Contributed by Jennifer Pierce
Back in August 2018, National CARP headquarters launched a series of CARP presentations for students to use on campus. These presentations were developed by our mentors and educators to help students better articulate CARP’s principles and stance on today’s issues, known as “Headwing” thought.
Headwing was coined by CARP’s founders, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, as a way to describe their philosophy and culture that promotes interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universally shared values. Not standing on either the right wing or left wing side, Headwing was explained to be the head that can guide and unite the two.
“I really like the distinctions between left and right wing and headwing[‘s description] to embrace and support them. I felt CARP is really important in this society and that we really have to make it a better place for the younger generation. From now on, I want to be more involved in CARP and HARP.” - Masato Shigeta, HARP Alhambra, CA
About 80 student leaders, CARP mentors, volunteers, National staff, and Board attended.
From January 12 to 13, we hosted a Curriculum Intensive at the Los Angeles Family Church for student leaders to receive hands-on training from our educators and make plans for the semester.
Thirty student leaders from Los Angeles, ten from Las Vegas, five from Bay Area, and ten out-of-state participated in the Intensive. Also participating were ten CARP mentors, three National Board members, and three National Staff. About 80 people attended in total.
CARP USA President, Teresa Rischl, gave opening remarks.
The purpose of the Intensive was to understand the meaning and importance of CARP’s approach to current issues and develop a shortened presentation for use during the semester. For the mentors who came, it was to connect and discuss how to better support the students in the future.
Christine Froehlich, mentor to CARP Bay Area, helped develop the presentations and presented three of them.
Dr. Robert Beebe, who also serves on the CARP National Board of Directors, also developed the material and presented the final three presentations.
“I’m really thankful for these presentations. I’ve studied it before in my schooling, but having it presented in this way I felt was really lacking in my field. What stood out to me was how to relate with other people. I’m very eager to share and debate, but to create actual dialogue and understand another’s point of view is something I feel I’m lacking. I’m also grateful to see the facts and statistics. I grew up Christian, and I hated being told what to do because God said so. I needed facts. And I received a lot today, but more important is what I do with it. Being able to understand the implications of the sexual revolution and the philosophies and thinking about who I am going to be was a really good experience.” - Marcus Fuller, CARP Las Vegas, NV
While all of these outcomes were accomplished, the most important outcome achieved by both the mentors and the students was a sense of national identity and unity. Much of CARP America’s national model has been local chapters pioneering and trying new programs and National CARP supporting that.
However, during the Intensive, student leaders worked together to learn the material, shared their strengths and ideas, and more confidently internalized the vision and mission of CARP. Parents and mentors candidly discussed what works and what doesn’t work and collectively agreed on a plan moving forward.
“I originally came here to learn a lot and not make many friends, but I met the coolest people I’ve ever met in a long time. It’s a big deal for me personally. It’s insane how one organization can bring so many people together with so many different backgrounds around a core set of values. It’s an incredible and inexplicable thing.” - Andrew Hunt, CARP Grand Rapids, MI
In a similar vein to Headwing teachings, it’s not about what divides us or where we come from, but where we come together. By working together, the community is stronger, and CARP is stronger.
During the intensive, students heard the six presentations’ summary, discussed its ideas in small groups, and participated in Q&A sessions with the presenters. The presenters also provided further study for more in depth understanding of the topics.
“I realized what I learned today is that a choice that some people made out of anger impacted the world to end up like this [divided], but we’re trying to make a solution based on love.” - Berthina Kisile, CARP Grand Rapids, MI
Marcus Fuller, CARP Las Vegas graduate, gave his own presentation.
At the end of the presentations, students had an opportunity to create their own shortened presentations for use on their campuses with other members of their chapters. Three representatives presented their shortened presentations at the end of the intensive.
“When people questioned me about the ideals of CARP, I really struggled to explain it in a concrete way, but the Worldviews presentation was so real. I felt I could really bring it into CARP at Cal State Long Beach and help students. These principles really can empower students and change them and help them grow into leaders.” - Sooyoung Kawasaki, CARP Cal State Long Beach, CA
We look forward to an exciting and empowering Spring Semester as a National Movement!
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