Montezuma, NM30+ days ago
No matter where our students come from, they increasingly see these challenges up close in local, national, or international settings: Economic, political, and social inequality between those at the center and those on the margins of societies worldwide; Political polarization rooted in ideology, grievance, and uneven democratic practice/ institutions; Climate change, ecosystem destruction, and biodiversity collapse, resulting from destructive modes of production, consumption, and land use. In this global context, our students face the more personal challenge of growing into healthy young adults and thoughtful leaders amid real cultural, social, and educational tensions worldwide: Just as they embrace the great diversity of people and cultures in the world, they feel the powerful forces of assimilation and homogenization that threaten local identities and the wisdom they contain.