CHICAGO, Sept. 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- North Park
University proudly hosted its annual Service Day this month,
uniting 230 students, faculty, and staff in a shared commitment to
community engagement and social responsibility.
University Ministries (UMin) organized the event under the joint
leadership of Ben Swihart,
coordinator of global partnerships and community outreach, and
third-year student Davianna Schuh.
They began planning months ago, organizing lists of local volunteer
sites, recruiting volunteers, and communicating with local aldermen
and community groups.
"The groups we landed on took inspiration from the climate
survey," Schuh said, referring to the Culturally Engaging Campus
Environments Survey conducted spring 2023. "Across all demographic
backgrounds, students felt they wished they had more opportunities
give back to their communities."
Many North Parkers are commuter students from nearby
neighborhoods, so Swihart and Schuh chose organizations primarily
on the North and West Sides. Volunteers could choose from sites
such as Concordia Place, Nourishing Hope, and Sarah's Circle,
a women's shelter with multiple locations on the North Side.
"Everyone has something they can feel excited about helping
with," Swihart said. Several students addressed their concern for
the disadvantaged by aiding refugees and the homeless, while the
environmentally minded cleaned the Chicago River.
Swihart said he hopes this year's event is the first of many and
that North Park continues to build
long-term relationships with its partner organizations.
"The idea is for them to get to know us, to say, 'Oh, this North
Parker came and built this shelving unit for us last year, or
painted this room,' and they trust us and what we do," he said,
adding he hopes the service also leads to internships and other
opportunities for students.
Service is a core pillar of NPU's mission, which is to foster a
culture of empathy and civic responsibility that encourages the
campus community to engage with local organizations, thus enhancing
our students' educational experiences and making a tangible impact
on the neighborhoods we serve.
North Park University is
city-centered, intercultural, and emerging as the model for
Christian higher education in 21st-century America.
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SOURCE North Park University