MPH Student Harnishad Kaur Binner Shares Experience from Campus Ministry Spring Break Immersion Program
Harnishad Kaur Binner, a second-year student in the Master of Public Health program recently participated in the ‘Campus Ministry Spring Break Immersion Program’ along with other Saint Louis University students.
Each year, several students apply to travel over spring break to various locations in the United States for a week of immersion into a new culture and lifestyle to be people for and with others.
This year, Binner, with several other students, spent the week with ‘Thrive for Life’ in The Bronx, New York, with formerly incarcerated individuals, learning about the flaws in the US justice system and the issues within the prison system today.
Thrive for Life’s founder, Zachariah F. Presutti, SJ, completed his master’s at SLU in clinical social work. His mission is to positively impact the lives of individuals both within and beyond prison walls, offering avenues for education and assistance in finding employment opportunities, ultimately facilitating their successful reintegration into society. This noble work is realized through the operation of two supportive residences: Abraham House in the Bronx and Ignacio House in Manhattan. This year's group of students stayed at the Abraham House and lived amongst the other house members who were formerly incarcerated.
In preparation for their trip, the students met weekly to learn about the mission they would partake in as well as the community they would be immersing themselves in. Upon their arrival, they were shown to their housing accommodations where they would spend the next week.
Although some were apprehensive to be staying in the Bronx for a week, Binner said “The residents were very kind and welcoming towards us and helped us feel safe. They would even accompany us to get food in the neighborhood and wanted us to feel safe.”
One of the most impactful experiences was visiting Rikers Island and participating in Mass with some of the inmates. Binner and the other students were able to converse with these incarcerated individuals as well.
Binner shared that Mass participants were so excited and grateful that the students had come and were sharing in fellowship with them. The prisoners talked about those whom they missed outside of prison and talked about life before and after with the students.
Binner reflected on the trip and shared how public health is called to be involved in this work. Binner expressed the want for coursework at SLU to discuss the justice and prison system, to bring light to it, and to help educate the next force of public health professionals in this field.
Binner’s offers a piece of advice for those thinking about applying for an immersion spring break trip next year centered around issues such as the justice or immigration system.
“Be ready to hear some powerful stories that might move you emotionally. Also, be ready to handle sudden changes that can happen during the trip. Being too stuck in your ways will not help. While these experiences can be emotionally taxing, approaching them with an open mind will enable you to derive the most benefit in a healthy manner," Binner said.
If you are interested in applying for a spring break immersion trip, check out Campus Ministries website.
College for Public Health and Social Justice
The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health administration.