June 22, 2009
Professor
Jane Paley’s Spring 2009 Public Relations Campaign course is
distinct from all others; not only did it have the first all-female
roster but they designed and executed a single, semester-long
campaign with specific and measurable goals just as in the “real
world.”
The Public Relations students selected Momma’s House, a facility
for young, unwed mothers who are continuing the education or
vocational training interrupted by their pregnancy, as part of
their Academic
Service-Learning project. They contemplated such questions as:
Who among the neediest will benefit from our efforts? How can we
encourage and empower them? How are we going to make enough money
to cater a luncheon for the moms and purchase gifts for them? The
solution: Bake sales!
More Than Just A Bake
Sale
Upperclassman Angela Virviscas observed first-hand the impact their
hard-work and donations made to the residents at Momma’s
House.
“I was especially moved after one of the house mothers, noting the
donations of detergent, said, ‘Thank God. We really needed this,’”
she states. “From bake sales to fliers, campus clothing drives,
phone calls and promotions we came together and contributed
something special in order to reach our goals.”
The CPS students raised funds to organize a Mother’s Day luncheon,
purchased personalized gift baskets which included: a complete set
of towels, crib and adult sheets; Tory Burch cosmetic kits; Metro
and gift cards; and toiletries for the 11 women residing at Momma’s
House.
“The lunch gave us closure in the best sense of the word. The women
were grateful to us, but we didn’t realize how grateful we were to
them for such a wonderful learning experience,” commented senior,
Judi Paradine. “This was our chance to tell them.”
Jacqui Pinaud summed up the AS-L experience best: “There’s an
indescribable feeling of warmth and pride that accompanies charity
work for a worthy cause.”
The upperclassmen in the PR Campaign Seminar had great generosity
of spirit. By going the extra mile they deepened their compassion
for the underserved and witnessed the impact community service can
have on the economically disadvantaged in society.
“My goal is to encourage students academically and prepare them
professionally,” says the Mass Communications Professor. “It’s not
interpreting the work of others but experiencing it first-hand.
Service is what makes St. John’s so special and the students are
expected to do service and continue helping others throughout their
lives.”
VISA
Academic Service-Learning enhances the educational experience of
St. John’s students and is a major component of the University’s
2009-2013 Strategic Plan. It’s also a part of the Vincentian
Institute for Social Action (VISA), which was launched by the
University to more visibly embed St. John’s Catholic and Vincentian
mission into the educational experience of its students. VISA
provides an organizational focus for a variety of new and ongoing
programs through which faculty and students can work together to
explore the causes of and develop solutions for poverty and social
injustice throughout the world.