On Friday, August 18, the College of Law held its Sixth Annual 1L Service Day. The Service Day brought in 100 volunteers including incoming students, 2Ls and 3Ls, faculty, and staff. Dean Rosato Perea participated in the Service Day for the third consecutive year in a row. The College of Law’s Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative (PBCSI) and University Ministry in the Loop organized the 1L Service Day, with support from the Center for Public Interest Law.
PBCSI Director Shehnaz Mansuri, Dean Rosato Perea, and Tom Judge, College of Law Chaplain, welcomed the volunteers. Tom Judge asked a handful of staff, faculty, and student site leaders to stand and discuss what motivates them to serve. Some volunteers serve because “it’s a good way to meet and connect with new students” and others serve because “it is part of how I live out my faith”.
Volunteers departed for one of eight service sites across the city: Lydia Home Association, Pacific Garden Mission, Cornerstone Community Outreach, Marillac House, Legal Prep Charter Academy, Catholic Charities Madonna House, Catholic Charities St. Vincent de Paul Residence, and Howard Area Community Center.
Responsibilities at the sites varied but here is an example of some of the work:
At Pacific Garden Mission and Cornerstone Community Outreach, which are both homeless shelters, students helped make beds, organize donations and serve meals. At Marillac House, a site offering various social services, students interacted with teens and young adults and helped to prepare a space for an upcoming event.
Volunteers at Legal Prep Charter Academy moved furniture to set up classrooms for the upcoming school year while students at St. Vincent de Paul Residence interacted with seniors at the residence.
Service Day site leaders encouraged students to share their reflections about what the day meant to them. Students found it to be very meaningful and rewarding to explore new communities in Chicago and to help others, and bond with their new classmates.
View more photos here.