Loyola Celebrates Social Justice Week 2026

The 2026 Loyola Social Justice Week showcased the school’s diversity, commitment to justice in Chicago and community outreach amid engagement challenges. The week of Feb. 23 to 27, led by Ramblers Analyzing IDEAS, had a theme of collective dreams.

Social Justice Week was put on by LUC RAI, a group within the Center for Student Inclusion and Belonging which aims to help students explore intersections of inclusion, diversity and equity, according to the group’s Instagram. RAI puts on a week of events each themed to a different aspect of social justice each year.

“[Social justice] is really important because it’s a way to show that you care,” second-year political science major Agharese Olagunju Mcwilliams said. “In the digital world, it’s harder to come to different discussions and different issues from a place of care and empathy. It allows you to educate yourself on different situations that are happening outside of yourself.”

Tuesday’s event was a circle discussion, partnering with the Student Rights, Responsibilities & Conflict Resolution Team (SRCR). 

Discussions were led in a circle format, a style of group discussions undertaken by the SRCR team in which students seek to create spaces which promote collaboration, address harm and foster belonging among other things. All members of the circle were encouraged to respond to a series of questions following the group’s chosen theme, which was “rising for the better of the community,” according to SRCR.

“Most students here are very busy,” Assistant Dean of Students for Conflict Resolution Services Willie Gore said. “They have leadership. They have things that they’re responsible for inside the classroom, outside the classroom, maybe things going on at home and not a lot of opportunity where they’re encouraged to pause and think and reflect and check in with everything that may be going on inside of them or the things that are going on outside of them.”

The personal aspect of circles is a major piece of their effectiveness. 

“My favorite part about circles and why I think they’re important is that you really get everyone’s perspective,” Mcwilliams said “It allows for more listening when it comes to conversations. I think nowadays people don’t really like to listen when we’re talking to one another, but you know, in the circle, when everyone has their own time to talk like I don’t know, it allows you to really listen and absorb what other people are saying.

The discussion was honest, open and thoughtful, according to Gore, yet the circle had one problem — it only had six members, five of which were SRCR members. 

While there’s not a set minimum for attendees at these events, SRCR is still working on advertising their circles, according to Mcwilliams. 

Despite the limited turnout, Gore said the discussion was fruitful and spread a message of self-love, rather than the culturally normative attitude of perfectionism.

“Perfection is evil, and that’s just my perspective,” Gore said. “Perfection does not allow space for grace. It doesn’t allow space for many people’s faith traditions that are steeped in grace. I think about ‘Where does Jesus fit when you are striving for perfection?’ Allow yourself to make mistakes, allow yourself to be imperfect, allow yourself the grace to rest and prioritize yourself.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, there was a social-justice themed dance. Momenta Dance Company, a disability-focused dance group, sent three members to Loyola to help expand dance access to people with disabilities in the community.

Second-year women’s and gender studies major Shaumika Pradhan, who was representing the students with disabilities coalition, said the event was about how to move with your body and how it can act as a way of resistance. 

“We’re not just made out of words, but also actions,” Pradhan said. “The way we behave [and] move our bodies is inherently political, whether you want it to be or not. So I feel it’s important to use your body or your voice, or whatever thing you feel comfortable with, acting as a way to go against oppression.”

The event aimed to remove the typical constraints people tend to associate with dance, according to Pradhan.

“Momenta Dance Company is very inclusive of making sure everyone can dance, not just like able-bodied people,” Pradhan said. “There was a wheelchair user there, and then we had a wheelchair user from our side as well. So it just felt nice just seeing all kinds of bodies and representation.”

Wednesday’s event, zine creation, attracted a larger crowd than was present on Tuesday. Zines are small pieces of artwork that usually follow a story-like format. Piles of magazines, markers, scissors and stickers covered the tables of the zine making stations.

“[While] crafting, it was nice to have this little moment as a wind out — especially with midterms — and still feel like I’m doing my little part,” third-year psychology major Jordan Brown said. 

Thursday and Friday’s events included a virtual meeting with Monarch Initiatives —  an affinity group within Loyola’s Center for Student Inclusion and Belonging — R&B Yoga and a Mental Health Presentation by Students Together Are Reaching Success (STARS), a peer mentorship program which supports first-generation college, low income and/or undocumented students.

The week also offered meaningful opportunities to reflect on social justice as a broader concept, and what it means for the Loyola community, according to Pradhan.

“Social justice can look like a variety of different things,” Brown said. “You don’t always have to be the one in the front lines, screaming because that might not always be an avenue accessible to you. It can look like a bunch of different things, like, for example creating zines, spreading information in an accessible way.”

Each activity offered ways for students to connect with each other while they reflected.

 “Having simple conversations with people is a great way to connect with people and venture out of just my friend group or meet different types of people,” Pradhan said. “Just sitting at a table, talking amongst, like, new and old people. It’s a simple memory, but it makes all the difference. It’s what helps us survive those simple, small moments.”

Editor’s Note: The story previously referred to the office as the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. It has since been updated to reflect the office’s current name, the Center for Student Inclusion and Belonging.