After creating Hoban's World Poverty/Solidarity Day, history teacher Greg Milo is still looking for ways to build on his idea.

Milo recently attended a poverty summit at St. Ignatius High School with seven Hoban students and visiting teacher Fabrice Robardey.

The summit opened with Mass at St. Patrick Church, followed by a speech from former Cleveland Bishop Anthony Pilla. Students then split into groups with different agendas. Throughout the day the students went to three different seminars and an organization fair. The seminars were on education, workers' rights and homelessness.

"I wanted the students to get something out of it," Milo said. "I hope it encourages them to take action."

Sophomore Ashley Markowski felt she benefited from her attendance.

"It expanded my understanding of people in need," Markowski said. "They aren't just the poor but those who need education and working rights."

One of the speakers on workers' rights was Toni Johnson from the Veterans Administration. Johnson talked about the challenges veterans face when they come home from war. They may have trouble with injuries that prevent them from getting a good job. Some veterans may even become felons, further preventing them from getting a job.

"I wanted to come to provide information about the struggles the veterans face," Johnson said. "There are two sides to every story. The veterans deserve forgiveness and second chances."

Johnson also talked about the different types of student volunteers and encouraged the students to become better volunteers.

"I liked the different speakers," Milo said. "The topics were diverse, ranging from predatory lending to refugees in Somalia."

A representative from Steps Toward Advancement in Resettlement Skills spoke on education. She discussed refugees who come from Africa to the United States, then struggle in school because they received little or no education in Africa. She specifically talked about the refugees in the Cleveland area and how they struggle with day-to-day activities because of their lack of education.

Milo hopes to do something like this again.

"I think taking students to events like this is more beneficial than world poverty day," Milo said.

Markowski agrees and hopes to attend an upcoming Fair Trade show.

"I was impressed by how many students took an interest in this," she said. "It made me realize that we are the future leaders of our world, and we need to be aware of the problems."