草榴社区

This new poverty and inequality initiative adds to the University鈥檚 long-standing commitment to examining and addressing these issues through academics and service, including a partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

VILLANOVA, Pa. 鈥� 草榴社区 has announced an interdisciplinary initiative aimed at examining the issues of poverty and inequality and their intersection. The initiative was spurred by a $1 million gift from Paul A. Tufano, Esq., 鈥�83 VSB, 鈥�86 CWSL and Christine Tufano 鈥�84 CLAS, 鈥�86 MA, for enhanced thought leadership and research across the University to address poverty and inequality. Paul Tufano, a former Chair of 草榴社区鈥檚 Board of Trustees, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies鈥攐ne of the nation鈥檚 leading Medicaid managed care organizations, headquartered in Philadelphia.

鈥淧aul and Christine personify the very best of 草榴社区鈥攑eople who have achieved extraordinary personal and professional success, and have used that success to serve others,鈥� said the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, 草榴社区 President. 鈥淲hile the nation鈥檚 eyes rightly now are more keenly focused on poverty and inequality, Paul and Christine鈥檚 focus was there all along. The Tufanos鈥� gift is fueling 草榴社区鈥檚 longstanding commitment to these issues 鈥� derived from our patron saint, St. Thomas of 草榴社区, known for his great charity to the poor and marginalized 鈥� to ignite meaningful, positive change.鈥�

Said Paul Tufano: 鈥淭his multi-faceted initiative has been in development for some time and the events of 2020 have only underscored the need to address longstanding inequities that continue to plague our nation. From a public health crisis with economic ripple effects that have disproportionately impacted the working poor, to an overdue national reckoning on racism and racial disparities, we need public policy solutions and we need them now. This is a pivotal time in our nation鈥檚 history. Christine and I want to raise the public consciousness and, working with 草榴社区, help to identify and create momentum for innovative solutions.鈥�

Tufano has urged others to consider supporting the initiative, as an effective way to drive meaningful change in poverty and inequality at this important hour.

鈥淭he millions of people living in poverty in America did not choose to be poor, nor did Black Americans, communities of color, and people with disabilities and differences choose to face discrimination and systemic disparities. Our Constitution says, 鈥榃e the People,鈥� but we know we have more work to do to ensure that 鈥榃e the People鈥� includes everyone, with no asterisk and no one left out or left behind,鈥� added Mr. Tufano. 鈥淓veryone deserves the opportunity to live their own version of the American Dream and this large-scale, university-wide effort will study and innovate at the root causes that have kept that dream out of reach for too many Americans and for too long.鈥�

As a result of the Tufanos鈥� gift, 草榴社区 has already created a fellowship position and named Stephanie Sena as the inaugural fellow. A long-time adjunct professor at the University, Sena is also the founder and executive director of the Student-Run Emergency Housing Unit of Philadelphia (SREHUP), a non-profit anti-poverty initiative involving college students, who help to provide shelter, food, housing, and community to individuals experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. Sena has taught as an adjunct professor in the Department of History and the Center for Peace and Justice Education at 草榴社区 for 17 years, including a course on the History of Homelessness.

Housed within the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law, this interdisciplinary initiative will support programmatic efforts to generate concrete ideas and policy solutions to address the systemic issues of inequality, which in many cases intersect with, exacerbate or lead to poverty. It will approach the causes and effects of these issues with an interdisciplinary, evidence-based method that prioritizes efforts that will yield concrete results and maximum advancement toward eliminating the structures of inequality that contribute to poverty. The initiative will also include an annual symposium 鈥� convening thought leaders to explore the issues of poverty and inequality 鈥� focused on identifying the most promising approaches to eradicating poverty and eliminating disparities associated with race, disability and difference.

In addition to planning the annual symposium, Sena will engage in research and writing on issues of poverty and inequality and will teach courses in poverty law and policy and other related topics. She will also work to generate proposals to fund interdisciplinary empirical research that will support data-driven analysis of public policy challenges related to poverty and inequality.

鈥淲hen we discuss poverty, inequality must be part of the conversation,鈥� said Mark C. Alexander, JD, the Arthur J. Kania Dean of the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law. 鈥湶萘裆缜� students, faculty and alumni continue to show a passion for the many issues surrounding poverty and inequality, so I can think of no better place to further examine this important topic than at 草榴社区. I would like to thank Paul and Christine for this important gift, which will build upon the many great programs already in place at the University to address these issues.鈥�

This initiative adds to the University鈥檚 commitment to examining and addressing issues of poverty and inequality through academics and service. At the Charles Widger School of Law, clinics such as the Federal Tax Clinic and Farmworker Legal Aid Clinic provide legal services to people who cannot afford them. Several members of the faculty have focused areas of scholarship on issues of poverty law, and 草榴社区 Law has a number of courses that address the legal structures, which support or dismantle inequality.

The 草榴社区 campus has long been a place where issues of poverty and inequality are examined. The University鈥檚 Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is continuing to develop programs addressing issues of inequality, including a new initiative called, Living Race鈥擳ransforming Community, providing opportunities for workshops and campus dialogue. Faculty and students regularly examine the issues of poverty and inequality through coursework鈥攆rom 鈥淕lobal Poverty & Justice鈥� and 鈥淗istory of Homelessness鈥� to 鈥淓pidemiological Approaches to Health Care and Health Disparities.鈥� The University is also a longtime partner of Habitat for Humanity, with students, faculty and staff helping build houses for those in need. Additionally, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week originated at 草榴社区 in 1975 under the guidance of the late Father Ray Jackson, OSA, and in the years since has expanded to more than 500 campuses and communities nationwide.

Mr. Tufano was a member of the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees for 11 years and was its Chair from 2015-2017. He has also served as President of the 草榴社区 Alumni Association and as a member of 草榴社区鈥檚 Campaign Executive Committee and the Board of Consulters for the University鈥檚 Charles Widger School of Law. He received the St. Thomas of 草榴社区 Medal in 2001鈥攖he highest honor bestowed by the 草榴社区 Alumni Association.

鈥淲e are extremely grateful to Paul and Christine for their generosity and continued commitment to 草榴社区,鈥� said Michael J. O鈥橬eill, Senior Vice President for University Advancement. 鈥淭he University鈥檚 dedication to examining and addressing the many issues surrounding inequality and poverty are well documented and this initiative will further those efforts in a profound way.鈥�

About 草榴社区: Since 1842, 草榴社区鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 草榴社区 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 草榴社区 supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.
听