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Efforts for the establishment of CARP Harper started back in November 2017. CARP alumni Zaiya Konno returned to her home city of Chicago after some years on a faith-based leadership training program called STF Europe; she had a desire to establish a positive environment for the youth in her local community to come together.
Midwest CARP, a hub of chapters from three states, gathered for their final event of the semester on May 15, 2021. Nine participants gathered from chapters in Harper College in Illinois, Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan, and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in Indiana for this gathering, centering on the theme of “Hyojeong Promise.”
The Midwest CARP Chapters, Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Indianapolis, brought together 25 participants for a weekend retreat in Camp KOHOE in Benton Harbor, Michigan last weekend from January 9 to 11. The theme of the retreat was “Becoming a Global Citizen” inspired by CARP Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s autobiography.
We utilized the HyoJeong Promise as a framework for CARP members to become a global citizen by first developing a personal and living relationship with God, devoting oneself for the sake of marriage and family, and then impacting the world in a positive way. Lectures were given throughout the three days by Gerry Servito, affectionately known as Uncle Gerry, and Pastor Josue Kisile of Grand Rapids.
From May 17th to 19th, the Midwest CARP chapters held a retreat in Benton Harbor, Michigan, with the theme, “Leaving a Legacy of Love”. Nineteen participants came to join the retreat.
Our guest speaker, Dr. Robert Beebe, flew in from New Jersey to give three presentations from the CARP Curriculum: Education, Love and Sexuality, and Marriage and Family. From the presentations, participants deepened their understanding about the value and importance of families.
On March 9, CARP Grand Rapids, CARP Chicago, and CARP Indianapolis came together to host a Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) seminar for youth and CARP members at the Chicago Family Church.
Naria Gaarder, the Program Coordinator YSP, and also the main speaker of the event, started the event off by explaining YSP as an organization and its goals towards creating a world of peace. She explained the importance of creating peace on three different levels; starting from within the individual, peace could be spread to the community and to the environment. The participants were able to take the time to reflect on their own lives and develop action plans towards generate peace in their own lives. Naria informed the audience that peace could only be developed when we were able to envision it in our own lives.
From January 12-13, we invited student leaders, CARP mentors, volunteers, National Staff, and the National Board of Directors to join us in a Curriculum Intensive. We went in depth into new educational material for the new year!
“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 unexplainable thing.” - Andrew Hunt, CARP Grand Rapids, MI
On December 21-23, the CARP chapters from the Midwest, Grand Rapids, Chicago, and Indianapolis, collaborated to host a winter CARP retreat at Camp KOHOE in Benton Harbor, Michigan. This retreat was a follow up from the Spring Retreat. The theme of the winter event was “Find Your Purpose, Change Your Life” with the focus being on the Three Life Goals.
“The theme was: 'find your purpose, change your life.' I like that. I feel that I should be here, because I didn’t know my purpose. When people explained that it could be love, career, and other things, it allowed me to look inside and find my purpose.” - Cypreiana Carter
From October 29th to November 4th, Jinil Fleischman and myself took a tour to four different CARP chapters in the Midwest. Our intention was to see the chapters and campuses firsthand, join activities, meet members and faculty advisors, and provide any support needed.
We started in Columbus, Ohio, and then drove to Indianapolis, Indiana, then to Grand Rapids, Michigan with a brief stop in Benton Harbor, and finally ended in Chicago, Illinois.
The trip was a deep experience. We gained new insights into what CARP is doing really well in the Midwest and how better to support them. We are so proud of each one of these unique chapters and students. Their passion, their love, and their heart all contribute to the movement of CARP.
