisible. And when I say that I mean they’re not consulted. They are not included. Sometimes decisions are made that affect the Black community for generations and they’re made in rooms by white people behind closed doors.” 

Today some of the challenges we face go beyond being ignored, to blatant racism brazenly spewed by both political leaders and influencers; the gutting of voting rights and approval of racial profiling by the Supreme Court; the erasure of slavery and Civil Rights from school textbooks; and the Trump administration’s fervent, almost gleeful rush to destroy any program intended to help promote equity and inclusion. 

While the Catholic Church is among those groups that have decried the sin of racism and espoused a belief in dignity and equity for all (documented in a succession of pastoral letters by the bishops through the decades), the practical reality is often different. Racism still has a hold in the church – whether through the actions of individuals and communities or in the words, actions, or omissions of its leaders.  

When Black history and the pain of Black people get buried and watered down, it is to the detriment of all believers. Gloria Purvis expressed this brilliantly in a recent essay: 

“Our Catholic witness in America hangs in the balance. Church leaders can either acknowledge their grave error and work toward genuine reconciliation, or they can continue tacitly sanctifying racist speech and injustice. The choice will help determine whether American Catholicism finally confronts white supremacy or remains captured by the same moral blindness that has corrupted Christian witness in our country since its colonial origins.” 

Living out our faith in the context of an imperfect church—where even the best pastoral letter tend to gather dust on shelves—might require going back to the basics, to something like the Bible, to show the way. Jesus, in his radical example, acclaimed the Good Samaritan and dined with the tax collectors and sex workers. Jesus—God incarnate—didn’t hesitate to cross lines to include those who had long been excluded from full participation in society. 

Today, we have a pope who gets it. With his background that includes Black ancestors in the Caribbean, life among poor people in Peru, and the promotion of women into leadership roles, we could call Leo XIV the “DEI pope.” In his letter, Dilexi Te, Pope Leo calls us to love our marginalized neighbors with action. 

“God has a special place in his heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and he asks us, his Church, to make a decisive and radical choice,” the pope proclaims. 

Applying our mission to our troubled world is a radical choice. And we can all work together to make justice, equity, and the fullness of human dignity come alive in our society. 

Growing up Black and Catholic, my siblings and I took pride in the causes of African-American men and women advancing toward sainthood. But over time, we also wondered: when will they ever move forward on that journey? These causes are now known as “the Holy Seven,” and they include Sister Thea Bowman. 

I believe we can move forward and will make progress in ways both great and small. And it is this progress, guided and cared for by the Holy Spirit, we can find the hope to persist on this long, often difficult journey toward justice. 

 

Ralph McCloudRalph McCloud is NETWORK’s Senior Fellow. He previously served for 16 years as Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the domestic anti-poverty program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Becoming, Belonging, and Beloved

Becoming, Belonging, and Beloved

Justice Demands the Freedom to Live the Truth of Who We Are Fully

Taylor Demby
October 30, 2025

 

What does it mean to live truthfully, not only for ourselves but for those who came before us and those who have yet to speak their truth? For LGBTQ+ people, this is both a celebration and a reminder that visibility is personal and political.

2025 Sr. Carol Coston Fellow Taylor Dembry

Taylor Demby

Every coming out story carries the weight of generations of struggle and courage, serving as an echo of the work of queer ancestors who risked everything so that others may live openly today. Young advocates have an ongoing responsibility to honor this legacy with faith, goodwill, and a strong commitment to justice. 

Coming out is often depicted as a single moment of revelation, but I believe it’s better understood as a continual process of becoming. For some, coming out means naming a truth aloud for the first time. For others, it means choosing honesty in spaces where silence was once the safer option. In both forms, coming out is an act that insists on dignity. The decision to live authentically directly challenges systems that depend on factors like invisibility and shame to maintain control. 

Coming out is both an inherent act of resistance and a testament to hope. Queer ancestors understood this deeply. Prominent figures like Audre Lorde, Sylvia Rivera, and Harvey Milk embodied great courage during their time, each finding revolutionary ways to blend honesty with love, protest, and compassion. They lived in eras that punished authenticity, yet their defiance came from a deeply rooted faith that truth, belonging, and acceptance would outlive fear. 

Many more whose names we may never know quietly built the foundations of the communities we depend on today; their collective belief in a freer, more accepting world that could exist outside of their lifetimes continues to shape how we respond to injustice. Honoring the legacy of queer ancestors means not only remembering their names, but also emulating their radical belief in belonging. They didn’t fight courageously to be merely tolerated, they fought to be fully embraced. 

We must understand the vital role that intersectionality plays in the perception of the LGBTQ+ community and the likelihood a queer person will be met with acceptance should they choose to come out. Intersectionality reminds us that identity, race, class, and faith shape each person’s journey differently. 

A Black or Brown queer person may face racism within queer spaces and homophobia within their cultural or religious communities. Immigrant and undocumented individuals risk family separation or legal danger when they reveal who they are. Individuals with disabilities or people living in poverty may find that the material costs of honesty are steep. Recognizing these intersections helps us keep our understanding of coming out grounded in empathy and realism. 

Approaching this legacy with faith and goodwill does not mean naive optimism. It means holding firm to the conviction that every single person deserves to be treated with dignity and care, not conditionally, not quietly, but fully. Solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community consists of dismantling the systems that treat acceptance as conditional or transactional and instead working to build a culture where everyone is free to be whole. 

This work must be carried out in every corner of our communities, from classrooms to workplaces to places of worship. On a personal level, solidarity can look like offering quiet acts of reassurance in the form of a conversation, a letter, or a shared meal. These gestures should be offered with the genuine intention of reminding friends that they are seen, valued, and entirely embraced. These acts are expressions of faith as much as they are acts of justice. 

As an advocate inspired by the principles of Catholic Social Justice, I seek to ground my advocacy work in the conviction that dignity and justice are inseparable. The common good demands that our social systems create conditions where we all can flourish. These values transcend religion and spirituality; they speak to a universal moral responsibility. When applied to the act of coming out, we’re challenged to look beyond tolerance and move toward radical acceptance; we’re challenged to build communities where authenticity isn’t met with discomfort or quiet approval, but with celebration, sincerity and care.

 

Taylor Demby is a sociology major at University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio and a Sr. Carol Coston Fellow in NETWORK’s Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L).

image of the US Capitol with a caption calling on Congress to protect health care

Hey, Congress: Care is What Really Matters

Hey, Congress: Care is What Really Matters

 

Deliberate Distractions Must Not Derail Our Efforts to Protect Health Coverage for Millions of People

Jackalope Labbe
October 29, 2025

 

Every week brings a new wave of confusion regarding health care from the Trump administration. One day, it’s HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. making unfounded claims about over-the-counter painkillers and autism. The next, it’s open skepticism about childhood vaccination schedules. At the same time, the Department of Health and Human Services touts that most people don’t need regular care. The chaos this creates serves a purpose. It is meant to dominate attention and drown out the real story.

Jackalope Labbe, a Sr. Carol Coston Fellow in NETWORK's Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L.)

Jackalope Labbe

While everyone argues about medical conspiracies, some lawmakers in Congress have worked to dismantle and defund major parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). When public focus is fixed on fringe controversies, it becomes easier for lawmakers to push through such a devastating policy change. While the media churns out headline after headline on the newest baseless claims coming from members of the current administration, Congress is preparing to let the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits expire.

The ACA’s premium tax credit lowered the cost of health care for millions of people by capping how much we pay for coverage on the ACA marketplace based on our income, making premiums either free or affordable for millions of low- and middle-income families. It is the only way millions of people in the U.S. can afford health care. Without this, insurance companies are surging their rates, leaving us with more expensive, less effective health care.

Since being introduced, the ACA premium tax credits have transformed access to health care in our country. Enrollment in ACA marketplace coverage hit record highs in early 2025, driving the uninsured rate to its lowest level ever. Today, more than 24 million people rely on these tax credits to afford their insurance. An estimated 4.8 million people will lose their health coverage entirely because they can no longer afford it without the premium tax credits.

These aren’t abstract numbers. They represent parents choosing between rent and insulin, young adults aging out of their parents’ plan with nowhere to turn, and rural hospitals forced to close their doors as patient numbers drop.

As frustrating as this political theater feels, anger alone won’t change minds. Our community members echoing misinformation about vaccines or Medicaid aren’t doing so out of hostility. They’re scared. Years of rising costs, confusing bureaucracy, and inaccessible care have left so many feeling alienated. When leaders exploit that fear, it breeds mistrust, making people more vulnerable to conspiracy theories that tell us the system was never meant to help anyway.

If we respond with outrage, we alienate those who could join with us. Empathy does not mean agreeing with misinformation; it means understanding the concerns that fuel it. When we center conversations around shared experiences, we remind each other that health care is a universal issue. Compassion is not weakness; it’s a strategy for rebuilding community.

Much of the misinformation flooding social media targets one of the most vulnerable emotions in the country, a mother’s fear. False claims about medications during pregnancy or routine childhood vaccines being dangerous are designed to strike where the instinct to protect intersects with trust in science. These stories circulate because they sound caring, reframing misinformation as maternal caution rather than political manipulation. This strategy is deliberate.

When fear takes hold, it erodes trust in the healthcare systems families depend on. Instead of feeling supported by doctors and public health agencies, parents feel suspicious of them. This cycle of fear doesn’t just isolate families; it weakens collective confidence in public health, making it easier for lawmakers to justify cuts to the programs that keep those same families healthy.

This government shutdown is not just another budget debate; it’s a turning point. The distractions, conspiracy theories, culture wars, and partisan gridlock are meant to make us forget where we need to focus: keeping health care accessible. This means protecting the ACA, including premium tax credits.

Every phone call to a representative, every conversation educating each other, every show of solidarity helps. The Trump administration may count on division and fatigue, but we can choose to stay centered on what matters. We cannot fall to distrust in uncertain times. We must strive for clarity. While some government officials try to use confusion to take away our care, we can refocus our attention to saving it.

 

Jackalope Labbe is a social work and history major at College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA and a Sr. Carol Coston Fellow in NETWORK’s Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L).

Permitting Reform Done Right

Permitting Reform Done Right

 

We Have the Opportunity to Serve People and the Planet, Not More Fossil Fuels

Drake Starling
October 21, 2025

 

This fall, one of the most pressing environmental debates in Congress will center on permitting reform – how, and how quickly, our country approves energy projects like pipelines, transmission lines, and renewable energy facilities. At first glance, “permitting reform” might sound like bureaucratic jargon. But what’s at stake are the health of our communities, the integrity of our democracy, and the future of our climate. 

What Is Permitting Reform?

Federal permitting rules—especially under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)—require agencies to review the environmental and community impacts of major projects before shovels hit the ground. They ensure that new projects don’t poison water, destroy sacred lands, or trap entire regions in decades of fossil fuel pollution. They are also one of the only tools of Indigenous Nations and local communities to demand consultation and protect their rights. 

Some lawmakers argue that these safeguards take too long and stand in the way of building more clean energy infrastructure. But too often, “reform” proposals that claim to “fast-track renewables” also open the door for more oil and gas pipelines, petrochemical plants, and mining projects that cause harm. Without careful attention, “permitting reform” risks becoming a cover for environmental rollbacks. 

Why It Matters for Climate Justice

If designed thoughtfully, permitting reform could be part of the solution to climate change – helping us rapidly expand wind, solar, and transmission lines needed to replace polluting power plants. But if designed poorly, it could lock us into decades of additional fossil fuel extraction, disproportionately harming low-income communities and communities of color who already live on the frontlines of pollution. 

This is why NETWORK insists that climate justice must guide any reform. Catholic Social Justice reminds us that every person has the right to clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment. Sacrificing communities for the sake of speed is not progress – it is injustice. 

Permitting reform isn’t just about today’s projects. It’s about the world we are building for our children and grandchildren. The choices Congress makes this fall will determine whether future generations inherit cleaner air, thriving ecosystems, and resilient communities or a planet scarred by short-sighted extraction and political expediency. As people of faith, we are called to be good ancestors: to plant trees whose shade we may never sit under, to safeguard creation so that tomorrow’s children can breathe freely, drink safely, and live with dignity on a planet that still feels like home.

Congress will decide whether our children will inherit a clean planet or one scarred by extraction and political expediency.NETWORK’s Priorities

As Congress considers proposals this fall, NETWORK will continue to stress three core principles: 

  • Protect Communities: Any permitting reform must strengthen—not weaken—requirements for environmental review and community consultation, especially with Tribal Nations and frontline communities. 
  • Prioritize Clean Energy: Reforms should speed up the build-out of renewables and transmission, not lock in new fossil fuel projects. 
  • Advance Justice: True reform must advance racial and environmental justice by addressing the legacy of pollution and disinvestment in communities of color. Places like Anacostia in D.C. and “Cancer Alley” in Louisiana deserve clean air, safe water, and a say in decisions that affect their health and future – not to be treated as sacrifice zones for industry. 
What You Can Do: Call on Congress 

Now is the time to make your voice heard. Members of Congress need to hear clearly: Permitting reform should only move forward if it speeds the clean energy transition – not if it expands fossil fuel infrastructure. Our leaders must not be swayed by industry lobbyists who want to use “reform” as a backdoor for more pipelines and polluting projects. 

You can help by contacting your Senators and Representatives and urging them to: 

  • Support permitting reforms that accelerate renewable energy deployment and modernize the electric grid. 
  • Oppose any effort to weaken NEPA or roll back environmental reviews that protect public health and ensure community input. 
  • Reject reforms that lock us into decades of fossil fuel dependence. 

Together, we can shape a permitting system that truly serves the common good. 

A Vision of Permitting Reform Rooted in Justice 

Permitting reform is not simply a policy debate; it is a moral question. Will we allow fossil fuel companies to weaken protections in the name of “progress”? Or will we ensure reforms truly serve the common good, speeding the transition to renewable energy while safeguarding health, land, and water for generations to come? 

This fall, NETWORK will be urging Congress to choose the latter: a vision of permitting rooted in justice, consultation, and care for creation. Together, we can make sure the road to clean energy is paved not with shortcuts for polluters, but with pathways to justice. 

Register for NETWORK’s Next Webinar: Protecting Creation: Federal Rollbacks, Legislative Action, and Faith in Climate Justice

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM EDT
Link to attend this virtual event will be emailed upon RSVP. RSVP here.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks at the Interfaith Rally and Vigil for Health Justice with Faith Leaders and Members of Congress

Interfaith Rally and Vigil for Health Justice with Faith Leaders and Members of Congress

NETWORK gathered at the Interfaith Rally and Vigil for Health Justice with faith Leaders and Members of Congress

Laura Peralta-Schulte
October 15, 2025

A broad coalition of faith leaders and advocates, and Democratic leaders in the House, gathered on Thursday, October 9, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in the shadow of the nation’s Capitol for an urgent Interfaith Rally and Vigil for Health Justice. Together, we called on Congress to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) that ends the government shutdown and extends the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace’s enhanced premium tax credits (PTC).

The vigil wove together prayer, prophetic testimony, and public action–and urged lawmakers to place compassion, justice, and the common good above political brinkmanship. Speakers rooted their comments in the shared moral teachings of their traditions and declared fervently that healthcare is a moral right. Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders bore public witness that healthcare is not a privilege for the wealthy, but rather a sacred right for all.

Democratic Members of the House who support this position joined NETWORK and our faith partners for the event. Participants included Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Jim McGovern (MA-02). Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley also joined the rally.

  • Bridget Moix of Friends Committee National Legislation speaks at the

You can view and download pictures from this prophetic witness in our Flickr photo album.

Healthcare coverage for millions of Americans across ages, faiths, races, income levels, and geographic locations is at risk due to historic price increases caused by passage of the Big, Bad Budget law (H.R.1) this summer. The average price for ACA Marketplace premiums will more than double on January 1, 2026 if the enhanced PTCs expire, impacting 24 million Americans. It is estimated that nearly 5 million will drop out of ACA coverage immediately simply because they cannot afford it without the enhanced premium subsidies. A loss of health coverage is a death sentence for the sick and vulnerable.

In the Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te of the Holy Father Leo XIV on Love for the Poor, published on October 9, 2025, Pope Leo XIV sums up a millennium of Catholic Social Teaching in one sentence: “Love for the Lord, then, is one with love for the poor.” He also echoes the late Pope Francis’ call that “we must continue, then, to denounce the “dictatorship of an economy that kills.”

“We need to be increasingly committed to resolving the structural causes of poverty. This is a pressing need that “cannot be delayed, not only for the pragmatic reason of its urgency for the good order of society, but because society needs to be cured of a sickness which is weakening and frustrating it, and which can only lead to new crises.” ~Pope Leo XIV, Dilexi te

As the government shutdown continues, we are mindful of the fierce urgency to both open our government and to resolve the health crisis before the November 1 deadline. People of good faith can reach an agreement if there is political will to do so. We will continue to call on Congress and the White House to begin negotiations immediately and to pass a bipartisan solution that keeps our government operating and provides affordable health care.

You can view and download pictures from this prophetic witness in our Flickr photo album.

photo of San Antonio's market square, the largest Mexican market in the U.S.

Hispanic Heritage Means Resilience Against Injustice

Hispanic Heritage Means Resilience Against Injustice

 

Policies of Exclusion Inflict Lasting Mental and Physical Harm on Hispanic Communities

Taylor Demby
October 14, 2025

 

For Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), NETWORK’s Sr. Carol Coston Fellows share their thoughts on the importance of this observance in the U.S. This reflection comes from University of the Incarnate Word student Taylor Demby.

Taylor Demby, a sociology major at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas and a 2025 Sr. Carol Coston Fellow in NETWORK's Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L.)

Taylor Demby

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the richness, resilience, and many contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities across the United States. This month is especially personal to me as a San Antonian and as an ally. Having grown up in a city where Hispanic culture shapes nearly every neighborhood, classroom, and workplace, I have experienced firsthand how essential the Hispanic community is to the fabric of our daily life.

Both in and out of September, it is imperative that we take a moment to honor this cultural legacy that continues to influence every corner of American life. As we honor heritage and achievement, we cannot continue to ignore a serious concern: the rising mental health crises deeply affecting Hispanic communities, intensified by the relentless attacks and exclusionary policies that have shaped their lived experiences in this country.

Data from the CDC’s 2023 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report indicate a troubling trend: suicide rates among Hispanic individuals in the U.S. increased by 10 percent between 2018 and 2021, while rates for non-Hispanic White individuals declined over the same period. Behind these numbers lie the experiences of families and neighbors: each one reflecting a real human reality shaped by systemic discrimination, the emotional toll of ongoing injustice, and the daily challenges faced by a community trying to navigate a society that continues to overlook and undermine them.

I work at one of the few outpatient behavioral health facilities in San Antonio that accepts Medicaid. In my work, I encounter both the resilience of and the struggles that Hispanic families face when seeking mental health care. Many caregivers advocate fiercely for their children, yet they face barriers that others rarely encounter. Long waitlists, limited insurance coverage, lack of transportation, unforgiving work schedules, and the stigma surrounding mental health can make accessing care extraordinarily difficult. Their persistence inspires me, but it also emphasizes the urgent need for federal policies that expand Medicaid access, reduce wait times and ensure culturally competent, affordable care for all Hispanic families.

Across the country, families face the compounded effects of systemic inequities, limited access to healthcare, and the stress of navigating anti-immigrant policies. These struggles are widespread yet often hidden, reminding us that celebration alone is not enough. We must pair this recognition with meaningful action to create the change our communities need. To me, honoring Hispanic heritage means taking the time to recognize the full spectrum of experiences that shape communities.

In my home state of Texas, where heavy anti-immigrant sentiment and ultra-exclusionary policies have persisted for generations, these challenges are especially apparent. Students at my own university and across the Bexar County area are not immune to this. In San Antonio, reckless immigration policies and cuts enacted through the recent Budget Reconciliation Bill continue to disproportionately affect Hispanic families, impacting workplaces, classrooms, and homes.

These realities highlight the urgent need for culturally sensitive support, accessible care, and open dialogue about mental health and our healthcare system as a whole. By bringing these issues to the forefront, we can mobilize our communities and work to hold legislators and decision-makers accountable, ensuring that the policies introduced protect and uplift Hispanic families rather than harm them.

Hispanic Heritage Month offers advocates and allies like me a unique opportunity to pair celebration with action. Investing in the health and dignity of Hispanic families builds a stronger, more equitable future for all families, regardless of race or class. The forces driving inequity expand across race and region, hurting working people everywhere, and the solutions we fight for benefit us all.

Honoring Hispanic heritage requires confronting these uncomfortable truths: that within the great stories of strength, resilience, and perseverance live the often-unspoken realities of distress, trauma, and pain associated with inequity. We should do more than remember the past. We must contribute to culturally sensitive dialogue that affirms a principle central to my work as an advocate inspired by Catholic Social Justice teaching: human dignity. Every human being possesses inherent dignity and deserves the support to live fully and authentically, without barriers.

Learn more about NETWORK’s Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L).

graphic for Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Shines Brightly, Even Under Threat

Hispanic Heritage Shines Brightly, Even Under Threat

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Means Both Vibrant Celebrations and the Need for Protection of Our Communities

Leslie Gracia
October 8, 2025

 

For Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), NETWORK’s Sr. Carol Coston Fellows share their thoughts on the importance of this observance in the U.S. This reflection comes from DePaul University student Leslie Gracia.

Leslie Gracia, student at DePaul University and 2025 Sr. Carol Coston Fellow in NETWORK's Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L.)

Leslie Gracia

In my experience, living in America means witnessing month-long ethnic and cultural celebrations throughout the year. As someone of Hispanic descent, I love how, from mid-September to mid-October, I see Mexican restaurants, bakeries, and street vendors selling cut-up fresh fruit, elotes, and Mexican flags.

There are street murals in vibrant shades of red, green, and orange. They display images like Our Lady of Guadalupe, a mom praying her rosary for her child who hasn’t arrived home before midnight, Frida Kahlo with monarch butterfly wings, Indigenous Mexican people, and so many other beautiful images.

Seeing Hispanic people connect through our ethnicities makes it feel like we are at home, especially in Chicago. And yet they also make me feel like I am walking down the streets of Etzatlán, Jalisco, a town I visit in Mexico because I have family there.

Our Lady of Guadalupe plays a significant role in the Catholic Mexican community, as she appeared on the outskirts of what is now considered Mexico City, up on a hill called Tepeyac in the year 1531. When I visit Etzatlán on December 12, her appearance day anniversary in Mexico, we gather at night in the sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is near the plaza. We pray the rosary, sing her Las Mañanitas, and offer her roses that are blessed by the local priest.

street mural of Our Lady of GuadalupeWe eat traditional holiday foods like tamales with atole, a warm, thick corn drink flavored with guava or nuts. A view of a big, knitted figure of Our Lady of Guadalupe, almost like a mural, adorns the wall of the sanctuary. Above us in the sky, a knitted star pattern is draped from the sanctuary to another building, creating a woven ceiling. Then we move towards the plaza for the last event of the night, the castillo.

The castillo gets lit from the bottom, and the fire and beautiful bright lights escalate to the top of the structure. When the fire reaches her figure, red and white light explosions and loud whistling noises emerge from the castillo itself. It feels magical. Towards the end, our Lady of Guadalupe’s white crown begins to burn, hence the name castillo. Then it flies up into the sky. Kids run after it, not caring about the possibility of getting burned. They just want to have it.

Our Lady of Guadalupe plays an important role for immigrants. Many pray to her for protection when crossing the border. The same goes for anyone who feels unsafe, especially right now, with ICE raids targeting communities and places of employment, but mostly just anyone who looks Hispanic. No Hispanic person is safe after the Supreme Court ruled that ICE can now racially profile anyone who looks Hispanic or is speaking in their native tongue – that is, because of our Hispanic Heritage!

While Our Lady of Guadalupe has always been invoked for safety, right now I feel like everyone is coming together to pray to her and ask for protection. Hispanic Heritage Month is usually a time for celebrating as a community. We forget the racism we encounter every day and throw street parties, unapologetically and loudly playing our Spanish music. But this year it has turned into a month of fear and hiding, of staying alert so that fewer families get separated. Our community bonds remain strong.

Learn more about NETWORK’s Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L).

Image source: Wikimedia Commons, Attribution-ShareAlike International 4.0. license. Image cropped for this post and adapted into the featured image graphic.

Hispanic Heritage Promotes Democracy and Dignity

Hispanic Heritage Promotes Democracy and Dignity

 

My Responsibility is to Help Build a Future Where We All Have a Share in the Decisions That Shape Our Destiny

Jonathan Alcantara
October 6, 2025

 

For Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), NETWORK’s Sr. Carol Coston Fellows share their thoughts on the importance of this observance in the U.S. The following is Part 2 of a two-part reflection by Jonathan Alcantara of Marquette University. (Read Part 1.)

Jonathan Alcantara, a 2025 Sr. Carol Coston Fellow in NETWORK's Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L.)

Jonathan Alcantara

In addition to undeniable economic and cultural contributions, the Latino community also participates powerfully in the democratic process. In particular, young Latinos are the fastest-growing demographic of voters, and our voices will shape the future elections. However, targeted voter suppression tactics like disinformation and misinformation, lack of access to absentee ballots, limited early voting, and bans on students using their school IDs at the polls continue to create barriers for young Latino voters.

So, over the past two years, I’ve served as a Sr. Carol Coston Fellow, working with other students and young adults in Wisconsin and across the country to foster a safe environment for civic engagement and support voter registration on our campuses. All of the meaningful conversations I’ve had with my peers on campus and with community leaders show and remind me that our democracy is stronger when we all participate and a lot weaker when we’re separated and pushed out.

Despite the inequalities, political tensions, and fearmongering, our lucha and resilience still define us. Across the nation this month, Latino communities are finding ways to gather and celebrate their heritage while navigating their fears. In cities like Chicago, Madison, and Appleton, Wisconsin, festivals celebrate with live music, dances, and traditional food. They also have workshops and representatives talking about healthcare, business inclusion, and professional leadership.

However, many events have scaled back and have even been postponed because of the possibility of immigration raids, but one thing’s for certain, seguimos unidos y en solidaridad, no matter the obstacles. Our culture is still alive not only in the happy moments but also in times when we must pivot, adapt, and continue showing up for one another through advocacy.

What ties all of this together is the set of values that go with the Latino community. We strongly believe in familia, dignidad, and oportunidad, which are values that anyone, regardless of their background and what they look like, can recognize as important. My Catholic faith reminds me that these are more than just cultural values; they are moral truths: that every person is made in the Imago Dei and deserves respect, freedom, and the chance to grow and thrive, no exceptions. In our faith, we say, cada persona es hijo de Dios, every person is a child of God. And that truth calls us to treat every person with the same dignity and respect.

Looking ahead, I see a hopeful future where our cultura is not only honored by others but fully integrated into the story of this country. A future where Latino students, like me, succeed in college without the barriers that are currently holding us back, where workers earn livable wages that match their contributions to our country, where families can live without the fear of leaving their house for five minutes, and where our voices are fully recognized in the public.

This vision is attainable, and this is why Hispanic Heritage Month matters. Is it about honoring culture? Yes. But it’s also about defending human dignity, expanding and growing economic opportunity, and strengthening our democracy. For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is both personal and shared. This month calls me to remember the resilience of those who came before me and to act with the knowledge of my responsibility for those who will come after me.

This month, I celebrate my heritage not only by remembering the past but by helping build a future where every family, Latino or not, can live, work, and thrive con fe, esperanza y orgullo, no exceptions.

Learn more about NETWORK’s Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L).

How Do We Reach Gen Z as Engaged Citizens?

How Do We Reach Gen Z as Engaged Citizens?

 

Shifting From Individualistic Appeals to Collective Empowerment Will Encourage Young Voters to View Voting as Relevant

Jackalope Labbe
October 3, 2025
Jackalope Labbe, a Sr. Carol Coston Fellow in NETWORK's Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L.)

Jackalope Labbe

Throughout my work in student engagement, I’ve noticed that Gen Z, despite being notoriously connected through social media and digital platforms, can be incredibly hard to reach when it comes time for civic engagement. When running my first voter registration drive at Elms College, this reality hit me hard. I found myself consistently connecting with potential voters on issues that were contentious in the upcoming election; however, when asked if they were going to vote, I was mostly told no. 

What I kept hearing was “My vote doesn’t matter anyway.” Through this event, I saw a growing sense of disillusionment, sometimes described as “Gen Z doomerism,” which has led many young people to question whether casting a ballot makes a difference. This experience changed my approach: if we are to connect with young voters, we must reframe what voting means to them. 

Too often, voting is described as an individual obligation. For a generation deeply aware of the power held by corporations, institutions, and political systems, the idea that one person’s ballot can alter the future feels unconvincing. We can change this by reshaping our messaging around voting to focus on its collective power. When more of Gen Z votes, our generation becomes recognized as a legitimate voting bloc, transforming voting from a solitary act into a demonstration of generational power. 

In this context, casting a ballot is not merely “doing your part” but joining in solidarity to shape a shared future based on our generation’s needs. When politicians notice that our generation has the power to elect them to or oust them from office, they also notice the issues that matter most to us. Individuals do have power in our electoral system, but our current language leaves Gen Z feeling isolated in their journey to the voting booth. Breaking down this barrier requires adjusting our messaging surrounding voting from an isolated act to an act of solidarity. 

Another concern voiced by many Gen Z voters is that electoral choices feel limited. When the system appears reduced to two unappealing options, participation declines. The solution is not to dismiss this frustration, but to highlight the growing number of new and dynamic leaders entering public service. However, this also demands that those involved in voter registration must keep up with smaller campaigns. Grassroots campaigns spring up every election, especially with social media being able to amplify newer candidates without needing the money of incumbent politicians. 

Staying on top of local campaigns can exemplify how fresh voices make space for new priorities in the political arena. Elevating the ability to support new candidates demonstrates to Gen Z that there are alternatives to establishment politics and that their votes can help propel new candidates into office. 

Along with social media giving rise to more grassroots candidates, Gen Z is uniquely positioned in an era where public accountability is immediate. With constant access to information, our generation evaluates leaders not by rhetoric, but by record. It is no longer sufficient to rely on campaign promises; the emphasis must be on actual action. Discussing what elected officials have accomplished grounds political engagement in tangible outcomes rather than slogans, allowing Gen Z voters to see the true impact candidates can have on their communities. 

While getting people out to vote is the main push during voter registration drives, it is equally important to recognize that meaningful civic participation extends beyond the ballot box. Voting is one tool among many. Staying informed about local protests, solidarity movements, and legislative developments sustains engagement between elections. This gives Gen Z a way to actively participate in our political system in a way that does not feel momentary, allowing younger voters to build community while participating in civic action. 

Staying aware of other modern forms of political participation is vital to ensure Gen Z stays engaged after leaving the voting booth. 

If we want Gen Z to view voting as relevant, we must change our language. That means shifting from individualistic appeals to collective empowerment, encouraging young voters to research leaders who reflect their values, emphasizing results over rhetoric, and recognizing civic action as a year-round responsibility. 

Gen Z is already reshaping culture, technology, and activism. Our potential to reshape democracy is equally strong, provided we affirm our role as a legitimate force in the American political landscape. Ensuring our generation’s full participation is not simply a matter of generational buy-in. It is a matter of strengthening the very foundation of our democracy. 

Jackalope Labbe is a social work and history major at the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and a 2025 Sr. Carol Coston Fellow in NETWORK’s Young Advocates Leadership Lab (Y.A.L.L).