Tuesday, September 29, 2026
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. EDT
Location: 111 Massachusetts Ave NW Lower Level Multipurpose Room & Livestreamed
Young people are searching for meaningful work, and Catholic teaching has long affirmed that desire. Through work, writes Pope Leo in Magnifica Humanitas, “we contribute to the progress of society and the common good” and “through listening and dialogue, learn to build together something that no one could achieve alone.”
This conversation will bring young people together to explore the connections between work, community, and the common good. How do younger Americans understand work differently than older generations? What changes for communities when young people approach work as a source of meaning, and what challenges prevent them from doing so? What responsibilities do employers have to ensure work contributes to the common good? What responsibilities do workers have to their communities?
This gathering has three parts:
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Happy Hour
Meet and network with other young leaders over food and drink
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Dialogue
A conversation on “‘Something That No One Could Achieve Alone’: Community and the Meaning of Work” with four leaders
8:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Reception
Continue the conversation with other young leaders
This Salt and Light Gathering is for young Catholics and others to come together to explore key issues and personal stories involving faith and public life with respected leaders.
Anna Gordon, assistant director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, will moderate the conversation.
Recording
The dialogue starting at 7:00 pm EDT will be recorded and posted online for later viewing.
Participants
Cecilia Flores
Cecilia Flores is the executive director of Catholic Volunteer Network. Prior to this role, she was a community organizer with Sacramento ACT, where she worked to address issues of poverty and injustice in California. Flores also spent several years volunteering in Honduras with the Missioners of Christ.
Emma Goldberg
Emma Goldberg is a reporter at the New York Times covering a range of topics, including writing about call center workers battling A.I., waves of workers quitting their jobs, and the dubious business of measuring worker happiness.
David Jimenez
David Jimenez is a manager of government affairs for social policy at the Niskanen Center, where he works to advance the think tank’s approaches to family economic security, disability policy, paid leave, unemployment insurance, and child care.
Renée Roden
Renée Roden is a journalist covering religion and a fellow with the Jesuit Media Lab. In 2022, she led a team of journalists in reporting on maternity leave policies in Catholic dioceses across the United States for FemCatholic. She currently serves as editor for Roundtable, a newsletter covering the international Catholic Worker movement.
Related
Accessibility
All accommodation requests should be sent to cathsocialthought@georgetown.edu by September 25. A good-faith effort will be made to fulfill requests.