FFWPU USA: CARP Chapters Tap New Members at Campus Fairs

CARP chapters nationwide have kicked off the new school year by participating in campus club fairs to connect and network with more students. Establishing new membership and developing more chapters are top goals of national CARP leaders.

“[Club fairs] have been a great opportunity to present CARP to many new students and generate more exposure,” said one CARP organizer in Northern California. CARP Chabot College in the Bay Area reported there was stronger interest and a greater turnout of students looking to learn more about the campus movement - which creates programs, events, and activities that promote the principles of faith, family values, and peace, as well as the growth and support of young leaders. “Since this has been the first semester where almost all classes were in person … there were even more sign-ups than those from the pandemic combined,” said the local CARP organizer.

Other chapters like CARP Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New Jersey presented their club materials at multiple fairs across campuses in their area. CARP Chicago had several new members help distribute information about the chapter to other students on campus, while CARP Westminster in Utah shared a table at their campus fair with an interfaith club.

“[This is] a great way to get the semester going,” said a CARP Chicago member. “At each meeting, we

get together and take part in icebreakers and make connections to prepare ourselves to hear topics based on the Divine Principle. We had amazing students come in and share their thoughts. There are also many elders who support [us], as well as our local community … Meetings have been filled with lively discussions and laughter.”

In Boston, the CARP chapter successfully held its first “Higher Purpose Talk” at the Boston Family Church in late September. Sixteen people attended the program, including five new participants. “The event began with fellowship, tasty pizza, and mochi ice cream,” said Samuel, a local CARP member. “Participants also played a fun but challenging game of fishbowl charades to get to know one another.”

The chapter’s president delivered the main talk, which addressed ways to transform our lives into ones with a higher purpose through taking personal responsibility. “The program wrapped up with participants sharing their thoughts about the message and how it related to their own life,” said Samuel. “Overall, the event was a success, and the core staff is very proud of holding this first event open to the general public.” CARP Boston seeks to launch its first Divine Principle seminar, as well as a second Higher Purpose Talk in the coming weeks.

Nationally, CARP USA President Jinil Fleischman recently announced a “New Hope Workshop,” scheduled for January 2023 in Las Vegas, where chapter leaders will further develop ways to help new members who have read the Divine Principle gain deeper conviction in True Parents, the co-founders of CARP.

You can learn more and connect with a CARP chapter near you here.

CARP Momentum 2022: Chapters Double in One Year

Photos courtesy of CARP USA

“CARP Momentum is all about building up momentum as we go into each new school year, and I think that is what

we’re experiencing,” said Jinil Fleischman, CARP USA President. “At our [leaders] workshop, you could really see

and feel the spirit of our bright young people discussing CARP’s vision. There was a great sense of connection …

with a really clear sense of unity where we are all united on True Parents’ vision as CARP America.”

From July 25 to 27, CARP USA held its annual workshop for all CARP leaders at the Unification Theological

Seminary (UTS) in Barrytown, New York. Some 90 college students participated in the program representing 24

states. “It was an amazing group,” said Fleischman during a recent FFWPU USA leaders’ meeting. “This was our

largest CARP gathering since about 2016 … These students are all witnessing on their campuses and leading

their chapters, doing the work of our movement and True Parents on their campuses.”

From 2021 to 2022, CARP’s national presence doubled, said Fleischman — jumping from 11 to 22 states with

CARP activity. Growth continued, he said, with an increase from 12 to 23 established chapters, and expanding

from 31 to 47 campuses. “This doesn’t include five new potential chapters,” added Fleischman. “We have activity

that’s now taking place on many more campuses and we have really grown in the past year.”

CARP leaders have been diligently working toward the group’s national goals, as they aim to have 30,000

members and 1,200 chapters nationwide by 2027. “We’re not quite there yet,” said Flesichman, “but even in just

one year we have grown in pretty significant ways.”

Dr. Chung Sik Yong, Regional President, FFWPU North America, and all FFWPU USA regional leaders were on

hand at the workshop to share guidance and messages of inspiration with the group. “Dr. Yong gave a really

passionate speech to our leaders and called on them to really be the ones to respond to True Mother and make

sacrifices,” said Flesichman. “He and his family have made a lot of sacrifices for True Parents, and so that was

the spirit of his message to our CARP members — to be willing to make that kind of offering for God’s Will.”

CARP leaders also heard more about the mission of Cheon Shim Won from CheonBo staff, as well as a Q&A

session and moving student testimonies. “One young lady is one of two Unificationists going to school at

Princeton, and she shared about pioneering CARP there,” said Fleischman. “Despite backlash from Christians on

campus, she was able to successfully establish a chapter.”

“I’m really inspired to see the growth and engagement of all our student leaders,” said FFWPU USA President Rev.

Naokimi Ushiroda. “It’s very hopeful for our future.”

For Fleischman and CARP’s leaders, the new school year is already off to a powerful start. “I think this workshop

was a really reviving experience for all of our students,” he said. “I think it’s giving them new life, and it’s really

preparing all of us to go forward.”

You can connect with a local CARP chapter near you here.

We had an amazing 2021 - 2022 schoo l year’ Chec k out our Annual Report here. And DONATE to support future act ivi t ies ’

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Registered Chapters Northeast

Connecticut New J ersey New J ersey University of Bridgeport Mo ntclair State University New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)

New J ersey Pri nceton University

ifaryland Montgomery College

Illino is I ndiana 1innesota Harper College Indian a University- Purdue University University of Minnesota, Tw in Cities Indian apolis

Arizona Texas Arizona Stat e Unive rsity Dallas College, North Lake Campus

Cali fornia Ca li fo rn ia Ca li fo rnia Califo rn ia State Po lyt ec hnic University, Califo rn ia State University, Fullerto n Californ ia Stat e University, Long Beach Po mona

Californ ia Cali fornia Cali fornia Chabot College Cypress Co llege Califo rn ia State University, Los An geles

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California Californ ia Cali fornia East LA College (ELAC) El Camino College (ECC) Pasadena Community Colleg e (PCC)

Cali fornia Ca li fo rn ia Hawa ii University of Califo rn ia, Be rke ley University of Califo rn ia, Los A ngeles University of Hawaii at Manoa

Nevada Neva da Ut a h College of Southern Nevada University of Nevada. Las Vegas Westminster College

Developing Chapters Northeast

ifa ssa chuse tts New Jersey Iew Jersey Boston Bergen Community College Rutgers- New Brunswick

New Yo rk New York Pennsy lva nia Cornell Un iversity Farmingd ale State University Community College of Philade lphia

Florida Florida Georgia Florida Intern at io nal University University of Flo rida Georg ia State Un iversity

Ma ry la nd Virg inia University of Maryland North e rn Virg inia Community College

Okla homa Texas Texas

University of Oklahoma University of North Texas University of Texas. Arlington

Texas University of Texas, Dallas

A laska Ca li fo rn ia Cali fornia University of A laska, A nchorage Califo rn ia State East Bay Santa Monica College

California Colorado Oregon University of Cal iforn ia, Irvine Denver Po rtland Community College

Uta h Washi ngto n Salt Lake Community College Shoreline Community College

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