Flores Leads
the Way in Social Justice Movement
By Jacqui Shine '05
Junior Nichole Flores has translated a lifelong
commitment to social change into a leadership role at the
forefront of a national movement that strives to connect Catholic students
across
the globe. The new international relations and communications
chair of the National Catholic Student Coalition (NCSC), Nichole -- who
had previously held regional leadership roles within the organization -- will
now work with students from across the country to write and
implement resolutions expressing the views of Catholic young adults on
a variety
of international issues. The committee also works to organize
affiliate groups in other nations. Most recently, the group has sought
to forge
ties with Catholic students in Iraq.
The NCSC, which is the
American chapter of the International Movement of Catholic
Students and is one of the largest student-driven social justice movements
in
the United States, plays an important role in creating change and enhancing cooperation
and collaboration among Catholics worldwide. Because the NCSC has affiliate groups
in more than 90 countries, Flores recognizes that her work with the International
Relations Committee has the potential to not only “give voice to Catholic
students,” but also to create positive change as well. She’s working
on developing an international conference for groups from the International Movement
of Catholic Students, which is scheduled to convene in Barcelona, Spain in August
2003. She’s also planning a demonstration in Fort Benning, Georgia, at
the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly called the
School of the Americas) -- a United States–sponsored international military
training school that NCSC is targeting for its alleged role in human rights abuses
in Latin America.
Flores, who is majoring in government at
Smith, has long been committed to justice and peace work and draws on
her Catholic faith as a source
of guidance and inspiration. “I
feel a strong call to live my faith on an international level,” she says. “I
feel charged with bringing Christ’s message of peace to the world.”
Nichole’s
work with the NCSC should prepare her well for her anticipated future in politics;
she plans to attend law school, likely at a Catholic institution,
and anticipates running for political office. Whatever the future may hold, though,
she believes that it will ultimately lead her back to her home in Colorado.
“I’d like to bring what I’ve learned -- Catholic and otherwise -- back
to Denver,” she says. “It’s a community that I love and ultimately
want to take care of.” |
