Rockhurst to Establish Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice

Rockhurst University will honor Alvin Brooks, longtime Kansas City leader in social justice and civil rights, with the establishment of the Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice on campus. The center will house many of the university’s faith-justice related efforts, including a chapel, mission and ministry programs, and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Work has begun to raise funds for the center and to identify a location and construction and design partners.

The Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., president of Rockhurst University, announced the initiative at the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC’s annual Human Relations event Nov. 18, where he was honored with the Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award.

The award recognizes “a person who has led by example, sought justice, and who embodies the Jewish mission of ‘repairing the world.’” In his acceptance remarks, Fr. Curran called Henry Bloch and Alvin Brooks true and genuine humanitarians.

“To me they epitomize what it means to cooperate and co-labor with the gentle disposition of God’s providence to bring about ‘mishpat, tzedek,’ ‘justice in our time,’” Fr. Curran said.

During the program, Rabbi Alan Londy from New Reform Temple moderated a panel discussion with Rockhurst University students Bridgette Berry, LC Coldiron, Zander Haddad, Alexandra Moss, Shaili Patel and Michael Sitti. The students all took Fr. Curran’s class on Catholic social teaching, where Rabbi Londy was a frequent guest.

At the end of May, Fr. Curran will complete his 16th and final year as president of Rockhurst University. He announced in September that he would leave to have a sabbatical followed by his next assignment with the Society of Jesus, the Jesuit order of Roman Catholic priests of which he is a member.

Pictured: Jewish Community Relations Bureau / AJC 2021 Human Relations Event chairs and Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award recipient the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J. (From left) Don Hall, Jr., John Sherman, Marny Sherman, Alvin Brooks, Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., Peggy Dunn, Terry Dunn, Carrie Condon, Matt Condon