The Pandemic Exposed the Needs of So Many Students and Many Still Struggle
Depression, anxiety, loneliness, uncertainty- college students have faced it all in the past two years. Some students have acquired the skills needed in order to find community and grow in their faith. Unfortunately, many students continue to struggle. Just because the pandemic is in the past doesn’t mean that everything is ok.
CCMA is prepared to help campus ministry professionals come alongside college students in a new, contemporary way through what we have named, The 7 Essential Skills.
Consider the Hurt
69%
of young people say they have 3 or fewer meaningful interactions in a regular day.
40%
of young people say they feel they have no one to talk to and that no one knows them well.
25%
of young people say they have one or fewer adults in their lives they can turn to if they need to talk.
Time for a New Map
The 7 Essential Skills form a roadmap. As the needs of college students are greater than ever before, a new set of skills is necessary.
Like any map, the final destination is clear: to teach a new set of contemporary skills in order for more students to thrive in their Catholic faith.
The 7 Essential Skills Initiative Has Three Parts
Action Research
Through surveys with a variety of campus ministry leaders, the 7 Essential Skills will be discerned and simplified without being watered down.
Live programing
CCMA’s Office Hours, Winter Webinar and CALLED conference will help to bring the 7 Essential Skills to the public in 2023 and 2024.
best practices booklets
Starting in 2023, CCMA will publish an annual booklet with stories from campuses that demonstrate the 7 Essential Skills.
How You can Participate in the 7 Skills Initiative
For organizations: In order to bring the Initiative to life, we are inviting partners to invest $10,000. This enables the individual (or organization) to a top sponsorship level at CALLED23 (our national conference) and to name one individual to serve on the Pillar Circle which will help to steer the project.
For individuals: Individuals may also contribute to the Initiative, investing $10,000 in order to underwrite the cost of the Best Practices Booklets.
For foundations: Foundations may also contribute to the Initiative, investing $10,000 in order to underwrite the cost of the staff time needed for the project.
The total cost of the Initiative is $60,000.
Contact Dr. Michael St. Pierre, Executive Director of CCMA for more information about the Initiative: stpierre@ccmanetwork.org