A team of Catholic University faculty and administrators spent a night out in the cold to raise awareness and funds through their participation in the Covenant House Sleep-Out: Executive Edition. The team raised more than $5,500 through the Nov. 19 event, which was held as an act of solidarity with the 4.2 million young people who experience homelessness each year.
Catholic University’s team consisted of members of the University’s Academic Senate, including University President John Garvey; Provost Aaron Dominguez; Law Professor Mary Leary; Patrick Tuite, the associate dean of graduate studies and productions in the Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art; Caroline Sherman, associate professor of history and associate dean for faculty; and Jo Ann Regan, dean of the National Catholic School of Social Service.
Covenant House is the largest service organization for homeless youth in the Americas and has a mission of empowering, safeguarding, and serving youth experiencing homelessness, disconnection, and exploitation. Catholic University alumnus Kevin M. Ryan, B.A. ‘89, currently serves as president of the organization.
"I can’t say enough good things about what Kevin Ryan and his team do for the young adults they serve,” said President John Garvey (pictured below). “They give people with nowhere to go much more than a safe place to sleep; they also give them an opportunity to begin building a solid foundation on which to build the rest of their lives."
According to Ryan, the coronavirus has significantly impacted homelessness and displacement among young people ages 18 to 24. Covenant House has remained open to provide safety and security to homeless youth, as individuals facing homelessness are more susceptible to the coronavirus than those who are stably housed.
“The truth is that the virus, in many respects, has us and children and families cornered, but love has something entirely else in mind,” said Ryan in a recent interview with CNN. “If you think about what has been happening over the course of the past year, in the midst of sickness and death, it’s really these hero helpers who have been giving us all a masterclass in the moral leadership that we all need right now.”
For the event, members of the Academic Senate planned to sleep outside from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to raise money for Covenant House serving the greater Washington area. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the team stayed outside until 10 p.m. before continuing the sleep-out from home. Those who could not participate in person were invited to participate virtually by sleeping in their driveway overnight.
“This is not about ‘pretending’ to be homeless for one night,” said Leary, who served as captain for the team. “This is about trying to raise awareness and help a cause so no one has to be homeless — especially children — for any nights.”
Leary’s relationship with Covenant House began as a volunteer in their faith community in New Orleans. Since becoming a law professor, she says she is more aware that homeless children are at a higher risk for human trafficking and exploitation.
“It is part of our Mission here at the University to be of service to those in need,” Leary said. “What better way to do so a week before Thanksgiving than to remember those in need and try to raise awareness to their suffering, and in so doing, try to help alleviate it in some way. Having the leadership of the University set this example — including our president, provost, and one of our newest deans — is an inspiration to our community.”
“The DC sleep-out was a perfect opportunity to raise awareness of youth homelessness, which is a tragic reality for more than 4.2 million young people,” said Garvey. “I am proud of how committed the University is to this cause.”
Patrick Tuite recognized the University’s need to cherish and care for a larger community.
“Just as our students are the most cherished members of the University's family, the faculty, staff, and administration should acknowledge that we belong to an even larger community, and we should do our best to care for its most vulnerable populations, including the city's homeless youth,” Tuite said.
As of Nov. 24, the Covenant House: Executive Edition has raised $159,829 of its 200,000 goal. Catholic University is one of eleven teams of leadership in local institutions that participated in the event.
“I'm grateful to the generous donors who are sponsoring our sleep-out for turning this exercise in self-improvement into a vehicle to help youth who are in need this winter of warmth, safety, and care,” said Sherman. “At a time when so many people are suffering and winter is only just drawing near, those of us who have any kind of access to power and security need to make sure that we don't afflict other people from our positions of comfort.
“I know that winter is an especially terrible time for anyone suffering from homelessness, but I expect to appreciate that fact in a deeper way after participating in the sleep-out, and I hope this motivates me to be less preoccupied with myself and more focused on how I could help other people.”
Regan connected her new role within the University to her experience with the Sleep Out.
“I think it is important for leadership to be involved in this event so we can support raising awareness of issues like youth homelessness that are prevalent in our community,” Regan said. “As the Dean of the National Catholic School of Social Service, I think it is important for me to have an understanding of issues in our community, particularly in the District of Columbia, where our university and social work program are located.”
For more information on Covenant House and its mission, please visit their website.
— Jessica Fetrow, B.A. 2021, Marketing and Communications Intern. For more information, contact communications@cua.edu.