Author Archives: Tom Arcaro

Tom Arcaro is a professor of sociology at Elon University. He has been researching and studying the humanitarian aid and development ecosystem for nearly two decades and in 2016 published 'Aid Worker Voices'. He recently published his second and third books related to the humanitarians sector with 'Confronting Toxic Othering' published in 2021 and 'Dispatches from the Margins of the Humanitarian Sector' in 2022. A revised second edition of 'Confronting Toxic Othering' is now available from Kendall Hunt Publishers

Slacktivism?

  Slacktivism? This is a spin off post to the one I did on “voluntourism” as I continue the process of reflecting on what doing  “good” in this world means. “In contrast to those who suggest that we act as soon as the whistle blows, I suggest that, even before the whistle blows we ceaselessly try to know the world in … Continue Reading

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Addressing relational poverty

Addressing relational poverty Pericleans -alumni and current- have a responsibility to ceaselessly increase their knowledge about global social issues not only specific to their country of focus but as well about those impacting all humanity. One of the of the issues that cuts across all nations of the world is that of poverty. For those of you who are not … Continue Reading

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Class of 2012: Throwback Thursday

Just sayin’

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Some thoughts on voluntourism

Voluntourism An important question:  “Are Elon students ever ‘voluntourists?’”  [Note:  This is an extension of an earlier post where I suggested we deepen our understanding of what it means to be a Periclean Scholar.]   Some thoughts about voluntourism First, a definition The usage of this term has increased exponentially in the last half decade and, for many, it carries negative connotations. … Continue Reading

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Update on Class of ’08 partner Schools for Chiapas

Schools for Chiapas and the Class of 2008 Background The Class of 2008 choose Mexico as their country of focus (note:  that was back at the beginning of the program when Classes choose both their country of interest and the issue(s) upon which to focus) and began their search for partners.  Since many of the ’08’s were eduction majors the name … Continue Reading

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Welcome back for a busy spring semester!

Welcome back for a busy spring semester! All Pericleans, I hope that your Winter Term was productive, engaging and that you were able to get some good family time in over the breaks since the end of Fall term.  I suspect you share my enthusiasm to get the current semester started and to move forward on all things Periclean. Here … Continue Reading

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Snapshots: The impact of Periclean Scholars Classes over the years

Snapshots:  The impact of Periclean Scholars Classes over the years There are two separate but interconnected impacts of the Periclean Scholars program.  One is the impact it has on current students and the lasting change this makes in these lives on into the future as Elon and Periclean alumni. I have posted about this impact previously and will author more posts on … Continue Reading

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Insights on the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone from a long time Periclean Scholars partner

Insights on the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone from a long time Periclean Scholars partner Dr. Lucy Steinitz  Sierra Leone Up Close and Personal. December12, 2014 Dr. Lucy Steinitz, co-founder of Catholic AIDS Action in Namibia in 1998, was the first partner with which the Class of 2006 connected back in  2003.  She was a the main point of contact between … Continue Reading

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Periclean Scholars Class of 2015 Resume

Periclean Scholars Class of 2015 Elon, North Carolina ● periclean2015.wordpress.com Mission Statement  We, the Periclean Scholars Class of 2015 at Elon University, strive to empower individuals and communities, in both North Carolina and Haiti, by providing opportunity and hope through the exchange of knowledge and resources. We will develop mutually beneficial partnerships, locally and internationally, in the hopes of promoting … Continue Reading

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Great story about ’15’s ‘Stand Up for Freedom Week’ in Pendulum

Great story about Stand Up for Freedom Week in Pendulum From the Pendulum story about the ’15’s benefit concert at West End: “West End Terrace was transformed into a scene out of “Pitch Perfect” during Stand up for Freedom Week, hosted by the Periclean Scholars Class of 2015. The concert featured Elon University’s a cappella groups, gospel choir and Limelight … Continue Reading

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