Incoming first-years sharing interest in social justice advocacy participated in the pre-orientation program, Urban Plunge, from Aug. 24 to Aug. 26. Urban Plunge is hosted by Fordham University’s Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) and tries to facilitate sharp thinkers in social justice issues starting locally in New York City.
Urban Plunge aims to cultivate an understanding of community and engagement for students when exploring the diversity of NYC. Learning the stories of NYC’s history is meant to show students that not all have access to the same opportunities.
Urban Plunge’s website states that they “fearlessly address systemic injustices and highlight the beauty that coexists despite it, encouraging students to experience the vibrant culture within all of NYC’s boroughs.”
Participants have the ability to appreciate the diverse life of NYC’s boroughs and become aware of injustice. Urban Plunge, in its 30-year existence, has attempted to help students learn about the communities surrounding Fordham and become active agents of their own communities.
This year’s Urban Plunge was centered around the theme “Bridge, Build and Begin.” As the program highlights community, students are able to engage with New York City, community partners and connect with each other. Some first-year students that participate meet their first friends. The theme is meant to encourage them to be bridge-builders connecting with each other and the outside community.
Hannah Anderson, FCRH ’27, a native New Yorker, expresses how the program enabled connecting with the community, “I thought my experience in Urban Plunge was very helpful, not only in learning more about Fordham, but also about the Bronx and how we can help different communities through experience and understanding. It was fun meeting people from the Bronx and Fordham and learning about their history, culture and how they are connected. I lived in New York for many years but this was the first time I explored different boroughs and its communities. The most important thing I took away from this experience is how you can directly impact people by contributing to different communities and working with others in a positive way. There are many programs you could be a part of to make positive change regardless of your experience or role in society.”
On the first day, students engaged in panel discussions with Fordham alumni and Urban Plunge participants, or “plungers.” Campuses are separate on day one. A commission ceremony took place after students moved into the separate campuses and commuters were welcomed. The students were then congratulated for making it to Fordham by parents and staff.
Soon after, an alumni panel, featuring Jeff Coltin, FCRH ’15, Roxanna Chowdhry-Velasquez, FCRH ’98, Emma Pfohman, FCLC ’13, and Murad Awawdeh, PCS ’19, took place. The panel allowed for the plungers to see that the alumni had completed the journey that they were undertaking and to see where alumni are now.
“This inspired them to go out and take action on issues they care about,” said Kujegi Camara, Assistant Director of Community Engagement and Operations at Fordham. The program aims to teach students how to be a good neighbor and learn about a new environment for those new to NYC. The aspect of “build” surrounds how to build relationships with one another as well as organizations students worked with.
“Begin,” expressed by Kujegi, is “encouraging them to begin something new here, to learn as much as they could, to engage in curiosity so that they can sort of begin their own Fordham journey.” The 30th anniversary of Urban Plunge was a celebration of a program that has been “instrumental” for Fordham students as it gets them involved and creates a sense of Fordham’s mission. This 30th anniversary was incorporated into the theme calling students to apply “bothered excellence” and “cura personalis.” The alumni theme was also incorporated to have first-year students interact with alumni throughout the program. A scavenger hunt took place after the panelist discussion and community building activities.
On day two, all plungers came to the Rose Hill campus. In the morning, students participated in a panel discussion with community activists that spoke on the Cross Bronx Expressway, its impact on the Bronx and the work they are doing to reimagine it because it is a large casse of structural environmental racism, according to Kujegi.
After the panelist discussion, students did neighborhood tours. During the tour, they connected with a community organizer explaining the roots of the organization and providing a walk of the neighborhood. Students went to New Settlement Community Center near Highbridge, the Bronx Expressway, Kingsbridge Armory and other places.
They then had lunch in the area to support local businesses. In the afternoon, students went back to their engagement sites to support the work of a community organization. A large number of students participated in Back to School Festival in Fordham Plaza sponsored by CCEL. They gave out backpacks to thousands of families. Many organizations in the Fordham area were also tabling and organized by CCEL. After the engagement site everybody came back on campus to a music showcase of “From the Bronx to San Juan Hill” — a New York City hip-hop culture and Cuban band.
On day three, everyone went to the Lincoln Center campus. In the morning, everyone participated in a morning reflection. Fordham Campus Ministry staff member, Carol Gibney, led a yoga session. Students engaged in breathing exercises to ground them. They also participated in building exercises to write letters to their future selves. Urban Plunge Assistants (UPA), who are student leaders for each small group, explored the city with their first-years. They went to Staten Island, Brooklyn and Manhattan museums.
“Going into Urban Plunge, I expected to learn about the history of New York City, to work at community events and to move in three days early. While picking out my side of the room was a plus, what I did not expect was the amazing bonds I formed with my Plunge group. Watching many panels, walking for hours on end, even drawing a hopscotch board with chalk was all worth it because I got to do it with my Group Five. Our leaders Bea, Kaitlin and Vincent facilitated discussions officially while we learned more about each other through exercises like the Wheel of Intersectionality. My perception about my peers when I first met them versus the conclusion of Plunge completely changed for the better. We ran around the whole school doing a scavenger hunt on the first night (which we won). It felt like those three days were three years of getting to know each other. I’m still friends with all of my Plunge group to this day, and I’m so grateful to Urban Plunge for the opportunity to connect students through service,” said Lynn Cheng, FCLC ’27.
“I think the big thing about Urban Plunge is it’s, in short, we put so much love into the program… And we immerse them into community, into experiencing something they may not have experienced for the first time,” Camara said.
