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Crossroads:
in the classroom
Firmly Planted in Three Cultures
Moira R. Rogers is firmly planted in three cultures. Born
and raised in Argentina, she spoke French at home, went
to a German school and learned Spanish while in grade school.
She now lives in Harrisonburg and speaks English fluently,
is an associate professor of Spanish at Eastern Mennonite
University and has done a major research project in Germany
for which she is receiving special recognition.
Dr. Rogers, who joined the EMU faculty in 2003, will
receive a "BMW Award for Intercultural Learning"—yes,
from
that car company—for a project she undertook, "International
Construction Camp: Building Blocks for Peaceful Living in the
21st Century" and published under the title, "Active
Peacebuilding from below. Intercultural Learning in
Construction Camps. A Study."
From July 2003 to August 2004, Rogers worked as an
intercultural consultant for the Institute for Youth and Society,
a research branch of the Reichenberg Fellowship, an intentional,
ecumenical community based in Reichelsheim,
Germany.
"My task was to articulate the group’s extensive intercultural
work with young people in scholarly terms, to design and
implement several units to promote intercultural learning—
Germany in 2003; St. Petersburg, Russia in 2004—including
individual reflection and assessment tools for all participants,
and to make recommendations for the improvement of the
organization’s intercultural practice," Rogers said.
The award seeks to promote exemplary, innovative projects
in intercultural learning on a global scale and motivate positive
and peaceful coexistence among peoples.
This is an opportunity to put a variety
of skills to work in the facilitation of
wholistic, intercultural learning…this
is a key building block of peacebuilding
efforts so sorely needed today.
With a "focus on
practice," the project meets the following criteria:
-
It is innovative, creative and transferable;
-
It involves outreach activities for society at large;
and
-
The rationale of the project and its implementation must
be
described and documented clearly and comprehensively.
"This award represents a major milestone in my personal,
professional and faith journey, as it represents a major shift
in
my research field and an opportunity to put a variety of skills
to
work in the facilitation of wholistic, intercultural learning,"
Rogers said. "This is a key building block of peace building
efforts so sorely needed today."
Rogers describes the Reichenberg Fellowship as "an
amazing group of persons who represent a broad range of
educational and cultural backgrounds. They are engaged in
projects aimed at promoting family issues and social needs in
international settings.
"I met members of this group many years ago in Argentina
and was impressed with their commitment to combining
personal faith and action," she added.
"I’m eager to continue cooperating in the development
of
new initiatives that make a difference in this world."
Rogers, accompanied by the Fellowship director, Dominik
Klenk, plans to attend the award ceremony, on Mar. 3, 2005,
in
Munich, Germany.
The EMU professor received her undergraduate training at
the Universidad de Buenos Aires, an M.A. degree from
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and a Ph.D. in
science and technology studies from Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University. Most recently she has done
training in intercultural communication at the Intercultural
Communication Institute in Portland, Ore.
—Jim Bishop (C 67), public information officer
