Wheaton College students visit West Bank, 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa and Ecohero Darius Jones

For spring break, 22 students from Wheaton College spent 10 days in the West Bank. They attended a conference called ‘Christ at the Checkpoint’ located in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. The student group visited refugee camps, crossed through checkpoints and spent time with many Palestinian individuals and families. We'll talk with three students about their experience.

For our 'EcoHeroes' segment, we'll talk with with Darius Jones. During a brief five-month stay at the Vocational Rehabilitation Impact Center, (VRIC) Jones worked with the Chicago Botanic Garden as a grower at the one-acre garden located at the facility. Once released, he worked for 6 months in the Gardens’ Windy City Harvest Transitional Jobs program as a crew member to develop a small scale composting operation. Jones is the coordinator of the McCormick Roof Top garden, a project of the Chicago Botanic Gardens' Windy City Harvest program. He is also the founder and owner of Urban Aggies.

On March 31, 1854, the Japanese signed the Treaty of Kanagawa. The country opened two ports so that American ships could refuel. The U.S. was also allowed to have a diplomat reside in Japan. Japan was able to preserve its independence but also become a major power in the region.

PHOTO: Wheaton College Students during their West Bank visit for the March, 2014 ‘Christ at the Checkpoint’ conference. (Courtesy of Grant Hensel)