This past summer, the Institute for Social Concerns offered 228 Notre Dame students the opportunity to engage with communities and organizations around the globe who are devoted to the common good. Supported by the sustaining generosity of Hugh and Kathleen Andrews, these Andrews Scholars spent eight weeks working with nonprofit businesses and thinking deeply about questions of justice and human flourishing.
Students from across the University served at 75 domestic and international partner sites - located in 20 different states and 20 different countries.
"The most significant thing I've learned is that it's better to attempt to understand people with compassion than to pass judgment on their morality and character."
-Maci Roark, Biology, Cincinnati Urban Promise
“The most important lesson I learned was that people and issues are never black and white, good or bad, and there is so much more complexity to human nature, connection, and compassion, and to be able to respond appropriately, that must be understood.”
-Karla Salgado, Aerospace Engineering, Andre House, Phoenix, AZ
"We have a moral obligation to promote human flourishing in whatever ways we can."
-Jessica Stewart, Neuroscience and Behavior, L’Arche Daybreak
"Before striving for change, one must take time to better understand the cultural and environmental factors that cause these societal issues in the first place."
-Noel Shabu, Biochemistry, Missionaries of Charity – Kolkata, India
"Solidarity is best understood by living, working, worshipping, and playing with a community."
-Beth Martinez, Finance and Economics, Praxis Center, Costa Rica
"From this summer fellowship experience, I have learned, embraced, and advocated for every person’s right to dignity, agency, and respect, despite the trauma and harm that they may have experienced."
– Aria Bossone, American Studies; Peace Studies, Casa Teresa, Orange, CA
Students worked with many different organizations covering a wide variety of justice issues.
"Everything you learn in the classroom absolutely matters and nothing is more fulfilling than applying these lessons in ways that have a visible impact on the lives of others."
– Joshua Chen, Economics & English, Allies for Community Business, Chicago, IL
"I learned the profound impact of compassionate and nonjudgmental care on maintaining dignity and improving health outcomes in underserved populations."
– Reagan Long, Science & Business, Sr. Maura Brannick Clinic, South Bend, IN
“Impact is not about the huge moments or the tremendous change you make but it is about growing along with others and laying a foundation that fosters growth in the future.”
-Alyssa Chang, Neuroscience and Theology, FUSAL, El Salvador
Additionally, students created an original research question pertaining to the common good—a question that they investigated throughout their eight weeks. They then shared their findings with their site, local Notre Dame alumni club members, and colleagues. Here are three examples of their research questions:
“Empathy and active listening have the remarkable ability to bridge gaps between individuals, forge transformative connections, and transcend boundaries.”
Original Research Question: How can targeted outreach and education initiatives effectively address the intersectional challenges of food insecurity?
-Jenifer Solano, Accompanying Reentering Citizens with Hope
"It was an amazing site with kind, caring people. This experience strengthened my beliefs and interests in the field of healthcare and peacebuilding policies. Learning how to adapt quickly to surroundings and focus on harm reduction and crisis prevention is essential to help as many individuals as possible."
Original Research Question: How does stigma and inequitable policies in higher healthcare spaces/organizations affect NYC’s low-income patients’ advocacy–and contribute to increased rates of undiagnosed HIV/Hep-C–in the community?
-Sydney Park, Neuroscience & Behavior and Peace Studies, Alliance for Positive Change, New York, NY
"And it is spirituality which must lead the way, on an individual level and a philosophical level. Individually, spiritual and religious systems must draw individual attention to a truth that has been forgotten: to live a virtuous life according to any spiritual ideal includes respecting the natural world."
Original Research Question: What does spirituality have to do with sustainability—on an individual level and a philosophical level, and specifically on the practical level at Govardhan EcoVillage?
-Ty Harrington, Program of Liberal Studies; Philosophy & Theology, Govardhan EcoVillage, Maharashtra, India
Students who participated in NDBridge or Fellowships worked with the following communities around the world:
NDBridge:
- Accompanying Returning Citizens with Hope (ARCH) - Columbus, Ohio
- Alliance for Positive Change - New York City, New York
- Andre House - Phoenix, Arizona
- Bethlehem Farm - Alderson, West Virginia
- Boston Healthcare for the Homeless - Boston, Massachusetts
- CASE Special Education Therapy - Mumbai, India
- Cincinnati Urban Promise - Cincinnati, Ohio
- Claver House - St. Louis, Missouri
- Community Outreach with la Parroquia Inmaculada Concepción - San Ramón, Chile
- Earthlinks - Denver, Colorado
- FORUM Connemara - Letterfrack, Ireland
- Fundamor - Santiago, Chile
- Gatoto Integrated Development Programme - Nairobi, Kenya
- Good Shepherd Ministries - Toronto, Canada
- Jerusalem Farm - Kansas City, Missouri
- L’Arche Daybreak - Toronto, Canada
- L’Arche Jacksonville - Jacksonville, Florida
- Lydia’s House - Cincinnati, Ohio
- Misericordia - Chicago, Illinois
- Mission of Our Lady of the Angels - Chicago, Illinois
- Moreau Primary School and Kyembogo Health Centre - Kirinda, Uganda
- NPH - San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
- Open Arms - Komga, South Africa
- Our Lady of Holy Cross School - Kasoa, Ghana
- Parroquia Nuestra Madre Santísima de la Luz - Nuevo León, México
- Praxis Center - Santo Domingo, Costa Rica
- Robinson Community Learning Center - South Bend, Indiana
- Stewart Home & School - Frankfort, Kentucky
- Vidya Sagar - Chennai, India
Fellowships:
- Abbey of Regina Laudis - Bethlehem, Connecticut
- Allies for Community Business - Chicago, Illinois
- Amigos de Jesús Hogar de Niños - Macuelizo, Honduras
- Association for Craft Producers & Hope for Nepal - Kathmandu, Nepal
- Bethany House - Rochester, New York
- Bethany Land Institute - Luweero, Uganda
- BOSCO - Martyrs Shrine Paimol - Kolongo, Uganda
- Caridad Center - Boynton Beach, Florida
- Casa del Migrante en Tijuana - Tijuana, Mexico
- Casa Juan Diego - Houston, Texas
- Casa Pueblo - Adjuntas, Puerto Rico
- Casa Teresa - Orange, California
- Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley/ Humanitarian Respite Center - San Juan, Texas
- Corrymeela Community - Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
- Farm of the Child - Trujillo, Honduras
- Forge Evolution - Colorado Springs, Colorado
- FUSAL - Antiguo Cuscatlán, El Salvador
- G. Wayne Fralin Free Clinic - Roanoke, Virginia
- Gennesaret Free Clinics - Indianapolis, Indiana
- Govardhan Ecovillage - Maharashtra, India
- Higher Ground Youth & Family Services - Anaheim, California
- Holy Cross Health Education Center, Kulaura - Kulaura, Bangladesh
- Holy Cross Lake View School - Jinja, Uganda
- Justice and Peace Centre - Sisters of the Holy Cross - Fort Portal City, Uganda
- Kinship Community Food Center - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- L'Arche Belfast - Belfast, Northern Ireland
- L'Arche Wavecrest - Orange, California
- Maggie's Place - Phoenix, Arizona
- Missionaries of Charity - Kolkata, India
- Nazareth Farm - Salem, West Virginia
- Our Lady of Holy Cross School - India - Barakathal, India
- Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation - Chicago, Illinois
- Project Renewal - Davenport, Iowa
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Province, Bangladesh - Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Sr. Maura Brannick Clinic - South Bend, Indiana
- St. Joseph Province (Holy Cross Brothers) - Dhaka, Bangladesh
- St. Joseph’s Hill Secondary School - Kyarusozi, Uganda
- St. Mary's Health Clinic - St. Paul, Minnesota
- St. Monica's - Gulu, Uganda
- The Lourie Center for Children's Social & Emotional Wellness/ Therapeutic Nursery Program - Rockville, Maryland
- The Loyola School - Baltimore, Maryland
- Trinity Health Medical Group Sparta - Sparta, Michigan
- U.S. Naval Hospital - Guam
- Urban Neighborhood Initiatives - Detroit, Michigan
Students returned with new perspectives and a commitment to justice that they can carry throughout their academic career and beyond.
“Loving your neighbor is the hardest thing you'll ever do.” -Annabella Mayer, Neuroscience and Behavior, Andre House, Phoenix, AZ
“While you do learn a lot of work and professional skills, it's also a lifestyle internship, because it forces you to ask how do you want to live. I was discerning what I want to do for the summer. Have the standard internship and go to Chicago to grind out the 9-5 internship. Or did I do something associated with the common good? Which is literally what this building (Geddes, the ISC) is predicated upon. And with the common good, you can go anywhere and do anything with that. With this kind of experience, you're not narrowing yourself, you're learning to make an impact with all parts of your personality, not just one. This experience is an all encompassing experience that will show you something about yourself that you didn't realize." -Isaac Bernsten, Program of Liberal Studies, Nazareth Farm, Salem, WV
“I realized that change is not something that you can necessarily bring immediately, but rather something that is slowly brought through time.” -Brian Johnny, Biological Sciences and Studio Art, Association for Craft Producers, Kathmandu, Nepal
“It's hard to know what doing the most good looks like, but being present and working to form genuine connections is a good place to start.” -Katherine Lieberth, American Studies and Economics, Gatoto Integrated Development Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
"The questions I was asking and the research I was doing will continue and will potentially be the subject of my graduate work - it was academically a very impactful experience. Way more important though - personally, spiritually, this was the most impactful thing I've ever done. And only here at the Institute for Social Concerns are these types of unique experiences offered." -Ty Harrington, Program of Liberal Studies; Philosophy & Theology, Govardhan EcoVillage, Maharashtra, India
Credits:
Institute for Social Concerns