Author: Nate Radomski

Claver Network Meets in Rio de Janeiro

Posted on by Nate Radomski

Directors from the Claver Network, which encompasses the Development Offices of the Jesuit Provinces and Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean, met for their annual meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 28 to September 1. Among the topics discussed were best practices in international cooperation, a sharing of country-level fundraising experiences, and planning for the next triennium of work (2024-2026). At the conclusion of the Assembly, a new coordinator team was elected made up of representatives from Brazil, Peru, Cuba, and Mexico.

The Claver Network, which takes its name and inspiration from St. Peter Claver, was founded in 2009 in response to Father General Adolfo Nicolás Pachón SJ’s call to promote the creation of Development Offices in each of the Provinces and Regions that make up the Conference of Provincials of Latin America and the Caribbean (CPAL). The network brings together representatives from different countries with the common objectives of strengthening ties, sharing knowledge, and planning a future of collaboration and even more significant impact.

Magis Americas (MA) Executive Director Nate Radomski presents on the relationship between MA and CPAL.

To that end, one of the most interesting moments of the meeting was the sharing of fundraising experiences from each participant. Each director shared their province or network’s organizational model, successful experiences in fundraising, and challenges they have faced or foresee occurring in the future. The experience allowed for a fruitful discussion and allowed for countries to identify their commonalities and where they can learn from each other.

Following the first three days of work, the network held its Assembly to elect a new coordinator team, which will be charged with developing a three-year work plan. Leading the network for 2024-2026 will be representatives from Brazil (Luciana Mendes), Cuba (Any Laura Díaz), Mexico (Jorge Rosas), and Peru (Gianfranco Dulanto).

Participating were member representatives from Development Offices of Central America, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Cuba, Paraguay, Venezuela and Brazil, as well as the International Federation of Fe y Alegría. Additionally, the meeting counted on the presence of Fr. Rafael Garrido SJ (CPAL President), Fr. Mieczyslaw Smyda SJ (Brazil Provincial), Fr. Alex Pizarro SJ (Haiti), and Nate Radomski (Magis Americas Executive Director).

The five days of meeting, full of productive working sessions, helped to build the network’s common mission. The date and location of the next meeting is to be determined.

UCA Managua Suspends Operations

Posted on by Nate Radomski

The Central American University (UCA) in Managua announced Wednesday it had ceased all academic and administrative operations effective immediately, after a criminal court ordered its property and financial accounts transferred to the government. Previously, the Nicaraguan government falsely accused the Jesuit university of being a “center of terrorism”.

In a statement, the UCA reiterated its commitment to Nicaraguan society and thanked students, teachers, administrators, and Nicaraguan society for their “confidence, solidarity, and closeness” with the university.

The Jesuit Province of Central America also released a statement (Spanish | English) denouncing the Nicaraguan government. Entitled “In Defense of Truth, Justice, Freedom, and the Right to Education and in Support of UCA of Nicaragua”, the statement condemned the move as “part of a series of unjustified attacks” by a government “that systematically violates human rights and seems to be aimed at consolidating a totalitarian state”.

Speaking for the US government, Ambassador Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, said the seizure of UCA represented “further erosion of democratic norms and a stifling of civic space … we will continue to stand up for Nicaraguans’ fundamental rights.”

The seizure is the latest in a pattern of attacks by the government against UCA, which started in 2018 when students protesting government repression took to the university for refuge.

Founded in 1960, UCA Managua stood as a beacon of intellectual and social progress in Nicaragua for over six decades. The university played a pivotal role during the tumultuous 1970s and 1980s when the country grappled with political upheaval and civil unrest. UCA’s commitment to social justice, human rights, and community engagement made it a safe haven for democratic thinking.

“UCA’s commitment to quality education and social justice in Nicaragua cannot be overstated,” said Magis Americas executive director Nate Radomski. “We stand in solidarity with the entire UCA community.”

Magis Americas and Fe y Alegría Sign Multi-Year Collaboration Agreement

Posted on by Nate Radomski

Magis Americas (MA) has reaffirmed its commitment to its most strategic partner organization, Federación Internacional de Fe y Alegría, by signing a multi-year collaboration agreement. The new agreement between MA and FIFyA lays the groundwork to establish a broad space of collaboration in the United States through the development of joint fundraising opportunities, awareness-raising and communication campaigns, and global citizenship education initiatives.

“We are thrilled to continue and strengthen our partnership with FIFyA,” said Nate Radomski, executive director of Magis Americas. “This collaboration is a wonderful opportunity to not only support quality and inclusive education and community development programs in the Global South, but to also strengthen our ties to the largest Jesuit education network in the world.”

“We look forward to working even more closely with Magis Americas, our sister organization in the United States,” said Fr. Dani Villanueva, S.J., general coordinator of FIFyA. “We believe that Fe y Alegría’s mission historically has many friends in this country and that our global educational network, with its historical trajectory, relevance, record of results and impact, is called to a greater dialogue with North American philanthropy.”

MA and FIFyA are not only strategic partners due to their Ignatian identity and values, common goals, and shared mission, but also their intertwined history. MA was originally founded in 2005 by Centro Magis and FIFyA, with funds from the Avina Foundation, as a fundraising arm of the international movement. Since then, MA and FIFyA have been linked through a variety of informal initiatives and agreements.

“Our past and future stories are intrinsically linked,” said Radomski. “We are excited to grow together with FIFyA in the coming years as we work to achieve our shared mission of building just societies.”

FIFyA is an international movement of popular education and social promotion led by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). Founded in 1955, FIFyA has grown from a single school on the outskirts of Caracas, Venezuela, into a global educational movement with over 1,500 education centers in 22 countries. FIFyA’s call to action–to start where the road stops–is reinforced by a mission to promote inclusive and quality education processes from, with, and for marginalized communities that not only build public education systems that are more effective, equitable, and resilient, but also transform individuals and communities capable of building just and fair democratic systems.

MA is the international solidarity office of the Society of Jesus in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., MA’s mission is to build just societies by mobilizing support for Jesuit education, migration, and ecology initiatives in the Global South. This mission contributes to the organization’s vision of a world in which all people have their rights upheld, their dignity protected and the capacity to act as protagonists in their individual and communal development.