My name is Emma Qualy-Pearson, and I am originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.   I am a Romance Language major in the College of Arts and Letters.  I am involved in Campus Ministry and Model UN on campus, and I volunteer at La Casa de Amistad and Our Lady of the Road off campus.  

This fall break I will be going to Bethlehem Farm, which is in Alderson, West Virginia with as part of the Appalachia seminar that is run by the Center for Social Concerns.  My site, Bethlehem Farm, focuses on sustainability and community engagement.  While there I will not only be helping with home repair and serving community organizations, but also I will be learning about and from the people of the Alderson community and about how to live sustainbly.  

Because I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which is relatively close to the Appalachia region, I had heard about different groups going there and had always wanted to learn more about the region.  In addition, I participated in Urban Plunge over Christmas Break of my first year in college, and I had a really great experience, which made me interested in learning more about Catholic Social Teaching in other settings.  I am excited to participate in this seminar, because I am looking forward to learning from new experiences, connecting with the people that I meet, and helping in any way that I can.