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

Making Connections at the Biden Institute

In this week’s blog, Communications Assistant, Priana Aquino, (left) reflects on her experience at the inaugural National Student Dialogue sponsored by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Learn how she engaged with public service students from universities throughout the country, and her main takeaways from the experience. “Want to go to a summit?” was the subject line…

Out of My Comfort Zone

In this week’s blog, USF in DC Fellow, Kallie Barrie, shares her experience as an intern at Monument Advocacy. Read how she used her time on the Hill to gain confidence and insight into pursuing a career in food and agriculture policy. In my semester in D.C., I was a Food and Agriculture Legislative Fellow…

Community Building Through Art

This week’s blog is contributed by Community Empowerment Activist (CEA) and Critical Diversity Studies major, Alaia Zaki ’23. The year long CEA course analyzes systems of oppression and movements of resistance while working with grassroots organizations in San Francisco. Learn about the recent mid-year retreat and mural walk and from Alaia, and how it connects…

Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve

Earlier this Spring in advance of the Leo T. McCarthy Award Celebration, we sat down with multiple students who have been positively effected by the generosity of Leo T. McCarthy awardees, Janet and Clint Reilly. One of our conversations was with Fiorella Martinez, a University of San Francisco alum. Fiorella is also a graduate of…

Be an Equity Intern!

Last summer, Lovepreet Dhinsa brought her skills and passion for change to the Equity Interns program. The partnership between the University of Delaware’s Biden Institute, USF’s Leo T. McCarthy Center, and the YMCA of San Francisco trains college students to provide virtual learning experiences to children in grades K-8 at the YMCA of San Francisco’s…

Supporting Student Leaders

For USF’s Day of the Don Celebration, we are reprinting a pre-pandemic post highlighting alum and supporter of our Center, Evelyn Fernandez Pedraza ’21, who became a dedicated social justice advocate through her experience as a her experience as a McCarthy Center Community Empowered Activist (CEA), Esther Madriz Diversity Scholar (EMDS), and Public Service and…

Aligned with Leo’s Vision

Last month, we sat down with USFVotes lead and McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco, Sofia Sanchez, to discuss her experience with the McCarthy Center in advance of the Leo T. McCarthy Award Celebration. In this week’s blog, learn more about Sofia’s experience in our programs, and how she plans to use the skills he has …

Learning How to Listen

Last month, we sat down with USFVotes member and Community Empowerment Activist, Zachary Sexton, to discuss his experience with the McCarthy Center in advance of the Leo T. McCarthy Award Celebration. In this week’s blog, learn more about Zach’s current work with the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, what he’s learned from the community, and how…