SU Center for Social Transformation and Leadership

05/04/2026

Mission Day 2026 — Purpose in Motion

One month later, the impact is still unfolding.

Mission Day at Seattle University is more than a moment on the calendar—it’s a collective pause to reconnect with purpose and recommit to values that shape how we teach, lead, and serve.

This highlight video captures what happens when a community comes together to reflect, discern, and act with intention.

🎥 As you watch, reflect with us:

What values guide your work—and how are they shaping the change you hope to make?

We’re proud to stand with educators, partners, and leaders who believe meaningful impact begins with mission.

11/07/2025

Hope in Action: CSTL and Mission Integration Mobilizes Seattle U to Support Local Agencies in Turbulent Times

Seattle University, mobilized by the Center for Social Transformation and Leadership (CSTL), is launching a campus-wide emergency response, Hope in Action, to support local communities impacted by the ongoing federal government shutdown. This initiative is part of our Care for Our Common Home in Turbulent Times campaign. It reflects our commitment to Laudato Si Action Platform Priority 4: fostering ecological justice and economic solidarity.

As thousands of federal and military workers across Western Washington face missed paychecks—and as families experience the devastating ripple effects of suspended SNAP benefits—Seattle University is rising to meet the moment. Guided by our Jesuit values and mobilized by CSTL, we are not standing by. We are stepping forward with purpose, compassion, and conviction. In turbulent times, we are called to be a beacon of hope—and Hope in Action is how we answer that call: by showing up for our neighbors, standing in solidarity, and putting our mission into action.

Seattle University’s long-standing partnerships with community-rooted organizations have laid the foundation for this coordinated response. These trusted relationships reflect years of shared work in advancing food justice, ecological restoration, and community resilience.

Now is the time for action. Seattle University is standing shoulder to shoulder with our community partners— The Food Bank @ St. Mary's, Food Lifeline, Operation Nightwatch, West Seattle Food Bank, and Tukwila Pantry—who are leading urgent, life-sustaining efforts across our region. These organizations are expanding food access, distributing essential supplies, and reaching those most impacted by the shutdown and SNAP crisis.

We are not just supporting their work—we are joining it. Together, we are mobilizing as one community to ensure that no family is left behind and that hope remains within reach.

Through the Hope in Action campaign, Seattle University is launching a university-wide virtual food drive to support families impacted by the federal shutdown and SNAP crisis. Together, we will raise awareness, mobilize donations, and demonstrate what it means to be a university that leads with heart and hope.

Your support keeps food on tables and hope within reach—no matter what happens in the government.

Donate now at: https://www.mightycause.com/profile/SUHopeinAction

Learn more about the crisis and our partners’ response in this KING 5 News article:
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/food-banks-prepare-washington-residents-set-to-lose-snap-benefits-by-nov-1/281-ca48c0e5-b369-429d-8921-b3c8a2fe0fdf

03/12/2025

Ignatian Advocacy Madness: When Justice is the Champion
March 3 - April 25, 2025

Ignatian Advocacy Madness has begun! This isn't just a competition, it's a call to action for the Seattle University campus community. Hosted by the Ignatian Solidarity Network, it's an opportunity for us to learn, pray, and act for just migration and environmental policies.

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/ignatian-advocacy-madness/

Calling all SU student groups, academic units, and departments!
Seattle University, we're currently in second place! But with your participation, we can climb to the top. Let's show our commitment to justice advocacy.

Your contributions are vital to the success of Ignatian Advocacy Madness. If you're hosting events related to environmental justice or humane migration policy, we want to hear from you. Share your activities with us, and we'll include them in our entries to highlight your impactful work. Email the Center for Social Transformation and Leadership at [email protected].

Don't miss out on the chance to be part of this important initiative. Reach out now with any questions or to share opportunities for engagement. We're here to support and amplify your efforts.

Submit your activities by Monday, April 21 to be featured!

Discover our partners working with Ignatian Advocacy Madness and join their efforts across the US and the globe:
• Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)
• Kino Border Initiative
• Catholic Climate Covenant
• Laudato Si' Movement and Seattle University Laudato Si' Platform

Let's demonstrate our incredible work across campus and in our local communities!

03/07/2025

02/26/2025

Event: Seattle University 2025 Food Justice and Action Summit
Theme: Recipe for Change
Date: March 7, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Place: Pigott Auditorium

Sponsors: Center for Social Transformation and Leadership, Wellness & Health Promotion Department, and Black Student Union (BSU)
Join us for the 4th Annual Food Justice and Action Summit, themed "Recipe for Change." Together, we will actively confront food injustice at Seattle University and in our surrounding communities. Engage with fellow students, dedicated faculty, influential community leaders, and visionary change-makers as we tackle urgent issues surrounding food access, sustainability, and empowerment.

Guest Speaker: Angel Swanson, Chief Executive Officer at Feeding Feasible Feasts

We are thrilled to announce that Angel Swanson from Feeding Feasible Feasts will be our lunch speaker. Angel is a renowned advocate for sustainable and equitable food systems, with over a decade of experience in the field. She has been instrumental in developing community-based programs that address food insecurity and promote healthy eating habits. Her innovative approach and dedication to creating feasible solutions for food access have inspired many. We are excited to hear her insights and experiences, and how we can apply her strategies to our own communities.

Our inspiring theme, "Recipe for Change," highlights the strength found in combining knowledge, collaboration, innovation, and action to create a more equitable and sustainable food system. Every ingredient in this recipe is vital—every idea, every voice, and every effort holds the potential to make a profound impact.

Why Attend?
• Gain Expert Insights: Learn from the leaders who are shaping the field of food justice.
• Participate in Dynamic Discussions: Engage in powerful conversations that ignite inspiration and motivate action.
• Discover Actionable Strategies: Leave equipped with practical solutions to implement in your community and make a difference.

A Call to Action: Stand Up and Be Heard!
This summit is not merely an event; it is a clarion call reminding us that we, as members of the Seattle University community, are the architects of change today, not just tomorrow. Together, we can elevate the food justice movement, innovate groundbreaking solutions, and amplify the voices of those most affected by food insecurity. Seize this opportunity to play a crucial role in creating a more equitable food system for all. Join us and make your voice count!

02/07/2025

Save the Date!

Seattle University 2025 Food Justice and Action Summit
Theme: Recipe for Change
Date: March 7, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sponsors: Center for Social Transformation and Leadership and Wellness & Health Promotion Department

Join us for the 4th Annual Food Justice and Action Summit, themed "Recipe for Change." Together, we will actively confront food injustice at Seattle University and in our surrounding communities. Engage with fellow students, dedicated faculty, influential community leaders, and visionary change-makers as we tackle urgent issues surrounding food access, sustainability, and empowerment.

Theme: Recipe for Change
Our inspiring theme, "Recipe for Change," highlights the strength found in combining knowledge, collaboration, innovation, and action to create a more equitable and sustainable food system. Every ingredient in this recipe is vital—every idea, every voice, and every effort holds the potential to make a profound impact.

Why Attend?
**Gain Expert Insights: Learn from the leaders who are shaping the field of food justice.

**Participate in Dynamic Discussions: Engage in powerful conversations that ignite inspiration and motivate action.

**Discover Actionable Strategies: Leave equipped with practical solutions to implement in your community and make a difference.

A Call to Action: Stand Up and Be Heard!
This summit is not merely an event; it is a clarion call reminding us that we, as members of the Seattle University community, are the architects of change today, not just tomorrow. Together, we can elevate the food justice movement, innovate groundbreaking solutions, and amplify the voices of those most affected by food insecurity. Seize this opportunity to play a crucial role in creating a more equitable food system for all. Join us and make your voice count!

01/15/2025

Excited to extend the invitation to colleagues for the 2025 TIIPS4Wellbeing Convening in Seattle from January 28-30, 2025.

At TIIPS4Wellbeing, our mission is to foster partnerships and bridge gaps across sectors to drive innovation towards a future centered on holistic well-being, particularly for underserved communities globally and locally. Rooted in the Quintuple Helix Model, our approach showcases the power of collaboration among government, academia, industry, civil society, and the environment in delivering impactful solutions.

Following the success of the 2024 event in Pécs, Hungary, we are delighted to recreate the same dynamic environment for global collaboration in Seattle. The 2025 TIIPS4Wellbeing Convening aims to further cultivate a global interface for managing and enhancing collaborations across sectors. This platform is tailored to establish an integrated and fair governance structure that links sectors worldwide, integrating innovation platforms for sustainable well-being. By bridging sectors, we focus on the holistic well-being of our global communities, encompassing health, economics, education, and community aspects.

Explore more about the event on the [TIIPS4Wellbeing Website](https://lnkd.in/gw7P4GnS)

11/18/2024

ONLY 3 WEEKS AWAY!!
https://lnkd.in/gR8E33mh

11/17/2024

This Monday, our campus will host a very special event celebrating Black Urban Farming. Karen Washington, a farmer and activist who appeared on the hit Netflix documentary series, High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America and who is the cofounder of Rise & Roots Farm and Black Urban Growers, will headline a panel discussion highlighting the critical work that Black urban farmers are doing to advance food justice and food sovereignty in the U.S. and beyond. Local panelists, Paris Yates (Urban Food Systems, Seattle) and Nevaeh Baker (Clean Greens Youth Farm) will draw special attention to work being done locally.

Celebrating Black Urban Farming
Monday, Nov 18, 6:30 - 8pm
Harding 142
Seattle University Campus

The event, which is hosted by Black Dollar Days Task Force and cosponsored by Seattle University's Department of Anthropology and Sociology, is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.

Please join us! Please share this invitation!

05/30/2024

We were do honored to be at participate in the 2024 Universal Foodcare Conference sponsored by our community partners at Fresh Food Coalition today.

04/16/2024

From our colleagues at the Department of Public Affairs and Nonprofit Leadership: Please join on April 25 for “Social Change Now”, a special event featuring Deepa Iyer. See details and flyer below.

Social Change Now: Deepa Iyer on Finding your Role in Social Change.

Please join us in commemorating the launch of the Department of Public Affairs and Nonprofit Leadership with a special event featuring Deepa Iyer, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Building Movement Project and writer, Social change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection. The event will be moderated by Dr. Maureen Emerson Feit and Dr. Rashmi Chordiya and will include a student-led panel discussion and an interactive exhibit on Iyer’s Social Change Ecosystems framework.

Date: Thursday, April 25th
Where: Wyckoff Auditorium, Engineering Building
When: 5:30 pm reception; 6 pm event begins. Appetizers and refreshments will be served before and after the event.
Register: https://socialchangenow.eventbrite.com

Please share with your students, colleagues, and community partners.

Join us in commemorating the launch of the Department of Public Affairs and Nonprofit Leadership with a special event featuring Deepa Iyer.