Immaculate Heart Students Stage Summer School Justice Fair

Immaculate Heart students recently completed their Contemporary Moral Issues class by organizing a Justice Fair on campus that raised funds and awareness for numerous organizations that advocate human, animal, and environmental rights. Students raised several hundred dollars by selling baked goods and ice cream shakes in support of groups as diverse as Oxfam America, Habitat for Humanity, Heal the Bay, and Farm Sanctuary, among others. They also collected bags of used clothing for Homeboy Industries of Los Angeles.

According to theology teacher Christine Knudsen, the fair has grown each year since its introduction four years ago as a summer school class project. Students initially read about justice issues in class and then research various organizations that contribute to positive changes both locally and around the world. “The point is for students to become informed about an issue or a cause, and then do something positive and concrete to support it,” the instructor explained.

Along with raising funds, students created awareness at the event for nearly 30 organizations. Some students brought laptops so that others could sign online petitions, while other students encouraged classmates to phone local representatives about social justice issues.

About Immaculate Heart

Founded in 1906, Immaculate Heart educates young women in grades sixth through 12th from its central location in the Los Feliz foothills near Griffith Park in Hollywood. The school has a long and distinguished history, with more than 10,000 graduates. Today’s student body of more than 700 young women is both geographically and ethnically diverse, drawing on students from throughout Los Angeles County. Last year, virtually 100 percent of Immaculate Heart graduates matriculated to colleges, including the most prestigious schools in the country. For more information, visit http://www.immaculateheart.org/.