Congratulating our 2024 Award Winners

The Leo T. McCarthy Year-end awards honor students, faculty, and community partners who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to community-engaged learning through their individual and collective experiences.  Every  May, we celebrate meaningful student projects and service experiences that educate students on social justice issues and facilitate mutually beneficial outcomes for our community. This year, we are proud to announce our award winners in advance of officially recognizing them at the Year-end Celebration on May 8 at 7:00pm.

The Engage San Francisco Partnership Award is presented to Rise for Racial Justice, honoring all the ways they have supported the learning and development of Black San Franciscan Activist Researchers while advancing community change and social justice in San Francisco,  the Bay Area, and at USF. Rise for Racial Justice Rise works toward a society filled with loving, caring, and racially just spaces for young people. Facilitators prioritize critical race theory and praxis, integrating mindfulness and storytelling to validate experiences and bodies as significant sources of knowledge. Continuously committed to growth, facilitators engage in ongoing anti-racism training to enhance awareness, skills, and knowledge. The Partnership Award, first established in 2017, acknowledges outstanding community partners whose collaborations meet the community identified needs of the The Fillmore / Western District.

The Community Co-Educator Award is awarded to the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center (BTWCSC) for exceptional collaboration with USF faculty as a co-educator of community-engaged learning students, USF Rising Youth Mentors, and Engage Literacy Tutors through allowing them to join our work, and learn from our expertise and passion for creating positive community change. BTWCSC is dedicated to empowering individuals and families in the community to achieve self-sufficiency through tailored services and support. They offer a range of programs catering to diverse cultural backgrounds, including educational support, recreational activities, housing assistance, vocational training, and advocacy for foster care and seniors. They prioritize the guidance and development of youth and young adults to ensure a holistic approach to community well-being.

The Change Maker Award recognizes The South of Market Community  Action Network (SOMCAN) for all the ways that it has shaped the learning and development of USF community-engaged learning students and Community Empowerment Activists (CEAs) while organizing to advance community change and social justice for commitment  to enriching the lives of youth, families, individuals, and workers. SOMCAN adresses a broad spectrum of issues from tenant rights and community planning to Filipino language access and workers’ rights.   The list of direct services includes tenant counseling, family support, youth empowerment, and employment assistance. SOMCAN strives to ensure South-of-Market communities are represented in local policy-making and hold civic offices accountable to their unique needs.

The Leo T. McCarthy Center Award for Public Service celebrates Kemelyn Alvarado, a dedicated USF Senior who embodies the spirit of service and resilience in San Francisco communities. Kemelyn’s transformative journey at the University of San Francisco stands as a shining example of her inspiring leadership, unwavering commitment to community engagement, and outstanding academic prowess. Juggling her academic pursuits with part-time work, Kemelyn has not only embraced the opportunities available at USF but has also inspired her peers to do the same. Her active participation in clubs such as USFVotes and the Latine Undergrad Network of Activists (LUNA), coupled with her roles in the USF Council on Community Engagement and University Ministry’s Arrupe Immersions Program, underscores her deep-rooted commitment to community and exemplary leadership. Kemelyn’s dedication to community engagement is further evidenced by her internship at the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs, as well as her volunteer work at 826 Valencia. These experiences highlight her proactive approach to addressing systemic issues and her genuine desire to make a positive impact on the San Francisco community. As a McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco, Kemelyn’s innovative project focused on implementing Every Campus A Refuge, practicing her visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to upholding Jesuit values of service, compassion, and solidarity.

Join us in celebrating our award recipients! RSVP here.