The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Quinn, C.S.B.,
Seminar Series on Social Justice

The idea for a series on Social Justice grew out of a series of seminars/panel discussions/presentations dealing with Social Justice themes.  Three extremely well received and well attended such events were initiated by two on the “Wrongfully Convicted” involving a number of individuals who had spent considerable amounts of time incarcerated for crimes that they in fact had not committed.  The first such event also involved a number of distinguished members of the bar who had acted for these individuals and these lawyers were awarded honorary degrees at a convocation presided over by Fr. Quinn as Acting President.

The next such event also involved Miscarriage of Justice individuals but this time, four distinguished judges who have presided over the appeals of these individuals were awarded honorary doctorates.  The next event keyed on the topic of human trafficking and garnered much publicity and exposure.  Additionally, it engendered an entire local movement called “WE FIGHT” organized to combat such trafficking.  This time, there was no tie with convocation but there were four experts on trafficking on a panel and four actual individuals who had been trafficked across Canada.

All of these events were attended but upwards of 350 students and were subsidized by The Law Foundation of Ontario.

The next such event involves the Underground Railroad and is being organized to take place in February of 2012.  Application has been made to The Law Foundation for support.

These seminars are to be offered every two years and are to rotate with other such seminars organized by The Assumption Group, the first of which was titled “The Future of Religion.”  These latter seminars have no funding support.

Social Justice Series
The Underground Railroad
Program Overview – Thursday, February 16, 2012
 
Public and Free Presentation
 
7:00 p.m. Introductions
 
7:15 – 8:30 p.m. Presentation of “The Spirit of Harriet Tubman” by Leslie McCurdy, Actor/Playwright, Dancer/Choreographer, Singer

There are many plays about Harriet Tubman, but none share her entire life story like a visit with The Spirit of Harriet Tubman. Leslie McCurdy invokes the ‘spirit’ of Harriet Tubman as she portrays the life of the famous Underground Railroad conductor, recreating stories familiar and some rarely told, using words said to have been Harriet Tubman’s own.  Through it all we learn of the faith and conviction that drove Harriet Tubman to follow her dreams; the spirit of the past connecting with the present, inspiring her charges to have the courage to do the same in envisioning their future.

8:30 p.m. Closing Remarks
 
This event is being sponsored by
ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY and is being funded by THE LAW FOUNDATION OF ONTARIO.