McCarthy Fellows in Sacramento | Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good

How To Be a Changemaker

While we are all busy preparing for a year of in-person learning, the Center wants to remind students that they can begin to explore their roles as Changemakers for the common good. Changemakers on campus and in community become well-informed and civically engaged about social justice issues impacting society at large. Here are 10 ways…

Extending Our Mission

In this week’s blog, McCarthy Fellows in Sacramento alum, Caleb Smith ’16, reflects on how their experience with the Center prepared them for their current work in the Oakland Mayor’s Office, serving as a constituent liaison to City Council District Supervisors, Noel Gallo representing district 5, Loren Taylor representing District 6, and Treva Reid representing…

Our Impact in 2020

This week’s blog is the introduction to our Annual Impact Report—released this week—detailing our programs’ and our students’ accomplishments for the 2019-20 year. Senior Director, Derick Brown, offers a call to action for support of our students and the transformational experiences they are afforded through the Center. Learn how the Center carries on Leo T….

An Embodiment of our Values

(Interview reprinted from USF News 10/07/20.) As a McCarthy Center Community Empowered Activist (CEA), Evelyn Fernandez Pedraza ’21 embodies the university’s core values as a dedicated social justice advocate. In addition to majoring in Sociology and minoring in Public Service and Community Engagement, she’s also been an Esther Madriz Diversity Scholar (EMDS), a Resident Advisor,…

Internship Insights

The McCarthy Center’s annual “Power Breakfast“ is almost here! This is a celebration of the achievements of USF students who have interned in the world of public service. Our McCarthy Fellows serve in all levels of government and advocacy from Washington, D.C. to Sacramento to San Francisco! On November 8, a few of these McCarthy…

Discovering My Passion For Public Health

This summer I interned with Planned Parenthood, one of the most liberal organizations in the country. They are known for their outspoken progressive messaging and advocacy for reproductive rights. I worked in the California Affiliates office, where they are in charge of seven local affiliates and make sure legislation is passed to ensure reproductive rights…

We Weren’t Born to Follow

Trish Fontana was a former staffer for Leo T. McCarthy. She has also worked for two California Lt. Governors, two Governors, two First Ladies and two State Senators. She continues to work in the State Capitol, currently for Senator Richard D. Roth, a retired Major Air Force General who represents Riverside. This past weekend, I…

Advocating for Youth

CrystalVega, Urban Studies and Critical Diversity Studies ’18 What if local governments were the key to creating a new pipeline — a pipeline to the public sector? This is one of the projects being undertaken by the education and research nonprofit, the Institute for Local Government (ILG). Through their Governments Engaging Youth (GEY) project, they…