2022 Graduating CASC minors and SJ majors
On May 4, 2022 we celebrated the graduation of the a cohort of 10 Community Action and Social Change minors and our first 2 Social Justice majors! Read below for their reflections on how Social Justice education and community engagement has impacted them.
My understanding of social justice has grown and I see how social justice can apply to all aspects of life. I have also grown to understand the importance of advocating for what is right in the community. — Dominic Jose ’22, Nursing, CASC minor
It was very meaningful to me to have had the chance to work with The Sparh Center’s clean needle exchange. Through the minor I was able to better understand our community and what change should look like, working with different sites I was able to see the areas that are commonly overlooked and helped inform my understanding or advocacy and deep reflection. I learned through the curriculum not only about society and others, but I learned about myself, and what my role is as a community member. — Ariana Marino ’22, Occupational therapy, CASC & Psychology minor(s)
IDSGT Foundation was the most impactful community partner I got the pleasure to work with. Being a volunteer on their senior chat line to combat social isolation and loneliness related to old age and the COVID-19 pandemic, opened my eyes to how meaningful a simple act of kindness can be and how we can all make a difference in someone’s life. — Julia Miller ’22, Nursing, CASC minor
Pursuing the CASC minor here at Dominican gave me the opportunity to expand my worldview and diversify my knowledge about and approach towards community engagement. As a first generation college student interested in pursuing a career in medicine, my experiences in the community as a service learner has allowed me to understand the implications of financial insecurity and marginalization on an individual’s general health and well-being. — Kate Lagera ’22, Chemistry, CASC & Molecular Cell Biology minor(s)
Service-Learning has been a significant part of my Dominican experience. I have been fortunate enough to have been in Marin City the last three years and completed my service-learning with Reading Buddies and Performing Stars. I have learned how the community is a co-educator, how to be professional in a work environment, and how to balance multiple responsibilities. I am grateful for all the time I have spent in this program because it is unique to Dominican and provides opportunities you may not have elsewhere. — Abbie Gould ’22, Communication & Media Studies, CASC & Graphic Design minor(s)
The Community Action and Social Change minor gave me the opportunity to be of service to different communities in Marin. I am forever grateful for my time working with Health Hubs and Canal Alliance. I was able to create interpersonal connections with community members, learn about their lived experiences, and apply what I was learning through the course material into my service work. — Ayanna Berg ’22, Political Science, CASC, Psychology, & Spanish minor(s)
The community partner I worked most deeply with was the Ritter Center. From the Ritter Center, I have learned how to create boundaries with others as well as create meaningful relationships with both staff and clients. Volunteering at the Ritter Center has definitely opened my eyes and had an impact on my understanding of the social justice in the homeless community. I am more aware of the services being provided in Marin for those who are low to no income individuals and / or are unfortunately living on the streets or in facilities. In general, CASC helped me feel a bit more connected to my personal community by making me want to explore my personal relationships and what the people in my community are doing to help one another. — Melissa Herzstein ’22, Psychology, CASC, Clinical Counseling Science, & Cognitive and Experimental minor(s)
I worked alongside Canal Alliance Adult ESL for three full school years and am amazed by how life changing this experience was for me. The students, teachers, volunteers, and faculty members I met along the way have left an everlasting impression. This was an experience nobody could take away from me and I’m very grateful for the moments I shared with everyone. — Brittney Cedeno ’22 , Social Justice, Psychology minor
CASC has not only allowed me to connect with the community, but also connect with myself in a different way that you can’t really have from regular class experiences. — Selyna Baltazar ’22, Nursing, CASC minor
While working at Health Hubs, and being a Social Justice major, I grew to solidify my place in the communities I identify with and how I can best serve those communities. Being able to see specifically the Latinx community in a positive light and how to amplify the voices already being spoken, has been a life changing experience. From starting off feeling like my experiences were invalid to being able to validate my own and others. — Catita Guardado ’22, Social Justice
Fernando Flores, Major(Biology)/ Minor (Chemistry and CASC) shared a quote which has been impactful and resonates with him and keeps him motivated in his social justice work:
“We are creatures who are susceptible to dignitary struggle: we can be shunned, mocked, dishonored, and subjected to contempt, aversion and indifference in ways that deeply challenge our sense of value and respect-worthiness, sometimes in spite of our efforts to remain immune to ‘take the high road”’. (Taylor and Dell”Oro, Health and Human Flourishing: Religion, Medicine, and Moral Anthropology).
