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

The Mysterious Role of the Assessor-Recorder

In this week’s blog, Alyssa Diammyra Cruz ’23, International Studies major with Global Politics and European Regional Focus, reflects on her internship with San Francisco’s assessor-recorder’s department. She learned about the department’s key role in property taxes but also about the importance of community outreach with residents and small businesses. Keep reading to learn more…

Centering the Marginalized

In this week’s blog, Zachary Sexton, McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco, describes the importance of communities dictating their own priorities and developing their own solutions. Keep reading to learn more about his experience with the Tenderloin Community Action Plan, empowering neighborhood residents to determine their own basic needs from their lived experience. I am Zachary…

5 Things You’ll Learn as a CELT Fellow

In this week’s blog, Star Plaxton-Moore, Director of Community-Engaged Learning, shares her wisdom with five main takeaways that a Community-Engaged Learning and Teaching (CELT) Fellow will learn during their program. Find out what key aspects of teaching are necessary in fostering a meaningful, community-engaged learning course across all disciplines. In my 17 years at USF,…

Divine timing at the Public Library

In this week’s blog Sadie Mills ’23, double major in Marketing and Entrepreneurship & Innovation, amplifies the extensive resources and opportunities that the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) offers to all of their local community. Sadie worked alongside SFPL as a McCarthy Fellow for the One City One Book (OCOB) campaign. Learn more about her…

Get to Know Provost Oparah

This story is a reprint from the SF Foghorn highlighting Provost Oparah, her life story, and motivations to make change in the community. The McCarthy Center’s overseeing of community engaged learning focuses our operation directly under the office of the provost. Read more from the SF Foghorn about Oparah, her passions and how she joined…

Celebrating Black Excellence

In today’s blog we share Stephanie Sears’, associate professor and director of the Esther Madriz Diversity Scholars Living-Learning Community, excerpt of her introduction and discussion to the Changemakers 3rd Anniversary Celebration. Her writing demonstrates the historical context of Black San Franciscan activism and the aspects that makes someone a Changemaker. “I’m honored today to serve…

Honoring Our Own Divinity

In this week’s blog, Alyssa Traina ’25, Politics major with a double minor in Public Relations and Legal Studies, reflects on Sister Destiny’s visit to their class with storytelling and Jazz. Read more about “H.O.O.D.” as Honoring Our Own Divinity and her wisdom in using radical love to fight for our communities. Under the bright…

Rebuilding in the Classroom

In this week’s blog, we celebrate Engage San Francisco Literacy’s 2021-2022 Year-end Report with key highlights, assessments and evaluations, key partner feedback, tutor surveys, and future goals. Read more about the challenges the program overcame to build relationships and connections again after returning from online learning. After returning from a period of COVID-19 restrictions, Engage…