Bilingual, Intercultural Student Conference Emphasizes Leadership Development through Nonviolent Principles

Forty high school students, together with their faculty and adult chaperones, deepened their understanding of the Sisters of Mercy Critical Concern for Nonviolence at the Conference of Mercy Student Leaders, June 16-19, 2024, at the University of Detroit Mercy. Sponsored by Mercy Education, this annual leadership development program brought together high school students from both North and Central America, offering a bilingual and intercultural experience for all.

Students delved into the meaning of the Mercy charism by viewing the film, In God Alone – The Story of Catherine McAuley. Following the film, Sister Karen Dunville, RSM, called participants to reflect on the leadership of Catherine McAuley and how her charism and mission lives on today in Mercy schools and other ministries around the world.

Students participated in a variety of leadership development activities led by Kimberly Baxter, Associate Director for Programs and Services for Mercy Education, and Eleasha Tarplin, Dean of Students at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills.

Quan Neloms, an educator, counselor, author and community leader, led a workshop entitled, “The Whole Story: Using Hip Hop and Personal Narrative to Counter Violence and Stereotypes Promoted in Popular Media.”

Traci Smith, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, challenged participants to consider intent versus impact in their actions and communication, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing nonviolence.

Participants heard from Mercy Volunteers who shared powerful stories of how they are living out their Mercy values while committing to a year of service and sustainable community living.

Jean Stokan, a member of the Sisters of Mercy Justice Team, engaged the participants through sharing powerful stories of advocacy and prayerful witness.

Students learned about an advocacy framework which emphasizes compassion, justice and respect for the inherent dignity of people and Earth.

The students reflected on how they could bring their unique gifts and talents to collaborative works focused on nonviolence. Each student group presented on how their school community lives out the Critical Concerns and the Mercy Education Core Values.

Bolstered by their new understanding of their God-given leadership qualities, their connection to the Mercy mission and their deepened understanding of nonviolence and advocacy, each school group devoted time to planning future activities around nonviolence for their school communities.

The conference culminated with a liturgy, blessing ritual and the singing of “The Circle of Mercy.”

• View more photos here.
• You can find resources from the event here. Please contact Kimberly Baxter with any questions.
• Thank you to all presenters and participating schools: Instituto María Regina, La Ceiba, Honduras; Mercy Career & Technical High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Mercy High School, Farmington Hills, Michigan; Mercy McAuley High School, Cincinnati, Ohio; Merion Mercy Academy, Merion Station, Pennsylvania; Muffles College High School, Orange Walk Town, Belize; Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, Rochester, New York; St. Catherine Academy, Belize City, Belize; and St. Mary Academy – Bay View, Riverside, Rhode Island. Thank you also to interpreters for the event, Sisters Katie Mindling and Mary Ellen Brody, RSM.