World Day of Social Justice
World Day of Social Justice: internationally February 20
In light of Reading Week, U of A will be observing World Day of Social Justice on February 25 and 27, 2025
Mental health directly connects to social justice. In other words, social injustices can affect our mental health negatively, and it’s important to acknowledge that some of us are more heavily impacted than others. Social injustice can cause cumulative stress that takes a mental, physical and emotional toll on us as individuals. We often frame mental health as an individual problem, but a social justice lens invites a collective approach that emphasizes ongoing learning when it comes to the well-being of all.
Observing World Social Justice Day reminds us to proactively address systemic issues and acknowledge that a significant part of caring for our community in a socially just way is by exploring how gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, sexuality, disability and economic status create barriers and privileges that impact members of our community in unique ways. Caring for our mental health also means advocating for equity, diversity and inclusion on campus for not just ourselves but those around us as well. In doing so, we are more likely to enhance the well-being of our community as a whole.
LIVING LIBRARY
For our 2025 program, we will be hosting a Living Library inspired by the Human Library concept.
Living Libraries help spread awareness about how mental health intersects with social justice, build empathy and confront stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination through sharing personal experiences.
Volunteers or “living books” share a chapter of their life with small groups of U of A students, faculty and staff. From a personal lens, living book volunteers share their experiences on topics including but not limited to resilience, challenges and paths toward change with their listeners. Listen to one of our thirteen Living Books talk about their personal experiences where their mental health intersected with social justice.