Reza Islam, a senior in St. John’s College of Professional
Studies, is a student in Professor Mary Noe’s Administrative Law in
the Legal Studies/Criminal Justice Department. The PowerPoint
presentation he shared with his classmates on November 19, 2007
illustrated how Academic Service-Learning can influence a student’s
choices and benefits those most in need in society. During the Fall
2007 semester, Reza did his service at the Catholic Migration
Office in Brooklyn, NY which assists immigrants with all types of
legal issues including: obtaining green cards, citizenship,
political asylum, family unity, amnesty applications and labor
visas. They also direct clients to English-as a-second-language
classes. If requested, they put an immigrant in contact with a
chaplain of his/her religion. In outlining for his classmates what
services are offered at the office, it became clear that the
experience was a worthwhile one for Reza.
“The Catholic Migration Office is client-centered,” noted Reza,
“As soon as a client enters, they are extended a warm greeting and
the staff begins to obtain the information needed to get the
appropriate help for that client.” Reza said that he enjoyed
working with the three lawyers in the office. “I found them very
dedicated to helping those who come for services. They could be
working in another office, getting a higher salary, but they choose
to be there and their sense of concern is evident. I was impressed
with that attitude.” Reza worked in several areas while doing his
service-learning assignment. “What I enjoyed most was listening to
the clients tell their ‘war stories.’ It was hard to imagine
some of their circumstances,” he said. “I learned a lot from doing
research on a tax evasion case; a brief on a moral turpitude
situation; as well as an affidavit of expert testimony.
“What I did at the Catholic Migration Office was really
meaningful to me and a wonderful learning experience,” Reza pointed
out. “The personal contact was great. It sensitized me much more to
the plight of some people. I benefited from working in a small
office and would consider that in the future. One thing I
would advise is to write daily about your experiences, as Professor
Noe has suggested that her students do. It made a tremendous
difference…the professor is right!”