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The Common Good

Volume II, Issue 3 Fall 2007

News from the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good

USF Receives St. Anthony Foundation’s Fr. Alfred Boedekker Award

by Stephen A. Privett, S.J., USF President

On September 12, USF along with USF alumni Suzanne and Lou Giraudo received the St. Anthony Foundation’s Fr. Alfred Boedekker Award. USF was honored for its service-learning partnership with the foundation.From left to right: Franciscan Fr. John Hardin, St. Anthony Foundation executive director; Stephen A. Privett, S.J.,USF president; Suzanne Giraudo, and Lou Giraudo.

Over the last few years, USF has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the Carnegie Foundation and

Washington Monthly

for its exem-plary efforts to educate students for citizenship. This honor from the St. Anthony Foundation comes not from an educational organization but froma faith-based agency that directly serves the most vulnerable members of soci-ety.St. Anthony’s recognized USF for offering students an education in the Jes-uit Catholic tradition which understands that responsible citizenship isabout more than voting, paying taxes, and supporting local cultural institu-tions like museums and the opera. It is also about caring for the weakest andmost vulnerable among us. St. Anthony’s and USF together, educate USFfaculty and students to the needs, challenges, and hopes of the poor in SanFrancisco. We are grateful to St. Anthony’s for a partnership that has bene-fited both of our institutions, and most importantly, the least of our brothersand sisters without resources.Direct service agencies and universities each have different but complemen-tary roles to play in fashioning a more humane and just world, and society isbest served when universities and agencies exercise their roles in a collabora-tive and complementary manner, as do USF and St. Anthony’s.

Save the Date!

USF’s California Prize forService and theCommon GoodDinnerMarch 6, 20086:30 pm

Julia Morgan BallroomMerchants Exchange BuildingSan Francisco

See page 3 for details

Davies Forum Seminar students with Assemblyman Mark Leno (back row, third from left) and Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña (back row, third from right). The Davies Forum Lecture Series brings mayors and experts from cities across the United States to speak at USF on sustainable development and social justice in urban Amer- ica. The McCarthy Center is proud to be a sponsor of the Forum.

USF in D.C Offers a Global Perspective

By Hannah Minkevitch, Public Service Honors Minor Student

degradation, and health disparities, and pro-poses innovative, grassroots solutions.Produce harvested from the garden suppliesa small stand that gives teen participants anopportunity to learn small-business skills, while also making healthy foods accessible ina neighborhood otherwise dominated by fastfood joints and convenience stores.For me, yet another layer in the pattern wasthe opportunity to add the study of nonvio-lence to the mix. With 10 other internsplaced at other social justice organizations inthe Bay Area under the guidance of theMetta Center, I was studying the theory andapplicability of nonviolence to social justice work. While images of dramatic confronta-tions, like Gandhi’s Salt March or theGreensboro lunch counter sit-ins, more read-ily spring to mind in association with“nonviolence,” equally important is what

Caitlin Christensen is a senior Interna- tional Studies major. She spent last summer interning in the East Bay with support from the McCarthy Center.

On a hot afternoon late last June, elbow-deep in a steamy pile of dirt, hay, androtting vegetables, full of wriggling earthworms and crawling roly-poly bugs, I real-ized there was no place else I’d rather be.I was in the midst of a lively discussion with three 6-year-olds on the usefulness of worms and other decomposers to thehealth of a farm system, one of many topics covered in my role as intern gardenteacher at Berkeley Youth Alternatives’Urban Farm and Community Garden.This half-city block urban farm is part of a growing movement—“food justice” thatexamines the interconnected problems of industrialized agriculture, environmental

Hannah Minkevitch and American University student Andrew Martin in front of the International Court of Justice in The Hague,Netherlands.

http://mccarthycenter.usfca.edu

I believe public service is the meansthrough which we can create a betterspace for all of those sharing this world.The USF in D.C. program educates stu-dents on the logistics of the public sector.Last spring I participated in the Interna-tional Law and Organizations program at American University. I had no idea whatI was in for. My expectations were sur-passed beyond belief.D.C. was an incredible experience. I wasimmersed in a demanding academic envi-ronment with the city as my resource.Being able to plunge into the inner work-ings of our country matured my percep-tion on political affairs. D.C., a far differ-ent environment than my San Franciscobubble, forced me to think more critically and defend each of my beliefs. I was over- whelmed with the attentiveness of thecommunity and its genuine passion for what is going on in the world. D.C. wasrefreshing. Whether sitting in a smallFrench café in Dupont circle, or ridingthe Metro with the rest of the city at 6a.m, people were engaged in productivedialogue about our global dilemmas andour economic activity. Not only did peo-ple care about what was going on in the world, but they were so committed to itthat they made careers of their passions.I was inspired by their fervor and dedica-tion to public service.The International Law and Organizationsprogram sent 20 students to the majorinternational hubs in Europe. We visitedthe International Court of Justice to watch as Nicaragua and Honduras foughtover border placements. We weregranted admission to the viewing room of the International Criminal Tribunal forthe former Yugoslavia where the currentGandhi called his “true politics”: the con-structive work of building up the new alternatives.This summer, then, was an opportunity not only to participate in what arguably may be one of the most vibrant manifes-tations of nonviolent social change today,but also to get a brief taste of what may be my own place in it. The task to bringjustice to food in the world and the U.S.is enormous—but social justice work does-n’t get any more fun than when that task starts with playing in the dirt.

Caitlin Christensen and students get a hands-on look at the role of earthworms in an urban farm.

commanders are being charged with con-troversial war crimes. Sitting in a gor-geous auditorium in Strasbourg, France,my class learned the inner workings of the European Court of Human Rights. And all of this was only week one of ourtravels.The semester in D.C. was intense andrewarding. It changed me as a person as well as a political scientist. I am lucky tohave participated in such an incredibleprogram. As I sit on the S.F. Muni today,I listen to the quiet chatter and wonder what my comrades on the other side of the country are discussing on their morn-ing Metro ride.

A Summer of Food Justice

By Caitlin Christensen, International Studies Major

USF in D.C student Erin-Kate Escobar with Anna Greene at the Capitol building.

Service-Learning Preview Leaves a Lasting Impression on New Students

By Barbara A. Fatum, M.Ed., Ed.S., USF Parent and Regional Council Representative

http://mccarthycenter.usfca.edu

About 700 incoming freshmenand transfer students participatedin this year’s Service-LearningPreview. USF is unique in itsconcept of service learning in thatits approach is more than aca-demic; it’s also hands on learningin the community. Students en-gage in classes that use service-learning as part of the framework of their comprehensive approachto learning and social justice.Students at USF have the uniqueopportunity of applying theoreti-cal ideas learned in the classroomin the real world and encounter-ing the challenges and benefits of implementing those ideas.On August 22, upper-class USFstudents shared their experiences with incoming freshmen, detail-ing both the joy and challengesthey have encountered in a vari-ety of service-learning opportuni-ties. The incoming freshmen were impressed with the presenta-tions; many commented on theexcitement of the prospect of becoming involved in the com-munity-generated service-learningprojects. After their morning meeting,students could either attend workshop presentations focused on specific service-learningprojects, or they could go into the community and experiencea service-learning opportunity first hand!I visited Project Open Hand with Professor Steve Morris and13 students. We were given a tour of the facility, along with atalk about its mission of nutritionally supporting individuals with HIV/AIDS in San Francisco. Following the tour, thestudents participated in a hands-on project, breaking downbulk foods into individual portions that would then be avail-able to clients to “shop” at Project Open Hand for their weekly groceries. The volunteer coordinator remarked thatthe students had saved the center about 600 hours of labor.This showed the students the impact of their work! Followinglunch (the organization actually serves about 1,500 luncheseach day and delivers another 1,500 to people unable to cometo the organization), the students returned to campus. All of the students were impressed with the organization of ProjectOpen Hand and with the impact it has had in the commu-nity. Everyone understood the value of their participation tothe people involved in the program. It is a wonderful experi-ence for young people to realize that they can impact the world in a way that makes a difference. This year’s Service-Learning Preview successfully educated the hearts and mindsof the incoming class of 2011.

USF students prepare to serve clients at Haight Ashbury Food Program.

Thank you!

The McCarthy Center would like to thank the followingmembers of the USF Regional Councils for their helpwith the Service-Learning Preview Mary Gallo, BarbaraFatum, Rita Harowitz, Evan Kletter, Peter Lee, Eva Mon-roe, and Vicki Vozza.

USF students beautify Golden Gate Park by doing some garden work.One group of USF students sorts food for Project Open Hand’s gro- cery center.

In late September, USF announced the creationof The University of San Francisco's CaliforniaPrize for Service and the Common Good. Thepurpose of the award is to recognize an individualor organization that models selfless service inpursuit of the common good- efforts that primar-ily benefit Californians, especially the poor andmarginalized. The prize celebrates the excep-tional work being done in the state, and rein-forces USF’s mission to educate minds and heartsto change the world. This first-of-its-kind state- wide medal and prize ($10,000)

will be awardedat a dinner celebration on March 6, 2008 at theMerchant Exchange Building, San Francisco. Formore information, please contact Maureen Beck-man at mabeckman@usfca.edu.

Service–Learning at Haight Ashbury Food Program (HAFP)

By Michael Scribner, Executive Director, HAFP

Service-learners from USF have been coming to Haight Ashbury Food Program for years. Over the past year, our partnership has deepened: last summer I attendedUSF’s Community Partner Service-Learning seminar, and next spring we will hostan Advocate for Community Engagement (ACE).Our organizations share the same philosophies about inclusion and support forour community. While HAFP acts as a co-educator in providing real-world experi-ences for students, USF students come with enthusiasm and passion to helpHAFP continue its important work.One service-learning group is currently assisting HAFP through a challenging fi-nancial period. As all of our past federal financial support has curtailed, this stu-dent group is researching potential funding sources that support organizationsthat address hunger. These USF students may literally find a way to keep HAFP’sdoors open! This is just one way USF students support HAFP through their service-learning.(For more information about HAFP, email Michael@thefoodprogram.org.)

California Prize for Serviceand the Common Good