Student story

Working as a social media intern at MRLF, I have been exposed to a vast network of affiliates and worker organizations and their efforts in union and worker movements. From Education Minnesota’s district education town hall forums with local representatives, to Amazon worker protests organized by Awood Center, I have nonstop exposure to what is happening in the worker world. Read More »

Honestly, I could not have found a better program than HECUA's The New Norway: Globalization, National Identity and Politics of Belonging. With HECUA, I managed to do an independent research about integration and belonging of Syrian refugees in Norway which is now going to be the thesis for my sociology major. Read More »

From the many interactions I've had, I learned that everyone we meet is broken somewhere inside them. I learned that no matter how put together or perfect a person's life may seem, they have all experienced deep hurt and pain. With that being said, I also learned the power of speech, in voicing in your troubles, and the potential positive effect this can have. Read More »

A very important part of Kichwa culture in Ecuador is the idea of Sumak Kawsay, which is Kichwa for live well, and equates life to the nature. During our stay in Cotacachi and Otavalo, I have realized that I need to work hard to decolonize and re-order the hierarchy in my mind to better serve the earth and communities around the world. Read More »

“Teach because that is going to make you a better learner. Learn because that is going to make you a better teacher,” Eric said. It takes creative practice to work in any field just as much as it does to simply live your everyday life. “Always have a creative practice no matter what you do,” were Marcus’s final words. Read More »

We've begun the portion of our study abroad program that is in Wellington! Honestly being back in the city was a bit of a culture shock. We started out our voyage into the city around 10 pm, after a long day of traveling out of the bush. Read More »

Over the course of our program in Ecuador, there are three included field visits. The first one was to Yasuní National Park, which is part of the Amazon Rainforest, about twelve hours from Quito. The second, which we just had this past week, was to Manabí, a coastal region about six hours away from Quito. Read More »

One thing that has been repeated in and out of the classroom during my time in Derry/Londonderry is the power and importance of relationships. I see this at work at the Pat Finucane Centre. Read More »

My HECUA internship at the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation has helped me begin to loosen my restricted perception of who can and should organize, and where organizing is most effective. These experiences have exposed me to the endless opportunities where change can be implemented. Read More »

I didn’t know how much I needed to be here until I was actually here. You don’t know you are living your best life until you live it. I wasn’t sure what to expect but this was much more than I ever imagined. Read More »