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"Each person must live their life as a model for others."
-Rosa Parks
Newman Civic Fellows  are selected for their demonstrated commitment to finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. Those selected represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders. 

Congratulations to  Caroline Maltese on her selection for this prestigious fellowship! A junior majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology, Caroline is a student leader and advocate who is passionate about confronting health disparities in both urban and rural settings. Caroline volunteers with University Hospital’s “Rainbow Connects” program, which seeks to allocate social services and ensure quality patient care to under-served populations in Cleveland. Through her leadership with CSSA, Caroline helps other students understand root causes of social problems and challenges them to discern and act upon structural injustice. She is a confident facilitator, appreciative of diverse experiences and worldviews, and, as an aspiring physician, a tireless advocate for equitable health care and social service access for all.

Congratulations, Caroline! You are a great inspiration and social justice advocate, both on campus and off!
Intern this summer for the Center for Service and Social Action!

The Center for Service and Social Action has one paid internship opportunity available: 

  • Summer 2020 Intern (1 position)
  • Assist with summer orientation resource fairs, service projects, and special events such as planning the annual Fatima Fun Day and the Community Partner Meeting.
  • 10-15 hours per week.

Applications are due March 22, 2020.
Questions? Contact us at service@jcu.edu
Upcoming One-Time Service Opportunities
Greater Cleveland Food Bank: Wednesday, March 11
Help sort and repack nonperishable food that is later distributed to local food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.

Register  HERE   to volunteer for Greater Cleveland Food Bank on  GivePulse!
When: March 11, 2020
Where: Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Time: 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Transportation is provided
When: March 14, 2020
Where: JCU Campus
Morning Shift: 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Afternoon Shift: 1:00 - 4:30 pm


JCU Science Olympiad: Saturday, March 14
Students are needed to serve as judges at the JCU Science Olympiad. Children of Elementary schools from the Diocese of Cleveland, Grades 4 through 6, will compete at JCU. Judges are needed to set up, score and tally for their assigned specific event. All supplies are provided. Lots of fun for the judges and for the participants!

All participants must attend a training on Wednesday, March 11 from 6 - 7 pm in front of Einstein's Bagels in the Administration Building.

Register  HERE   to volunteer for JCU Science Olympiad on  GivePulse!
To browse and register, for one-time service opportunities, register on  GivePulse!
Contact   service@jcu.edu  with any questions.
We are lookling for applicants who embrace the JCU mission of being men and women for and with others! As a CSSA representative, Student Liaisons serve as peer service leaders and van drivers as they facilitate a positive service experience for their fellow JCU students.  This paid position allows you to do all this and gain professional experience!

Do you have a good driving record and embrace the JCU mission of being a  "man or woman for others?"  Do you enjoy participating in service and interacting with other students and the community?  You can apply to be a student liaison too!

Responsibilities include:
  • Participating in the service activity
  • Serving as a CSSA ambassador for the community partner
  • Transporting students to and from service sites
  • Ensuring accurate attendance records
  • Providing pertinent information to CSSA staff members
  • Attending mandatory training sessions
  • Facilitating reflection

Click HERE   to read more and apply!
Questions? Contact CSSA a t   service@jcu.edu
The Varsity Team Service Award
The Varsity Team Service Award  recognizes and celebrates those Varsity Teams who engaged in significant service activities in the community as a team. Each team is eligible to be recognized at the Gold, Silver, or Bronze level based on their team's engagement and commitment to being men and women with and for others.

Criteria for Recognition Include:
  • Breadth of Service - the extent to which each member on the team is involved in one or more service activities.
  • Depth of Service - the extent to which teams committed to cultivating relationships and addressing the needs of a particular organization, deepening the experience over time.
  • Universality - the extent to which all or most members of the team participate and actively engage.
  • Longevity - the extent to which the team culture embraces and sustains a commitment to community engagement as a team over time, year after year.

The winning team will be announced during DIII week in April and will receive a Team Certificate and their name on two perpetual plaques – one to be displayed in the CSSA office and one in the Athletics hallway.

Applications are due on March 31, 2020.

For more information and to submit your team's application, click HERE
Save the Date: Jesuit Day of Service 2020
Click  HERE   to view photos from last year's Jesuit day of Service!
On  Saturday, April 25, 2020  JCU students, faculty, staff and alumni will join together with members of the nine other Jesuit institutions throughout the area for a day dedicated to service and solidarity. Save the date for  Jesuit Day of Service 2020  to join us in living the Jesuit mission of being "men and women for and with others".

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2020

Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more information!
Apply Now for the Lassiter Award
Rev. Dr. Valentino Lassiter began a "Continuing the Dream" lecture series in 2013 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's August 1963 speech. After Rev. Lassiter's untimely death in 2015, JCU's Theology and Religious Studies Department decided to sponsor a student essay contest to celebrate students working for economic, religious, racial and social justice to continue Lassiter's work. This essay contest provides the opportunity to celebrate students who are continuing the dream shared by the Rev. Drs. Lassiter and King of one nation united together in freedom and harmony, with each person being treated with justice and respect. The contest comes with a $500 award.

Contest Requirements:
  • Submit a 1,000-word essay and a 500-word project proposal.
  • In the essay, describe one activity in which you have participated that helps further the work of the Rev. Drs. Lassiter and King to realize the American dream of “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” (1,000 words)
  • Based on the activity described in the essay, outline a workshop or other short program you could do with other JCU students that would help them grasp the significance of the justice question at the heart of your activity. (500 words)
  • The prizewinner will be expected to run this workshop or other program in the spring semester. Please review the University academic and events calendars and then specify how and when you would propose to carry out your program.

Submissions are due Friday, March 13. Click HERE to learn more and to submit.
JCU Student Food Pantry
If you could use some help with basic food staples, the JCU food pantry on campus can help. All JCU students are eligible for this free service. Choose from twelve nonperishable food items.

The JCU Student Food Pantry now has drop in hours and no sign-ups are necessary! The new location is in Room 27 in the D.J. Lombardo Student Center (across the hall from the Office of Residence Life).

Email foodpantry@jcu.edu with any questions.

Visit the Food Pantry website HERE
Fun Fact! I enjoy building jigsaw puzzles!

Our #MYSERVICESTORY for the week comes from Luke Brown, a sophomore Supply Chain Management major and Entrepreneurship minor from Pittsburgh, PA!

At which service sites / community partners have you served or been a student liaison?
I have served at Jennings Center for Older Adults, Boys Hope Girls Hope, Building Hope in the City, and Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry Men's Shelter.

"When serving at the Jennings Center, I was paired with an elderly man who was dealing with severe dementia. During our first meeting he was very confused and could not figure out why I was there or what the objective was. Throughout the program Opening Minds Through Art (OMA), we were able to complete simple and abstract paintings while sharing several deep conversations about life. Over the next ten weeks we became very close and I was able to witness his cognitive growth as he began to remember my name, school, etc. This service experience taught me the importance of human connection in everyone's life. Our friendship has motivated me to engage in spontaneous conversation because there is always something to gain when you take a leap out of your comfort zone."
Each week  we feature stories of students who have made service a cornerstone of their JCU experience. Complete the form below to show us how you #ServeCLE!
We’ll share your story  on social media and in our weekly e-newsletter. If you’re a CSSA student liaison, you’ll earn points for your mentor group!

Submit your service story at  https://jcu.edu/myservicestory
Monday, March 9 .... Service Resumes
Friday, March 13 .... Lassiter Award Applications Due
Tuesday, March 24 .... Climate Change Plant-Based Meal   | 6:30 pm
Wednesday, April 8 - Monday, April 13 .... Easter Break - No Service
Wednesday, April 15 .... Service Resumes
Wednesday, April 15 .... Climate Change Film Screening   | 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 25 .... Jesuit Day of Service
Sr. Katherine Feely  |  Director |    kfeely@jcu.edu    | 216.397.1966
Maryellen Callanan  |  Associate Director |    mcallanan@jcu.edu   |  216.397.2022
Heather Craigie |  Assistant Director, Student Development & Logistics| hcraigie@jcu.edu  |216.397.6233
Lisa Morde |  Assistant Director, Student Engagement & Data Mgmt |  lmorde@jcu.edu  | 216.397.6227
John Jackson  |  Assistant Director, Community Partnerships |  jnjackson@jcu.edu   |  216.397.1662
Carolina Kane |  Administrative Assistant & Marketing Specialist |   cxkane@jcu.edu  | 216.397.2024
Josefina Moreno '18, '21G  |  Graduate Assistant |   jmoreno18@jcu.edu  | 216.397.6283
Blake Yoho '22G  |  Graduate Assistant |   byoho22@jcu.edu  | 216.397.6283
JCU Center for Service and Social Action
Administration Building | AD-32
Monday-Thursday, 8 am - 8 pm | Friday 8 am - 5 pm
216.397.4698 |  (f) 216.397.1661

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