Hannah Brough
La Salle University
Hannah Brough, a junior speech-language pathology major at La Salle University, is a student leader active in issues of social justice. Hannah came to La Salle with an impressive history of service, and has expanded on that during her time at La Salle. As a freshman, Hannah began working with Pheed Philadelphia, a service and social justice organization which focuses on addressing hunger and homelessness in our city. Later coordinating that program, Hannah has worked to attract new volunteers and create awareness opportunities for campus about issues of hunger and food insecurity. Hannah also has attended two international service trips, to schools in Kenya and building homes in Honduras (now a student leader). She also is affiliated with two fair-trade organizations, working to support female entrepreneurs in the developing world. Hannah actively encourages members of the La Salle community to become aware and involved in issues of social and economic justice, both locally and globally.
Personal Statement
Although I have participated in volunteer and service activities for as long as I can remember, I did not come to realize my passion for social justice until my first collegiate volunteer and immersion experience in Nyeri, Kenya. It was there that I was struck by the serious gender and economic inequality that controls so many communities around the world. After returning home, I struggled with a sense of hopelessness and insignificance in the fight against the cyclical nature of generational poverty. However, I soon got involved with Trades of Hope and began to understand the impact that I can have to promote the destruction of the cyclical nature of poverty. Later, while working with women in Honduras, I gained a better understanding of both the emotional effects of poverty and the importance of social-justice-minded solutions. Although my heart lies in the empowerment and education of women, I also enjoy working with a campus organization that brings students to volunteer at soup kitchens in the Philadelphia area. Through my relationships with many of the clients at these locations, I am able to apply my experiences abroad to my own community here in hopes to spark awareness and progressive change.
