Catalyst Clemente is an educational initiative promoting the
social inclusion of those who experience disadvantage. It does
this by engaging various community groups in a collaborative
effort which takes the university into the community, providing
a university course in the humanities.
Through intellectual engagement and reflection, the humanities
provides participants with opportunities to develop new ways of
thinking, enabling people to break out of old understandings and
patterns of behaviour. With increased self-esteem, confidence
and purpose, with a better understanding of self, others and
society, with hope and an ability to see a different way ahead,
people are better able to make the most of job and housing
opportunities, and to develop better relationships with others.
In the words of the
founder Earl Shorris
(2000):
Education in the
humanities is about thinking and beginning, rather than doing
and following. If one has been “trained’ in the ways of poverty
what is needed is a beginning. The humanities teach us to think
reflectively, to begin to deal with the new as it occurs to us,
to dare. If the poor are to make the leap out of poverty, it
will require a new kind of thinking – reflection. That is a
beginning.
Originally known as Clemente, the program was began in New York
in 1997. In 2003 Australian Catholic University (ACU) began
sponsoring it in Australia in partnership with other agencies.
Currently it runs in Sydney at Surrey Hills and Campbelltown,
Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Ballarat, Adelaide, Perth and
Newcastle. It is variously known as 'Clemente' and 'Catalyst
Clemente'.
Catalyst Clemente invites the participation of those who have a
desire to learn, a degree of stability in their life allowing
them to commit to a 12 week program, and are able to read a
newspaper.
Catalyst Clemente is hosted by CatholicCare at either 882 or
846 Hunter Street, Newcastle West. Semester II begins on
Tuesday July 27th, 2010.
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