Inspiring Purpose in Business and Ministry
The Center welcomed Deacon Larry Oney as apart of our Faith, Ethics, and Work Luncheon series. Deacon Larry Oney is the chairman of the largest Black-owned Third Party Administration Company, HGI International, and founder of Hope and Purpose Ministries. Deacon Oney inspired our students to find their divine purpose and even handed out copies of his book to those in attendance! He enlightened our students how his for-profit business drives his non-profit and how both businesses contribute to the common good. They make it a priority to give back to the New Orleans community, specifically the homeless population. He additionally encouraged our students to dive into their work that's fulfilling to them and they should follow their heart's purpose and divine mission, as his book explains!
The Intersection of Jesuit Values and Entrepreneurship
In our collaborative event with the Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development's Innovate.LOYNO series, Valeria Ali '21, Strategic Marketer at Idea Village, and Brannon Albritton, Executive Director of Tech + Disruptive Commerce at JP Morgan, introduced themselves and shared their backgrounds and experiences:
Brannon mentioned the ethical challenges of possessing inside information and highlighted the importance of not worshiping money or material things as a Christian. Valeria spoke about how her faith guided her to make the right decisions in ethical dilemmas.
Valeria emphasized the importance of choosing your inner circle intentionally and sharing challenges with those who support you. Additionally, Brannon discussed the value of understanding different cultures and the "how can I help you?" approach in his work, which aligns with his Christian beliefs.
Overall, both Valeria and Brannon shared their experiences and insights on the intersection of faith, work, and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of ethical decision-making, community support, and positive impacts on the common good.
Why Boredom Matters
Dr. Kevin Gary visited Loyola to discuss with students, staff, and faculty the topic of boredom. Touching upon his book, Why Boredom Matters, he explained why you should not trust boredom. He explained that there are passive activities that we do as humans that we think is fulfilling, but is in fact simply passive activity - such as scrolling on your phone after class or work. Recognizing that work or attending classes all day is an active means of spending your time, Dr. Gary explained how the combination of the two, passive-active, is where fulfillment in your time lies. This was a great talk for our students as they were approaching winter break and entering a rest period in which they intentionally chose their time.
Celebrating Second Chances: Supporting Formerly Incarcerated Employees and Business Owners
We had the honor to have Annie Phoenix, PhD, the Executive Director of Jesuit Social Research Institute speak to our students. She shared the benefits of hiring formerly incarcerated people. "Research confirms that incarcerated people is simply smart business." As a recent ACLU report indicates, "retention rates are higher, turnover is lower, and employees with criminal records are more loyal."
In Louisiana, 75% of formerly incarcerated people are jobless for up to a year upon release. Nationally, 27% of formerly incarcerated people are jobless - higher than the total U.S. unemployment rate during any historical period, including the Great Depression. The numbers vary by race with Black women faring the worse (44%).
In 2023, the Pell grant will be restored for people in prisons which will likely lead to an increase of educational opportunities in prisons. Loyola University New Orleans is now offering a degree program at B.B. “Sixty” Rayburn Correctional Center in Angie, LA. Education is key because 48% of people in prison do not have a high school diploma.
Banking, Financial services and Ethics
Karen DeBlieux spoke to our students at the Faith and Work Luncheon at Loyola University New Orleans College of Business. She is Capital One Commercial Banking’s head of U.S. Corporate Banking and market president. Students loved hearing your sage advice about ethics in banking, the connection between faith and ethics, and how to navigate career success as a woman, wife, and mother.
"Integrity is not just a cliche in the workplace, it is the foundation upon which trust, respect, and credibility are built. By choosing to work for companies that align with our values and living our faith even in a secular environment, we not only uphold our personal beliefs but also contribute to a culture of honesty and accountability that benefits everyone involved."
Private Equity, Financial Services, and Ethics
Thomas Henley, Managing Director at Bernhard Capital Partners Capital Partners, Baton Rouge kicked off our Faith and Work Luncheon series for the 2023 Spring Semester. Mr. Henley's talk on "Private Equity, Financial Services, and Ethics" challenged students to look at how their work contributes to the common good and shapes their character.
Here's one highlight from great talk:
"What would I say to 20-year-old me to help me stay grounded going into the work world?
1. Know who you are and be true to yourself. When you start being untrue to yourself, that’s when you start cutting corners.
2. Write down your purpose. So that going forward you can name what is a distraction versus what is going towards your purpose. Let your purpose be the distraction to the distractions."
Your Brain at Work
We were honored to join the Canizaro Center for Catholic Studies in bringing the Rev. Dr. Christopher Krall, SJ, Assistant Professor of Theology and Neuroscience to campus for an Advent Edition of the Faith and Work Luncheon Center. In his talk, “Your Brain at Work” Fr. Krall addressed students, faculty, and staff on the connection between neuroscience, prayer, and brain health.
Fr. Krall stressed the importance of INTENTIONALITY to formation of healthy personhood, as well as the possibilities for improvement of brain functioning.
In this season of Advent, Fr. Krall stressed the importance of developing intentional contemplative practices of silence, freeing ourselves from the “chaos, excessive media, and constant barrage of noise in our world" and readying ourselves to await the coming of our Lord.
"There is no time for waiting or mindless scrolling. This is a time of preparing and the preparing is a training for mountain-climbing, and the training consists of coming to silence to be receptive, able to listen, ready to receive, to make ourselves into cups and bowls and tender soil and full sails. Just before we do receive the Lord into our lives at Communion, which is coming in just a moment, be ready!... we say, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the Word, and my soul shall be healed.” The Father does speak the Word, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. Are we able to receive this word who comes to heal us and fill us up to the full?"