Higgins Partners with

Center for Social Concerns

On July 1, the Higgins Labor Studies Program and the Center for Social Concerns came together in an official partnership. This partnership will allow for new and creative growth of the Higgins Program in the area of labor studies at Notre Dame.  It will also enhance the Center for Social Concerns’ existing scholarship by promoting research, education, and outreach on questions that relate to economic justice and the rights of workers.

“This is an exciting moment for the Higgins Program and the Center,” said Rev. William M. Lies, C.S.C., Executive Director of the Center for Social Concerns.  “The Higgins Labor Studies Program’s deep partnerships with labor locally and nationally will enhance the Center’s ability to cultivate community partnerships, and foster inquiry into some of the most pressing economic issues facing workers today.”  Marty Wolfson, the new Director of the Higgins Program, shared Rev. Lies's excitement: "The work of the Higgins Program will be strengthened immeasurably by association with the service and community-based learning model so effectively implemented by the Center for Social Concerns." 

The Higgins Labor Studies Program is named for Monsignor George Higgins (1916-2002), former Director of the Social Action Department of the National Catholic Welfare Conference ( a precursor to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) and recipient of the University of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal.  Msgr. Higgins was a forceful advocate for working people and organized labor; in all his work, he put into practice Catholic Social Teaching on the rights of workers, the dignity of work, and economic justice.

Witnessing Labor