Story written by: Jessica Dunahoo

The Student Education Association (SEA) and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society (KDP) at Governors State University are organizing a political action event, Education for Sustainability, on Monday, November 6^th, 2017 from 3:00-5:00pm in the E-lounge. This event will include guest speakers on homelessness, domestic violence, long-term illness and disasters. The speakers will focus on children and families who are having personal difficulties or are in traumatic situations and discuss how these circumstances affect their learning, health, and well-being.  Additionally, they will provide strategies for educators, social workers, and psychologists on working with these populations. This is extremely beneficial to future and current teachers and psychologists, who will be equipped with new knowledge and ways of thinking which are necessary to improve our community. Michelle Westergaard and Brianna Fabsits, student leaders of SEA and KDP, are planning and organizing this event with the assistance of Dr. Megan McCaffrey and Dr. Marlon Cummings, faculty advisors for the SEA and KDP.

Homelessness

According to Covenant House, 194,716 people were homeless in 61,265 families with children, representing 35 percent of the total homeless population in 2016.

Long-Term Illness

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 3.2% of children aged 5-11 have missed 11 or more days of school in the past 12 months because of illness/injury.

Natural Disasters

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention expresses that children experience more mental stress from disasters as a result from feeling less of a sense of control.

Domestic violence

According to the Domestic Violence Roundtable, 3-4 million children between the ages of 3-17 are at risk of exposure to domestic violence each year.

To RSVP, contact Michelle Westergaard, mwestergaard@student.govst.edu.

For more information, contact Brianna Fabsits, bfabsits@student.govst.edu.