Our virtual table has 13 participants (from five countries). We come together monthly for shared reflection on themes related to reproductive health and social justice. Our July and August meetings focused on child care in a pandemic. We reviewed the emerging data on escalating cases of domestic violence during lockdown, on the gendered dimensions of child care, and other ethical issues related to child care/family ethics in a pandemic. Our September meeting focused on public scholarship and op-ed writing. Two example pieces published after include Simeiqi He’s “How do you balance parenting and work?” in US Catholic and Emily Reimer-Barry’s RNS op-ed “Winning the hearts and minds of Catholics in a church divided.” Our October meeting focused on contraception in context. In November, we will “workshop” a paper from a member of the group and begin planning for the spring.

For the next First, we will feature another virtual table.

Students at Boston College are launching a new ongoing project called Global Conversations, which connects small groups of students (8-12 total) across contexts for informal one-hour conversations about a range of topics that matter to them. The initial conversation themes for the project include the COVID-19 Pandemic, Racial Justice & Decolonization, Migrants & Refugees, Protests & Social Change, Environmental Justice, and Globalization. Conversations will each have a specific topic and will be facilitated by student leaders from each university, but can range freely as participants see fit. Most conversations will be held in English, but some will also be conducted in other languages. If you would like to learn more about the project or have your students participate, please fill out this general interest form or contact Mariana Ferreira. Please feel free to share this initiative with your fellow colleagues and students.