Programs

Summer Service Projects

Simple Living, Positive and Open Attitude

In solidarity and mutuality with the poor and marginalized, students are asked to leave behind the materialism and commercialism of today’s world. In addition to serving among and with the poor and marginalized, it is hoped that the students experience a personal transformation by living in a communal setting, practicing simply living and maintaining a positive and open attitude.

Past Projects

List of 4 items.

#3DNYC - Diversity, Differences, and Dialogue

Convent of the Sacred Heart
New York, New York

Using dialogue training, direct service, and reflection, students dove deep into the eight social identifiers of diversity (age, race, ethnicity, ability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status).
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#ProjectNAO

Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart
Miami, Florida

After becoming fully equipped with the features, limits and value of the NAO Humanoid robots, students then applied programming processes and their new skills to the needs of marginalized, inner-city children.
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Juvenile Justice

Sacred Heart Schools, Sheridan Road
Chicago, Illinois

To gain a perspective of the experience of a teenager in our nation’s criminal justice system, students looked at different support structures that work to help students who are at risk for a variety of reasons.
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Turned Out: Modern Day Slavery – Humans Not For Sale

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
Houston, Texas

Students met with various members of law enforcement, universities and non-profit organizations to learn what human trafficking is, how it happens, how to prevent it and how to assist survivors once rescued.

One of the great benefits of every service project is the opportunity to develop new friendships with students from across the country who come from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Students are invited to step outside of their comfort zones to reach out and make certain that each person feels like an important part of the “project community.”

The Network Summer Service Programs evolved from the vocation committee of the US Province (now known as the Society of the Sacred Heart United States - Canada). The concept was that the RSCJ could work with students in the schools on service projects as a way to foster future vocations. This has changed over the years and now staff and faculty from the 24 schools of the Network create and lead these summer service programs.

For more than 30 years, the projects have offered students a unique experience of service and community, which has consistently made a significant impact on the lives of all who have been involved as well as the school communities to which the students return.

We thank Jane Steinfels (jane.steinfels@shschicago.org) and Christie Crandall (christine.crandall@shschicago.org) from Sheridan Road who are coordinating these projects. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to them.