In an article in Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education, “Rhetorical Education in the Jesuit Mode With Five Bullet Points for Today,” Jesuit historian and long-time Georgetown professor Fr. John O’Malley, S.J., reflects on the distinctive characteristics of Jesuit education. Central to O’Malley’s presentation is the way that the art of communication factors into the training and education provided in Jesuit schools. He makes note of how the humanistic tradition values the gifts of oratory and public rhetoric as a way of serving the common good. The schools run by Jesuits for the last five centuries have evolved and taken on many new forms, but one consistent thread is a commitment to eloquentia perfecta, or perfect eloquence. Fr. O’Malley describes the concept in this way:
“This expression took hold in the Jesuit tradition as capturing the most immediate goal of rhetorical training. The goal was achieved through the study of great literature in one’s own language and in the languages of other cultures. Eloquence, a word sadly out of fashion in most quarters today, is the skill to say precisely what one means and to do so with grace and persuasive force. It is the fundamental skill needed by anyone in a leadership position, however humble. It is a skill, as well, that helps one ‘get ahead’ out in the marketplace, and sometimes get farther ahead than those with nothing more than the technical skills of the trade.”
The notion of perfect eloquence arises as SCS prepares to celebrate on December 4 the 15th anniversary of the Center for Social Impact Communication (CSIC). This Center has stood out since its founding as an indispensable mission-serving entity at Georgetown. CSIC’s focus is on supporting the social impact sector to meet the most intractable issues faced by society and it does this by “embracing the blur.” What does this mean? According to CSIC, “embracing the blur” acknowledges “the level of effort it takes to create measurable—and sustaining—social impact. The problems we seek to solve are too complex for one sector to tackle, or one functional area to own. … Embracing the blur means uncovering your own unique strengths and recognizing how they can work synergistically with those of your collaborators to ultimately create impact.” As an educational unit, CSIC accomplishes this critical social change vision in several ways.
The Center works through applied research, graduate courses, community collaborations, and thought leadership. CSIC helps clients apply for pro-bono services, including marketing, communication, fundraising, and journalism services from SCS graduate students. By matching real-world clients addressing real-word social needs with Georgetown students, CSIC is integrating the Spirit of Georgetown values into the applied curriculum of SCS. One of the Center’s signature courses, “Cause Consulting,” provides students with the opportunity to share integrated communication services for non-profits and socially responsible businesses. The measurable positive impact of this course alone is notable, with over 22,000 pro-bono support hours contributed over the last decade and more than 75 clients served through the partnership. This is just one example, in addition to others like applied research and “Strategic Storytelling,” in which CSIC at SCS is helping support social transformation through the power of effective communication.
The story of CSIC is truly one of using communication with both “grace and persuasive force,” a combination that reverberates with the Jesuit tradition of eloquentia perfecta.
The 15th anniversary celebration for CSIC will take place on December 4. Be sure to visit CSIC at its homepage.