After an inspirational start to the Huether Lasallian Conference on Thursday, November 17, participants packed their schedules Friday heading from a keynote address to three rounds of breakout sessions, followed by casa discussions and dinner with their respective Districts.
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Dr. Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO, US Fund for UNICEF, delivers Friday’s keynote address.
Friday started with prayer and a keynote address by Dr. Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO, US Fund for UNICEF. Stern shared powerful stories of her personal experiences working in under-resourced countries that lack basic necessities such as adequate food and medical care. She also shared stories of UNICEF work with refugee children and responding to natural disasters.
Brother Dennis Lee, FSC, Auxiliary Visitor for the District of Eastern North America, who has served in Africa, called the address phenomenal and inspiring.
“I thought her presence was amazing,” he said. “She was a great storyteller, full of passion, and showed us a side of the world that even I am not familiar with.”
Following Stern’s address, participants split up for three rounds of breakout sessions that explored a variety of topics along the conference theme “The Good Samaritan: Confronting New Poverties in the 21st Century.”
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Christian Glanville enjoys a breakout session in Thursday’s pre-conference advancement track.
Christian Glanville, annual fund manager at DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and first-time Huether attendee, said the breakout sessions he attended gave him a sense of being in a safe space.
“I left like I was safe because people were really basing their presentations – and then commenters were basing their comments – on love and concern for the poor,” he said. “You just forget when you’re in the thick of it how much ‘Lasallian-ism’ is built on those principles. It’s just good to kind step back and see, wow, this is a really good thing that we’re doing.”
Breaks in between sessions provided opportunities for Lasallians to build community with one another and visit exhibitors. At the conclusion of the three rounds of breakout sessions, they gathered in their casas to discuss what they heard during the day.
First-time attendee Adam Smith, director of operations at Christian Brothers Services, the lead sponsor of Huether, called his experience wonderful.
“It’s been a humbling experience,” said Smith. “It allows me to think outside of what I do every day at my job and really try to enhance how I can be a better steward of people within my company as well as in my personal life.”
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Casa discussions wrapped up Friday’s conference activities.
The jam-packed day wrapped up with participants gathering by District for dinner. On Saturday morning, the Honorable Susan D. Page, who most recently served as the Chargé d’affaires for the United States at the African Union, will give the keynote address. The conference will wrap up late Saturday morning with final casa discussions and reporting. After free time in the afternoon, participants will gather once more for an evening Mass and banquet to honor the Distinguished Lasallian Educators in the Region.
Huether is taking place for the third consecutive year at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North. Huether, hosted by Christian Brothers Conference, is an opportunity for educators to not only learn new techniques and find inspiration, it also allows them to interact, share best practices, and grow more deeply committed to their vocation of providing students with transformative, holistic experiences.
Follow highlights from Huether on Facebook and Twitter with #Huether2016. Also, check this page for new stories throughout the conference.
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