If you want to change policies and politics, Ronnate Asirwatham says faith and action are both necessary. But how are they connected? In her lecture, titled “Faith in Action,” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, Asirwatham will address the links between these values, and explore their roles both in U.S. federal advocacy and in the work of people around the world seeking to better their lives.

Asirwatham is director of government relations at Network Lobby, an organization that educates, organizes, and lobbies for social and economic transformation. As the lead lobbyist on immigration, she develops and executes strategies to advance the organization’s Catholic social justice agenda on Capitol Hill and within the presidential administration.

Prior to Network Lobby, Asirwatham spent a decade in federal legislative and administrative lobbying in Washington, D.C. She has worked on many aspects of immigration policy and practice, including asylum, refugees, unaccompanied children, and Dreamers.

Asirwatham holds an undergraduate degree from University of Houston and two graduate degrees: one from Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a master’s in international human rights law from the University of Essex, in the United Kingdom.

Presented by the Canisius Academy and co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Studies, “Faith in Action” with Ronnate Asirwatham is free and open to the public. Register for livestream viewing of the Fifth Annual Canisius Academy Lecture at fairfield.edu/cs, or join us in-person at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22 in Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business Event Hall, located at 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.