[caption id="attachment_5583" align="alignright" width="195"] Blog by Associate Paul Bonitatibus[/caption] After completing a thirty-five year career in banking, I have become quite proficient at the art of retirement. I golf (badly), spoil grandchildren (I am good at this!), travel frequently (visited thirty three countries and planning for more), do volunteer work, follow Notre Dame Football (have attended 165 games), and pursue opportunities for lifelong learning. Have you ever enrolled in a MOOC – Massive Open Online Course? These are classes offered by universities on a variety of subjects and if you opt just for the knowledge rather than a certificate, they are generally free. Two of the more popular MOOC’s are EdX and Coursera. I have taken a Georgia Tech writing class, two classes from Notre Dame - Statistics and the Architecture of Rome, Climate Change from The University of Melbourne, The University of London’s “The Camera Never Lies,” and even the “Music of the Beatles” from the University of Rochester. These classes have been fun and educational while providing an opportunity to interact with hundreds, even thousands, of others taking the courses worldwide. But, my most recent course, EdX.org’s “Human Rights, The Rights of Refugees” was more than just educational. It was disturbing, thought provoking, and called for action. My grandparents were immigrants. I was blessed by their love and guidance and saw them every day of the week until I started high school. I often think of them when I hear about walls, quotas, DACA, and camps. What if they were denied access to Ellis Island in the early 1900’s? How should we as Dominicans address the plight of refugees and immigrants? Let’s do what Dominicans do best. Discern Open our hearts in prayer and support Make a difference Inform others about the issue Navigate the political landscape Impact the lives of those in need Care Advocate Never stop Building Peace