University of San Francisco | Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good

Dispelling Stereotypes and the Importance of Memory: A Walk Through the Fillmore District

As an alumnus of the Esther Madriz Diversity Scholars (EMDS), a living learning community on campus that strives to embody the Jesuit ideals of education and social justice, I was naturally ecstatic to have the opportunity to blend my role as an Advocate for Community Engagement (ACE) with my experience in the EMDS program. – Mary Cruz

On the Start of the New Year

The same week that I started as the new Director of the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good, I finished reading Teacher Wars, Dana Goldstein’s history of the teaching profession in the United States. – David Donahue

Reflections from a USF MoPA Alum: Collaborate, Communicate, Have Courage

When I reflect back on my experience as a graduate student at the University of San Francisco, I can’t help but think about how fast the last two and a half years since graduation have flown by. My mind immediately starts thinking about how incredibly fortunate I am to apply everything I learned in graduate school to my job. – Alia Al-Sharif

Summer 2015 Immersion in Nicaragua

For two weeks immediately following the Spring 2015 semester, I led an immersion course to Nicaragua with 7 University of San Francisco students. We stayed with homestay families in the city of León, near the Pacific coast, and traveled daily to the village community of Goyena. The course, ARCD 348: Nicaragua Outreach Summer Immersion, was interdisciplinary, consisting of students from Architecture & Community Design, Environmental Studies, Nursing, Physics and Psychology. – Hana Mori Böttger

First Adventures in India

My initial reaction getting off of the plane in India was complete shock. It was very reminiscent of documentaries and Bollywood movies. The cars/bikes beeped their horns every four seconds, eight lanes in the wake of a two lane distinction, and more. I was being stared at constantly, overcharged for most services, and the food was not sitting well in my stomach. Then I transitioned into the village. If I thought I was in shock before, this was my wake-up call. All the facilities were outside, and I took showers with at least four spiders, a plethora of bugs, and mold. The toilets welcomed flies and insects from the sewers, the electricity never worked, and I used the facility with the flashlight from my cellphone. I said many times “I cannot do this.”-Kristian Balgobin

The McCarthy Fellowship from a Dominican University Perspective

The McCarthy Fellowship is clearly a perfect match for someone, like me, who had an interest in public policy and the passion to make the world a better place ––– a notion which former legislator and Center founder, Leo McCarthy shared. – Navi Dhaliwal

USF Engage San Francisco – Working with the Western Addition

Karin Cotterman Director, Engage San Francisco It is just over a year since USF launched Engage San Francisco, a place-based initiative that partners USF with the Western Addition to respond to community identified needs. More than partnering to support the provision of direct services, the vision of Engage San Francisco is one of transformation through…