A Year in Radical Hospitality
A Year in Radical Hospitality
From the Mission Effectiveness Team
Radical Hospitality is the intentional welcoming of those we know and don’t yet know in order to build a culture of inclusion and belonging.
In honor of this year’s mission theme of radical hospitality, the Mission Effectiveness Team is working to highlight various ways that a culture of inclusion, welcome, and belonging is fostered by members of our University community.
In this series, we highlight individuals, places, programs, and events that embody radical hospitality and inspire all of us to live out this critical aspect of our mission.
“Be the one who, when you walk in,
blessing shifts to the one who needs it most.
Even if you've not been fed,
be bread.”
― Rumi
A Space for Support
On Oct. 1, 2024, students from across the University affected by war in the Middle East were invited to the Mercy Gathering Place to grieve, support one another, and share in community with fellow students, faculty, and staff. For over seven hours, faculty and staff members gathered in the space on the 1st floor of Shiple Hall, helping to create a safe environment and give students a chance to speak and be heard. This event embodied radical hospitality in the face of suffering, fear, and grief. It spoke to the profound impact of being present for and with each other.
Prof. Hiba Assi, Prof. Marwa Latif, Prof. Prasad Venugopal, and Fr. Charles Oduke, Vice President of Mission Integration, helped organize the gathering. Here, Profs. Latif and Assi share their thoughts on what it meant to them to create a space for care and mutual support on the McNichols campus.
Prof. Marwa Latif: “This gathering was a way of acknowledging on-going events and reflecting on the impact of silence towards our students, faculty, and staff with various social, cultural, and ethnic identities. There were students with identities that were directly impacted, but also students and community members who were grieving for the well-being of the close friends or the humanity in the global community. The conversations we had included how 蘑菇视频 can play a role in creating a refuge for other students and community members who feel excluded or persecuted at other universities.”
Prof. Hiba Assi: “I want to thank the faculty members and staff who volunteered to be present in the Tuesday support space. I am grateful for their response to the call for community. This gathering was immensely needed, as many students and community members are hurting and aching to be seen and heard. The need for this call and the nature of the response serve as a litmus test for our preparedness as a campus to address the needs of our community in the wake of any traumatic event.”