Center for Community Service and Justice
| Abbreviation | CCSJ |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Center for Values and Service |
| Established | 1992 |
| Location | |
Director | Erin O'Keefe |
Immersion | Director, Christina Harrison |
Main organ | CCSJ Booklet[1] |
| Affiliations |
Loyola University Maryland Society of Jesus, Catholic |
| Website | CCSJ |
Center for Community Service and Justice (CCSJ) at Loyola University Maryland advances this Jesuit university's objective of educating for the faith that does justice by offering a program of events and service experiences that supplement the classroom experience.
Objectives
In 1973 Jesuit Father General Pedro Arrupe described educating men and women for others as an essential of Jesuit works.[2] In furtherance of this objective CCSJ programs help students to "think critically about issues that threaten the peaceful, healthy existence of individuals in local, national, and international communities."[3] All immersion experiences include essential preparatory meetings and debriefing sessions afterwards.
Ongoing service
The Service Thing commits students to weekly service with partner agencies[4] in the Baltimore area for one semester. Reflection on the experiences happens through bi-weekly online discussions through Moodle and group reflections before, at mid-term, and after the semester.[5]
HoundServe
These one-time service events are listed on the Service Calendar. Students may participate alone are with their group. The immersion programs include essential meetings for preparation and debriefing.
- Beans and Bread Center hosts 300 of Baltimore's poor for a meal each day and Loyola provides food and help for this once a month. Other opportunities at the center include engaging in board games and conversation with the clients.
- Ignatian Family Teach-In in Washington, D.C., brings together students from Jesuit schools throughout the country for three-days of key-note speakers followed by break-out sessions on issues like immigration reform, environmental justice, and human rights in Central America, and then advocating with congresspersons on Capitol Hill.[6]
- Our Daily Bread Employment Center offers a meal, literacy training and general education, help in finding a job, and substance abuse recovery assistance. Volunteers from Loyola help with the meal program on scheduled Saturdays.
- Immigration Awareness & Advocacy Events include scheduled discussions and advocacy on issues like the rights of migrant farm workers, sex trafficking, and the situation of undocumented workers.
- Special Olympics for those with disabilities has a qualifying event in swimming at Loyola's Fitness and Aquatic Center, with help from student volunteers.
- Viva House Food Bag Collection Program accepts donations of food for the Catholic Worker House in Baltimore.
- York Road Community Days involves students in improving the inner city landscape,[7] while building community with local churches and schools.
- Youth Education Awareness consists of service and advocacy opportunities, speakers, and panel discussions on the root causes of systemic problems affecting the schools and youth in Baltimore.[8]
Spring break
During the months before the immersion experience, participants meet to learn about the host community, to discuss relevant social justice issues, and to grow as a team. Participants should expect simple accommodations in community centers. After the experience they meet to discuss the social justice issues encountered.[9]
- Experience: Baltimore is a three-day experience for new students in late August, introducing them to the various neighborhoods and to the socioeconomic issues facing Baltimore, through various activities including service and conversations with the people.[10]
- Spring Break Outreach at Loyola includes three options. Appalachian Institute of Wheeling Jesuit University[11] offers direct contact with the people of Appalachia to acquaint students with the complex energy issues confronting this impoverished area. Prison reform is the second option, serving in agencies and speaking with advocates for prison reform, while learning the problems the formerly-incarcerated encounter in finding housing, employment, and supportive communities.[12] A third option is hosted by Steinbruck Center,[13] a ministry of Luther Place Memorial Church, Washington, D.C., acquainting students with the root causes of homelessness and urban poverty through lectures, tours, and serving at one of the meals programs.
- Encounter El Salvador gives participants in this program, sponsored by CRISPAZ,[14] an opportunity to live with a rural family in El Salvador for a week, joining them in everyday activities and learning about the grass-roots situation that spawned Christian Liberation Theology.[9]
Other programs
- Coursework and CCSJ library. CCSJ offers services to the teaching staff at Loyola for their service-learning courses and for courses with a service component.[15] Another resource is the Center's Service-Learning and Engaged Scholarship Library.[16]
- Service Fair brings to campus representatives from over 25 community organizations, explaining their work, offering volunteers opportunities, and making contacts with faculty on service-learning possibilities.[17]
- Social justice events such as commemoration of the martyrs of El Salvador, social justice stations, canned food drives, panel discussions, and candlelight vigils.[18]
- Advocacy on important social justice issues is promoted by CCSJ, at times in conjunction with Jesuit universities around the country.[19]
- Grants and research opportunities are available to the entire Loyola U. Baltimore community staff and students.[20][21]
References
- ↑ Booklet. Accessed 1 May 2016.
- ↑ Others. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Linkedin. Accessed 1 May 2016.
- ↑ Partners. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Service Thing. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Teach-in. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ YorkPartnership. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ HoundServe. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- 1 2 SBO. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Baltimore. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Appalachia. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Prisons. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Steinbruck. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ CRISPAZ. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Courses. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ CCSJ Library. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Fair. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Events. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Advocacy. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Grants. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Other programs. Accessed 23 April 2016.
Coordinates: 39°20′46″N 76°37′08″W / 39.34611°N 76.61889°W