community engaged learning | Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good

Speaking Truth to Power at USF

Angeline Vuong is the Associate Director of Community Engagement and Public Service Programs offered at the McCarthy Center. Leading our USFVotes team, she understands that with this election season, voting is crucial more than ever before. Angeline describes how the value of being a civically-engaged campus is a core aspect of Jesuit education and show…

Finding My Role in Public Service

Benjamin Getchell ’25 is a Politics major with an Environmental Science and a Public Service and Community Engagement minor. Reflecting on his time during his McCarthy Fellows in Sacramento internship this past summer, Benjamin was able to work with his fellow colleagues and find his role in public service. Everyone has a role to play…

See You in City Hall, McCarthy Fellows!

We are pleased to introduce 18 students who will participate in our McCarthy Fellows in San Francisco program in the Fall semester. Meet each fellow and learn where they will intern in City Hall or in nearby city offices and departments. In preparation, over this past summer, they participated in monthly training workshops in public…

Beyond the Flames: Mental Health Equity in the SFFD

In this insightful journey, Evan Cajigas ’24, Finance, combines academic ambitions with a passion for joining San Francisco’s Fire Department. Assigned to the Behavioral Health Unit, Evan learns and navigates the challenges to address the department’s mental health needs. Through trials and revelations, his story illuminates the complexities of public service and the pursuit of…

My Journey in San Francisco’s India Basin

In this week’s blog, Jade Carter ’24 Environmental Studies, embarks on a mission to bridge gaps between local government and grassroots advocacy in San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood. Through hands-on involvement , they confronted deep-seated community mistrust and explored avenues for equitable development. Ultimately, their narrative showcases the power of collaboration, highlighting the author’s newfound…

Immigration—More than a Section in a Textbook

Read as Kemelyn Alvarado ’24, Politics, shares her journey of diving into the intricacies of immigration law and civic engagement as a McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco. Follow as she shares how life had its own lessons to teach beyond the textbooks. As a McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco I interned at the Office of…

My Summer Internship: A Leap of Faith

Soli Martin-Abascal ’24, a University of Delaware Biden Institute student and Equity Intern shares her unexpected and transformative experience in San Francisco this past year. Despite initially aiming for a different internship, she found herself assisting students with limited English proficiency. Through this experience, she discovered the power of genuine communication and the unexpected rewards…

Cultivating Community Leaders: A Reflection on the 2023 Newman Civic Fellows Convening

Embark on a transformative journey with USF student Viet-Hung Nguyen as he shares insights from the 2023 Newman Civic Fellows Convening—where passion meets purpose, and community leaders unite to inspire change. Read more to join the conversation on leadership, service, and shaping a better world. As I stepped into the plane at Boston Logan International…