Summer in the City Internship Applications are Open, Blue Streaks!

The Center for Service-Learning and Social Action

Summer in the City Internship Applications are Open!

Build advocacy skills, engage in community-based research, and explore Cleveland through an internship with CSSA’s 2023 JCU Summer in the City Internship Program!

The JCU Summer in the City Internship Program provides an opportunity for students to engage in the issues of homelessness, advocacy, service, solidarity, and social change through this internship. These paid internships will enable qualified students to explore the systems and structures behind many of the current social issues of our times. This ten-week, full-time, paid immersive experience will place students with a nonprofit community organization in Cleveland involved in advocacy work addressing these social issues. Students will use their internship experience to prepare a research project for the organization that promotes social change. Interns also receive a $4,800 (+$500 for the research component) stipend for their work. Internships are open to all sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduates and graduate students.

Visit this link for more information about the JCU Summer in the City Internship

Application Process Timeline:

Applications open on November 1, 2022
Early Applications are due on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
Regular Decision Applications are due on Sunday, January 29, 2023.

Click here to apply for a paid 2023 Summer Internship!

Questions? Email service@jcu.edu!

Calling All Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students, and Undergraduate Students to Sign up for One-Time Service Opportunities!

Have a busy schedule, but still want to participate in service? Check out the One-Time Service Opportunities that we offer throughout the semester!

Greater Cleveland Food Bank

Thursday, November 15 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Monday, December 5 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM

The volunteer tasks may include:

Sorting through and repackaging Incoming Nonperishable, Perishable, and Non-food Donations
Shelf-stable Emergency Food Box Packaging
Commodity Supplemental Food Program Box Packaging
Backpacks for Kids Kit Assembly
Kids' Cafe/Summer Feeding Lunch Packaging

Transportation to and from the Food Bank is provided. Make sure to register on both GivePulse AND the Food Bank link on the GivePulse Page.

Cleveland Clinic Stephanie Tubbs Health Center Mobile Food Pantry

Saturday, November 19 from 8:40 AM to 12:20 AM

The volunteer tasks may include:

Help sort food items to community members experiencing food insecurity
Help repack food items to community members experiencing food insecurity
Help distribute food items to community members experiencing food insecurity

This activity will take place at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center, a branch of the Cleveland Clinic.

Boulevard Elementary School Market Days

Tuesday, December 6 from 12:45 PM to 2:45 PM
Tuesday, December 6 from 2:15 PM to 4:45 PM

The Cleveland Food Bank provides bulk fruits and vegetables to the Boulevard Elementary community. Beginning at 1:00 pm the team will bag and box the food items to be placed in the trunk of cars. The car drive-through is in the parking lot from 2:30-4:30 pm. Then the boxes are broken down and the remaining food is redistributed. The Market Day program is a way for Boulevard Elementary families and local area families in need to receive healthy food staples in a convenient way.

Transportation to and from Boulevard Elementary is provided. Please wear closed-toed shoes and warm clothing as this event is outdoors.

For all one-time opportunities, click here!

Questions? Contact service@jcu.edu. Tell your friends!

The CSSA Democracy Fellows, Donuts for Democracy, and VOTE!

Stop by the table outside CSSA tomorrow, November 8 between 9-11am.

Students can grab a donut to celebrate their participation in the midterm elections!

Make a plan to VOTE!

Mallory Dunlap '25 and Gia Hamed '25 are JCU's Democracy Fellows

sponsored by the nonpartisan organization Campus Vote Project.

All students are encouraged to register for this Spring 2023, Pass/Fail graded, service-learning course

taught by JCU Professor Emeritus Jerry Weinstein. Sign up based on class status:

AC 170/270/370/470 (1 credit, if you are otherwise under 18 hours, so no added cost)
AC 173/273/373/473 (0 credit, if you are already at 18 or more hours, so no added cost)

The VITA program helps low to moderate-income individuals and families prepare their income tax

returns without paying fees to professional preparers. The VITA program serves low-wage workers,

particularly those in families with children, who may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit

(EITC). The EITC is a major way to help alleviate poverty among greater Clevelanders. Last year, JCU

students helped provide families in need with millions of dollars of refunds.

Additional Information:

You do not need to be an Accounting or Business major.
No prerequisites, homework, or exams.
All returns are reviewed and you have no liability for errors.
Finish by April 15, 2023.
Software and basic tax training provided at JCU on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm (free lunch).
Work 2 additional Saturdays from 9:00 am –3:30 pm to complete the course (free lunch)

Email weinstein@jcu.edu for details.

Natalie Byrne '25

Major: Early Childhood Education

Minor: Peace, Justice, and Human Rights

Hometown: North Ridgeville, Ohio

Favorite Quote: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love”- Mother Teresa

I am serving at Zelie’s Home this semester which is a home that strives to provide a safe place for expecting or new mothers. They help these women grow spiritually, physically, and professionally to be able to support themselves and their children. In addition, they are a program that strives to help the women long term by addressing their individual needs.

I think through my experience I have grown to be more empathetic and willing to listen to people’s situations. It has changed the way I value personal growth for the better. These women keep growing regardless of how challenging their situation is and gives me the courage to do the same.

I have learned to be more open-minded to people and where they come from as well as to have patience. At Zelie’s Home, I mostly babysit and have learned to be very patient with this one kid. It has taken him a long time to warm up to me and the other participants. So, he is finally coming around and it is so amazing. I will use my experience of being open-minded and patient in my future classroom with my students. I can be there for them and help them both in and outside the classroom.

Rivera Cruz '25

Major: Political Science and Data Science

Hometown: Geneva, Ohio

Favorite Quote: “I’d rather be divisive than indecisive.”-Lin-Manuel Miranda

This semester I am serving at International Newcomers Academy. This organization enables immigrants and refugees to earn an education and access resources to acclimate to the United States. In addition, the student's ages, backgrounds, and English fluency vary, creating a diverse environment that benefits the class. International Newcomers is evening the field for the children to have a better life in the states.

An experience I had this semester was working with migrants facing some form of deportation or legal confrontation. On this side, working with the youth entering the country expanded the opportunity to be educated further on the subject. Both are intense and difficult situations but intersect with compassion and opportunity. With this new state of mind, I am conscious of the tedious process of migrating to the United States, and the responsibility of volunteers is to make this transition easier. This experience has encouraged me to continue working with immigration because this service taught me that this minority is often neglected.

Get Connected! Stay Informed!

Follow us on social media to get the latest news from CSSA, learn about upcoming opportunities, find ways to stay connected and engaged, read posts by featured students, and learn about all of the great things happening in the Center for Service-Learning and Social Action! We post frequent updates daily, so be sure to stay tuned in!

Connect with us NOW to join the fun!