Center for Human Rights and Social Justice at IWU
About the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice
The Center for Human Rights and Social Justice is committed to creating a campus community that together works to address human rights and social justice concerns. It pursues this commitment by offering opportunities for learning, reflecting, and advocating on behalf of human rights and social justice in a variety of venues. In so doing, we offer support for the IWU mission statement, which states that “The Illinois Wesleyan experience affords the greatest possibilities for realizing individual potential while preparing students for democratic citizenship and life in a global society…” while explicitly mentioning that the University “… is committed to diversity, social justice, and environmental sustainability.”
We further believe that furthering our understanding of and advocacy for human rights and social justice gives meaning to the liberal arts experience. To be a reflective and engaged person in the 21st century demands that we continually question what it means to be human and how our shared humanity requires us to treat one another. The questions that touch all of us, questions that focus upon equity, fairness, justice, dignity, and responsibility, for each other and our planet, can best be addressed through engagement with the liberal arts and through working with and advocating on behalf of others. A true appreciation of the liberal arts further requires that we open ourselves up to new encounters that expand our understandings of these crucial questions.
On-going Programs
- Peace Fellows Program
- Scholars at Risk Advocacy Seminar
- Human Rights Undergraduate Research Workshop
- Annual Course Cluster
- Human Rights, Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice Internships
We believe that by creating a community devoted to an exploration of human rights and social justice concerns, we are able to offer students the support and confidence to make a positive difference in people’s lives once they leave IWU. Alumni who have been affiliated with the Center have gone on to pursue careers in law, environmental justice, and the social services. A number have used the academic skills that were polished and refined during their association with the Center to pursue graduate work.