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Center for Social Justice Newsletter, Tuesday, May 5. 2026

Andria Wisler - Tuesday, May 5

Newsletter

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Newsletter

The CSJ is located in Poulton Hall at the corner of 37th and P Streets NW. Enter under the number “1419.” The CSJ is staffed/unlocked M-F 8:00AM - 7:00PM. Between 7:00PM-8:00AM and through the weekends, use your GoCard to tap into CSJ.

* The CSJ space will be closed for painting and minor renovations the week of May 18, 2026 (the week after graduation). The CSJ team will be working virtually that week and attending TLISI on campus. The CSJ space will be closed on Wednesday, May 13 as we prepare for the interior work. The CSJ space will also be closed July 27-31. *

three images of college students with their tutees at a party

Spring Fling at Capitol Campus!

For the first time since before the pandemic, CSJ’s Education x EngageDC (e2DC) programs invited our tutees and their families to celebrate and build community together with Spring Fling! On April 25, the end-of-year celebration brought nearly 98 community members and 70 Georgetown students in a day of face-painting, food, snow cones, and lawn games. A huge thanks to the Capitol Campus team for supporting our weather-proof event and the Office of Transportation Management for helping transport the families. Our deepest appreciation to our community partners, schools, and families for a wonderful year together with our Hoyas for Others. (e2DC programs include the ASK Program, DC Reads, DC Schools Project, and DC STEM.) For more photos, check out DC Reads Instagram!

Over 21? Support research and take the
Changemaker Wellbeing Survey by May 22

You are invited to take the State of Changemaker Wellbeing Survey, a global research study for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Center for Healthy Minds, in partnership with The Wellbeing Project, and Humin. The purpose of this study is to better understand what supports and undermines wellbeing across the social change sector. This is a global survey focused specifically on changemaker wellbeing. Changemakers everywhere provide the very foundation of societal pillars that we all rely on every day, and yet their own wellbeing is deeply understudied. By bringing together voices across roles, regions, and movements, we aim to build a shared, evidence-based understanding of the everyday realities of change work. The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete, and you must be at least 21 years old to participate. This study is being led by Richard Davidson, Ph.D. in Madison, WI and the survey is online, via the link above. Contact the study team by email at wellbeing-survey@chm.wisc.edu with questions.

flyer for Lisa's award with images of 3 awardees

CSJ announces our 2026
Lisa Burgoa (SFS'19) awardees

CSJ's Lisa Burgoa (SFS'19) Award (formerly known as the Poulton Award) recognizes a student who exemplifies “advancing social justice and the common good.” The award is given in honor of Lisa Burgoa (SFS’19) who left an indelible mark on the DC Schools Project @gudcsp and the CSJ community during her four years of service. Throughout her commitments, she modeled accountability for other students regarding what the work of social justice is: interrogating larger issues of injustice while remaining rooted in solidarity with and service to the community. May Lisa's memory be a blessing!

These #HoyasForOthers were selected for Lisa's award because their work embodies a strong commitment to social justice, the CSJ, and the DC community. We are grateful for their time, energy, and passion toward creating a more just and humane world.

Alex Romero: You dedicated all 4 years of your undergraduate experience to the DC Schools Project @gudcsp, entering every semester with thoughtful intentionality and a steadfast commitment to being in service with others. You exemplify the very human, present energy that Lisa had in her dedication to DCSP’s work: her humility, care, and reflective practice.

Faith Specter: As an @abpgeorgetown Alternative Breaks Program Coordinator your senior year and former tutor for @gudcsp DC Schools Project, you have demonstrated how to deepen your connections to social justice. You were SO willing to be open to the invitation to continue with CSJ through ABP when Dr. Wisler asked you last summer. Your approach to engagement is grounded in critical reflection, social responsibility, and centering communities as places of rich and complex history, strengths and assets, and deep expertise.

Fatima Sohani: You spent 7 of your 8 semesters of a collegiate experience involved in one program @csj_abso (Advisory Board for Student Organizations) --- a super rare practice at a place like Georgetown, where the norm is to “diversify” your resume and "rise up the ranks." Your dedication to go deep aligns with Lisa's similar practice with DCSP.

Award art by Peris Lopez (SFS'23)

flyer for Suzanne's award and images of 5 awardees

Congratulations to our
CSJ 2026 Suzanne Tarlov Spirit Awardees

The Suzanne Tarlov Spirit Award recognizes #HoyasForOthers who have demonstrated a strong understanding of and commitment to social justice by working behind-the-scenes to create successful CSJ and campus programming and/or events.

This award is given in honor of Suzanne Tarlov, who served as the inaugural Associate Director of the Center for Social Justice until she passed away in January 2012. Suzanne’s commitment to the Georgetown University community and CSJ’s community partners was evident in her everyday actions and the depth of her relationships.

Cici Sprouse: You combine curiosity and rigor in ways that germinate and foster new beginnings. You have an ability to connect with people and places by blending lived experience with physical space. This shows up in your approach to research as an Education and Social Justice Research Fellow and in ways that you have built and enhanced wellness space and place and for the Georgetown community through Health Education Services.

Maeve Tuohey: To the Georgetown community, @georgetownsips is seen simply a source of funding or as one of the consulting clubs. At least, that was the general understanding before you assumed leadership of the Executive Committee. As Internal Operations Director and then Executive Director, you have spent your entire collegiate career with SIPS, building a more inclusive culture for those serving on the board and expanding what it means to be part of the SIPS ecosystem. Creating leadership opportunities for junior members, building capacity and networks for awardees before and after the funding is granted, and lifting the veil of what SIPS is and what it can provide for the broader Georgetown community are just small parts of your contributions to the program and to building effective infrastructure for engaged philanthropy.

Meredith Beyer: Your behind-the-scenes work was critical to the current success of the DC Reads/STEM program. You would spend many hours before site, testing and prepping the right materials. Even while abroad for a semester, you planned and worked to contribute to the program's success and sustainability. Your willingness to jump in and move from DC Reads coordinator to STEM coordinator, and ultimately back to DC Reads, shows your deep commitment not just to the program, but to this social justice work.

Joaquin Toro: While you were the 1-2-1 coordinator for DC Schools Project, you helped create and improve systems to re-engage families when the political conditions became difficult. Although you were abroad this academic year, you left a tangible impact by supporting your fellow coordinators behind the scenes to improve our accountability for family outreach.

Suzie Ahn: As an Operations team member and coordinator, you have modeled how Operations is social justice work, requiring the commitment, community-building, and love that all of our CSJ programs demand. CSJ is grateful for shifting the Operations team's culture in this direction.

Award art by Peris Lopez (SFS'23)

CSJ seeks Hoya Hub Coordinators for Fall 2026

The Hoya Hub serves the Georgetown University community of faculty, staff, and students who are facing food insecurity through 2 no-barrier food pantries - on the Hilltop and at the Capitol Campus. We seek students to serve in pantry operations, food recovery, sustainability work, fundraising, advocacy, outreach efforts, and impact reporting. Join us today in Volunteer and Federal Work positions. Apply BY MAY 13 to serve as a Hoya Hub student coordinator! Questions to CSJ’s Assistant Director for Community Resources and Outreach at hoyahub@georgetown.edu.

Congratulations to CSJ's Deputy Director - RAY SHIU - for securing a $10,000 grant from the All State Foundation to support CSJ vans! (Yes, there are funders out there for everything.) Congratulations to DR. FATEMEH Hosseini, CSJ's Director of Engaged Pedagogy & Scholarship - who received the HERS-Mellon Leader Fellowship in order to participate in HERS Summer Leadership Institute for Higher Education Professionals this summer. (Yes, you will continue to apply for all the things through your life!) And, one more, congratulations to CSJ's Associate Director, NICOLE REEDER, who was accepted into the week-long summer Social Justice Training Institute in Baltimore. (Life-long learning is Real.) #BestTeamEver

The Centering Liberation Webinar Series

An announcement from our CSJ Faculty Fellow, Professor Lauren Arrington!

We are excited to invite you to the Centering Liberation: Partnering Across Africa and the African Diaspora to Reimagine Reproductive Care Webinar Series, May 4 - 7, 2026. This series is part of a broader initiative that uses human-centered design approaches to develop strategies for liberatory collaboration across reproductive health movements in Africa and the African Diaspora. Each webinar will include a Q&A and facilitated discussion.

Addressing Colonial Legacies in Caregiving (Monday, May 4, 2026 - 1:45 - 2:45 pm EST) REGISTER HERE
Examples of Liberatory Care (Tuesday, May 5, 2026 - 10:00 am - 12:30 pm EST) REGISTER HERE
Decolonizing Reproductive Health Partnerships (Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - 10:00 am - 12:30 pm EST) REGISTER HERE
Decolonizing Care (Thursday, May 7, 2026 - 10:00 am - 12:30 pm EST) REGISTER HERE

Seniors - Class of 2026! Register for the Social Justice Send Off, an annual commencement event that celebrates students who have engaged in social justice work and public/community service work during their time at Georgetown. It also recognizes students who plan to pursue social justice work and public/community service after graduation. The Send-Off is Friday, May 15, 2026 at 10:00AM in Healey Family Student Center Social Room. Our speaker this year is Kowshara Thomas, Executive Director of Joseph’s House, and the 2026 Georgetown University Legacy of a Dream Awardee. The Send-Off is followed by a community gathering. All graduates are invited to participate; graduates’ families and friends and University community members are welcome to attend.

This summer, Georgetown University is providing space for the Close Up Foundation to host "NextGen Roundtable," a youth summit where local high school students can engage in constructive dialogue about policy issues. Close Up is looking for Georgetown undergraduates willing to facilitate these conversations. Hoyas would be required to attend and in-person training from 9:00am - 12:00pm on Thursday, June 4, and moderate discussion from 9:00am - 3:00pm on Friday, June 5, both at Capitol Campus (111 Mass. Ave NW). Students will receive a $250 stipend and a "Deliberative Dialogue Facilitator" badge from Close Up. Interested Hoyas should reach out to George (gsa26) in the VPSA's office to confirm their participation.

UNXD 1030-130: Intersections of Social Justice is a summer, online learning opportunity offered through CSJ. During the cross-section term, Hoyas earn 1 credit pass/fail through online, asynchronous reflection and skills-building that wraps around their employment, internship, community-based work, or volunteer commitment anywhere around the world. Intersections students ask ethical questions and apply social justice theories to real world issues in diverse work settings in virtual collaboration with a tight-knit learning cohort. This summer's instructor is Leyna Co, CSJ's Associate Director, Immersion & Community-engaged Learning.

The “Just Breathe” sensory room is on the 5th floor of the Leavey Center. It is a small, calming space designed to support undergraduate and graduate students seeking a quiet environment to decompress or take a restorative break. The room features low, soothing lighting that creates a peaceful atmosphere. The space includes weighted lap pads, and a selection of fidget tools is available for students who benefit from tactile engagement. The environment is rounded out with gentle visual elements, such as soft-moving lights or calming visual displays. It is a place where students can pause, breathe, and reset during the demands of academic life. Use this link to reserve the space.

The Hoya Hub @Hilltop is located at the 4th floor of the Leavey Center, Room 418. The Hoya Hub @Capitol Campus is located in 111 Mass Ave, Room LL401. Make a donation through our Amazon Wish List.

CSJ’s landing webpage has several helpful, important links: request a van reservation; submit a receipt; reserve equipment from CSJ's Library of Things; request a DBC; fill out a timesheet; or request accommodations!

Need Space? CSJ’s Peace, Liberation, and Solidarity Rooms in Suite 130 Poulton Hall are available to reserve via Google Calendar! On your GCal invite, click “Rooms” (next to “Guests”) and start typing in the name of the room and select it.

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