We are excited to announce that Global Outreach (¡GO!) is joining the Campus Ministry team at Fordham University, further strengthening our commitment to social justice, community engagement, and holistic student formation.
For over 62 years, Global Outreach has evolved in many iterations, providing students with meaningful service and cultural immersion experiences that are deeply rooted in social justice awareness and the mission of Fordham’s Jesuit tradition. Our program is driven by the belief that service to others must be linked with a transformative educational process that challenges students to confront systems of inequality and oppression.
Global Outreach projects take place across three cycles—winter, spring, and summer—and allow students to connect with communities both in the United States and around the world. These immersion experiences offer an opportunity for students to engage in anti-racism and anti-oppression work while developing leadership skills and a deepened understanding of social justice. Each project is led by a team leader and includes a dedicated project chaperone. Prior to the immersion, teams undergo a sustained formation process co-created by Global Outreach (¡GO!) and our global partners, emphasizing spiritual, academic, and ethical growth.
Our work continues in partnership with other campus organizations, including the Center for Community Engaged Learning, Fordham Honors, GSB Ignite Scholars, and many others. We remain open to new collaborations that can further the mission of impactful, transformative immersion experiences for our students.
At the heart of Global Outreach is the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, which informs the design of our projects. Our formation process provides students with a deep contextual understanding of historical background, socioeconomic structures, and systemic areas of social justice. This reflection-based learning, grounded in Ignatian contemplation, encourages a dialectical relationship between conscientious action and critical reflection. Our aim is to transform students’ worldview, equipping them with the tools necessary to engage in thoughtful vocational discernment and service for the common good.
In addition, our program integrates the principles of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), a strategy that focuses on the strengths and assets of communities rather than their deficits. By mobilizing unrecognized local resources, we empower communities to drive their own development, creating sustainable opportunities for growth and change.
We look forward to continuing this important work as part of the Campus Ministry team, and we are excited for the next chapter in Global Outreach’s journey at Fordham University. Through these programs, we aim to continue forming students as diverse, ethical leaders committed to justice and solidarity in a global society.
We invite you to stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to participate in these life-changing experiences!
With hope and enthusiasm,
John L. Gownley, MSW
Director of Global Outreach
jgownley@fordham.edu
Benjamin L. Mederios
Global Outreach Immersion Coordinator
bmedeiros@fordham.edu
For general information-globaloutreach@fordham.edu