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UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — John Carroll University students recently partnered with ministries and community organizations in Florida, Kentucky, and South Dakota to raise awareness about social justice issues.
The University’s Office of Campus Ministry coordinates the immersion experiences during spring break. Immersion experiences challenge students to engage the realities of the world while reflecting on the values of human dignity and servant leadership. Students were assigned to one of three destinations. Below is a brief description of their volunteer experiences in each location:
Immokalee, Florida
John Carroll partnered with the Humility of Mary Volunteers to offer an immersion experience that allows students to better understand the community of migrant farmers who live in Immokalee. Students visited a variety of different agencies including the local Catholic parish’s social service center, Habitat for Humanity, and the Coalition of Immokalee Farmworkers. Students also met with several local residents and community leaders to hear varying perspectives on the challenges that Immokalee and its people face.
Louisville, Kentucky
John Carroll has partnered with CrossRoads Ministry, a social justice outreach ministry, for more than 10 years to offer an immersion retreat experience focused on encountering refugees. While in Louisville, students volunteered at Catholic Charities and other social service centers that work directly with refugees from all over the world in order to grow in understanding of the refugee population and the plight they face in rebuilding their lives in a new country.
Pine Ridge, South Dakota
For the first time, John Carroll partnered with Re-Member to participate in various work projects across the Reservation, helping to rebuild relationships, homes, and lives. Guided by the aspirations of the Oglala Lakota Indian communities they serve, Re-Member seeks to improve the quality of reservation life through relationships, shared resources and volunteer services.
Area students who participated, along with their destinations:
- Grace Berry of Hamburg: Louisville
- Roserita DiMillo of Lockport: Louisville
- William DiPasquale of Pittsford: Pine Ridge
- Abby Posadni of Rochester: Pine Ridge
John Carroll University, founded in 1886 as Saint Ignatius College, is located in University Heights, Ohio, in suburban Cleveland. Its Jesuit Catholic mission inspires individuals to excel in learning, leadership, and service in the region and the world. John Carroll University is recognized nationally for an exceptional four-year graduation rate, teaching excellence, and a commitment to living a faith that does justice as central to its mission. John Carroll is one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States.
