Nominations are now open for:
Campion, Staff, and Curtis Miles Community Service Awards!
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Apply or Nominate for a 2023 Community Service Award!
John Carroll University recognizes and honors individuals who have made a difference in the lives of others through involvement in the community. Click on each award below to learn more about the application and nomination processes and see past winners.
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In the spirit of St. Edmund Campion, the George B. Sweeney Endowed Campion Award for Community Service recognizes one sophomore student and one junior student each year with a demonstrated record of involvement in community service and social action, dedication to a faith tradition and/or spirituality, and strong evidence of leadership potential. Students - apply now!
The application deadline for all awards is Friday, December 16, 2022, by 5:00 pm.
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Next week looks a little different due to Thanksgiving Break! Please note that service activities will only run on Monday, November 21 of next week. Additionally, Friday classes will take place on Tuesday, November 22nd and there will be no service that day.
We hope you have a wonderful break!
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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!
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Greater Cleveland Food Bank
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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.
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Cleveland Clinic Stephanie Tubbs Health Center Mobile Food Pantry
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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.
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Boulevard Elementary School Market Days
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Tuesday, December 6 from 12:45 PM to 2:45 PM
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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.
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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.
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Where will your experience take you next? Stop to reflect on your experience this semester and how it relates to where you were before, where you are now, and where you are going next!
CSSA has designed the "Now What?" Workshop to help you explore your past experiences, think about what's next for you, and provide you with great tools, resources, and connections to get you to where you want to be. Learn about exciting courses to take, service opportunities for next semester, internships at nonprofits, and summer jobs that match your interests.
All students who have participated in community service, immersion trips, and/or nonprofit internships are encouraged to attend!
Date: December 5, 2022
Time: 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Location: LSC Conference Room Jardine Room
Featuring: A Nacho Bar + Door Prizes!
Join us to learn how to move from experience to action - with a nacho bar included!
Bring a friend!
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Register: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Open to All Majors
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)
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Sarah Brown Attended the Newman Civic Fellowship Conference
Two weeks ago I had the great privilege of attending the Newman Civic Fellows Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. It was such an amazing experience where I got to connect with passionate and civically engaged students from all across the nation. The two days were filled with a senate simulation, a poetry workshop, a panel of previous Newman Fellows, talks from accomplished professors and lawyers, and general networking. While this write-up barely does justice in explaining how influential this weekend was to me, I will try my best to highlight some main takeaways from this conference.
- Praxis. Praxis is the idea of turning words into action. Instead of just talking about an issue and leaving it at that, we need to move forward and create change to better our society. If you have an idea or are passionate about something, don’t be afraid to take that next step and create some positive change.
- Your story matters. In our poetry workshop we did “my-kus” in which instead of a typical 5-7-5 haiku format, you would create a haiku with your area code as the format. Thus, my haiku was in a 5-0-5 format and told my story of civic engagement. Whether in a 10-syllable format or a write-up for your organization’s newsletter, your story is important to be told and listened to.
- It’s ok not to know. One of our speakers was a very accomplished lawyer, having worked in the US Senate, the White House, the National Security Council, Mississippi’s Innocence Project, and many more. She emphasized that it’s ok to not know your future nor even what you are most passionate about. To hear a person this accomplished say this was very reassuring. Some people are super passionate about the environment or education, but if you are like me and are a little passionate about many different things: do not fret, the world needs your indecisiveness too.
- Take time for yourself. One of the panelists asked the audience “When was the last time you took yourself out on a date? Or when will you?” I had the whole next day to explore Boston by myself and took this as a great opportunity to take myself on a date. While Covid definitely taught us the importance of connecting with others, we cannot forget the importance of continually reconnecting and checking in with ourselves.
I am incredibly grateful for CSSA and the opportunity to go on this trip. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you took something away from it. There is so much more that I can mention, and if you would like to know more about the Newman Civic Fellowship, you can reach me at sbrown23@jcu.edu or by clicking here. |
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Jenna Kelly '25
Major: Sociology, Criminology, and Peace, Justice, and Human Rights
Minor: Gender Studies
Hometown: Fairport, New York
Favorite Quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
Boys Hope Girls Hope is a safe place for children whose guardians or family members are in poverty. While poverty is a struggle within itself it brings up many other factors that affect these children and their future which is what Boys Hope Girls Hope helps with. Children may not have guardians who are able to spend time supporting them and guiding them through school. Boys Hope Girls Hope is a beautiful program that provides these children with many adult role models/ outlets for them to reach out to or look up to, resources they may not be aware of or have access to, and helps them plan out their future in ways they may not have been able to before. It allows them to be better individuals, who are goal-oriented, and motivated, while also providing them with both an educational and fun experience.
As a result of my experience, I have completely changed my thoughts on adolescents. I feel that adolescents can be portrayed as “bad” or “deviant” but I feel that they are truly just misunderstood. The more time I spend with these children, and the amazing adult role models they have, the more I begin to understand each and every one of their stories. The saddest part is that they all do have reasons or stories and if we as “adult figures” take the time to value their reasons then they will show us how they can change. Adolescence is a hard time that many people would not want to go back to, therefore, I have found that being an outlet for them as well as a supporter is the biggest influence a person can have on these kids. I truly realized the positivity that good adult figures can bring into these kids' lives, and I am beginning to understand why it is so important to keep in mind that you never know what someone is going through.
As I learn more about these children's stories and the uncontrollable things that have set them back I begin to question all judgments that I have made against anyone. I now wonder who is to decide who is worthy of judging? How do we fully know what someone is going through? What are the ways that I can help these kids in the future? How can I stop these judgments from coming into my head in the first place? There are a lot of questions that I am asking.
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Mallory Dunlap '25
Major: Political Science and Peace, Justice, and Human Rights
Hometown: Elyria, Ohio
Favorite Quote: “For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it, if only we are brave enough to be it." - Amanda Gorman
Because of my service-learning experience at Oxford Elementary this semester, I have become more empathetic toward human differences. Everyone comes from different places, has different characteristics, and has different body features. The only way to become more in touch with humanity is to listen to others' perspectives on life, rather this is the same as your own views or the opposite. Learning about one another establishes a human connection, which is my favorite piece of service-learning at JCU.
Being able to recognize one's own privilege helps better understand others' experiences. It is very easy to assume everyone goes to college, but realistically this is not attainable for many Americans. Recognizing your own privilege helps acknowledge others' way of living rather than being lavish or minimalistic. In life, I attempt to view others from an open and accepting lens of others and not make assumptions based on materialistic concepts.
Doing service every week has allowed me to establish deep and sincere connections with a handful of students. These connections have made me realize my passion for helping and supporting other individuals.
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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!
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Dr. Katherine Feely, SND, Ed.D | Director | kfeely@jcu.edu | 216.397.1966
Blake Yoho | Asst. Dir. Data and Communications | byoho@jcu.edu | 216.397.2024
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JCU Center for Service-Learning and Social Action
Administration Building | AD-32
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