University Community Service Center (UChicago)

04/23/2024

We're so happy to partner with The Allstate Foundation to make these student-driven, community-engaged projects come to life!

06/12/2023

This Juneteenth, the University Community Service Center (UCSC) is excited to engage and empower students to join the South Side in celebration and commemoration!

On Wednesday, June 14, 6:30 -8 p.m., the UCSC presents “Intentional Immersion,” a workshop experience designed to offer context and guidance on thoughtful community engagement in relation to Juneteenth celebrations. We’ll look at the history of the Juneteenth holiday and its place in Black life on the South Side of Chicago, then talk about and practice community engagement skills that can power your participation as a volunteer or attendee at one or more of three UCSC-supported community events on Saturday, June 17 and Monday, June 19.

You can learn more and sign up here: https://ucsc.uchicago.edu/news/celebrate-juneteenth-with-the-south-side

04/07/2023

We hope you'll join us in Jackson Park on Saturday, April 22! Sign up here: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/9170084574345520127/false #/invitation

Watch this space for more information about walking caravans from campus, and other ways you can engage with our local sustainability and environmental justice partners this month and beyond.

Join our University Community Service Center (UCSC) for its annual Earth Day of Service on April 22! This year, UCSC is working with the Jackson Park Advisory Council and other partners to support clean-ups throughout Jackson Park’s many historic landscapes.

Volunteer for clean ups in the woods and beaches, help out with the Osaka Garden Cherry Blossom Festival, and get to know more about the park’s biodiversity and history. Register here: https://bit.ly/43dx8sN.

02/22/2023

We're very excited to partner with International House at the University of Chicago for this week's Feature Friday conversation! Please join us as we hear from some partners doing incredible local work around issues of housing and homelessness.

Learn more and register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/525146957687

Join our Global Voices Lecture Series as we partner with University Community Service Center (UChicago) this Friday, February 24th at Noon in presenting "Feature Fridays: Housing and Homelessness." We will welcome community leaders from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago , Greater Chicago Food Depository , Matthew House Chicago , and The Night Ministry , to address housing policies, homelessness, resources for those wanting to gain access to housing, among other topics.

Register here: https://bit.ly/3IyMFLC

02/16/2023

We've got more partner conversation opportunities with this week's Feature Friday program on Housing and Homelessness, featuring the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance and StreetWise! Join us on Friday 2/17 for lunch at 12pm and the panel, beginning at 12:30pm.

Learn more and sign up:

Join us as we to continue our conversation on Housing and Homelessness, featuring community leaders from our partner organizations!

02/09/2023

FEATURE FRIDAYS continue on Friday, February 10 with a conversation about housing and homelessness with our partners from Deborah's Place, Ignite Chicago, and on One. Join us for lunch at noon and the panel beginning at 12:30pm!

Learn more and register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/525129184527

02/03/2023

We're excited to welcome Cradles to Crayons and the ReVive Center for Housing and Healing to campus this afternoon as we kick off winter quarter FEATURE FRIDAYS! Join us for lunch at noon and the panel at 12:30pm.

Learn more and register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/525121922807

01/09/2023

We're excited for and the opportunity to act and reflect. Will you join us? Click through to learn about the events the UCSC is hosting, and others taking place around the city, which are open to the campus community and beyond.

This month, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., our University Community Service Center is partnering with local organizations to offer a variety of service opportunities that will bring the UChicago campus community and neighboring South Side communities together. Learn how you can get involved here: https://mlk.uchicago.edu/page/week-service.

11/22/2022

There are many volunteer opportunities for students looking to give back to the community during Thanksgiving Break - check them out here!

On November 19 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., combat food insecurity from your kitchen! Join the Honeycomb Project to pack and donate nutritious boxed for neighbors served by a local food pantry in Auburn Gresham. By collecting or purchasing ready-to-eat meals, volunteers will help fulfill an urgent com...

11/17/2022

Haven't made it to Feature Friday yet? You have one more chance on Friday, November 18 to engage with us and partners around issues of food access and security! Join Grow Greater Englewood and the Experimental Station for this week's concluding conversation for fall quarter, at the UCSC. Lunch at noon, panel at 12:30. Details in link. Hope to see you there!

Join us for our final conversation about Food Access & Security, featuring community leaders from our partner organizations!

11/11/2022

Missed last week's Feature Friday conversation on food access and security? You've got another chance to plug in today, Friday 11/11! Join us to hear from Pilot Light Chicago and UChicago's own Phoenix Farms, 12-2pm with lunch provided. Details here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/453907859627

11/03/2022

We're excited to kick off our new FEATURE FRIDAYS series of conversations between community partners and students on Friday, November 4 at noon with this event featuring our friends from Coppin Community Center and the Hermitage Street Community Gardens. Join us for lunch and conversation about food access and security. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/feature-fridays-frankye-parham-cordia-pugh-november-4-2022-tickets-453904329067

Learn more about Feature Fridays and sign up for upcoming sessions: https://ucsc.uchicago.edu/for-students/feature-fridays

New for 2022–23, the University Community Service Center (UCSC) is pleased to present Feature Fridays, a series of conversations between community partners and students about Chicago, civic engagem...

10/03/2022

Curious what's coming up at the UCSC? Check out a few of the many ways you can engage with our work and our community partners this fall. We hope to see you soon!

Seeds of Justice is an academic year-long student leadership development program focused on social change for first-year students in the College. The program provides students with the opportunity to have and reflect on meaningful service and social change experiences, increase their awareness of co...

09/23/2022

We were so proud to welcome the Class of 2026 to Chicago with the help of nearly 70 of our mightiest community partners. Thanks again to all who joined us!

05/25/2022

The UCSC is proud to introduce five outstanding students from across the University who are demonstrating a high level of engagement in community and civic life and achieving incredible things in our communities. Go to the link in our bio to learn more about Stephanie Zhang and our other 2022 winners!

05/25/2022

The UCSC is proud to introduce five outstanding students from across the University who are demonstrating a high level of engagement in community and civic life and achieving incredible things in our communities. Go to the link in our bio to learn more about Liana Massey and our other 2022 winners!

05/25/2022

The UCSC is proud to introduce five outstanding students from across the University who are demonstrating a high level of engagement in community and civic life and achieving incredible things in our communities. Go to the link in our bio to learn more about Lauren Cole and our other 2022 winners!

05/25/2022

The UCSC is proud to introduce five outstanding students from across the University who are demonstrating a high level of engagement in community and civic life and achieving incredible things in our communities. Go to the link in our bio to learn more about Frank Medina and our other 2022 winners!

05/25/2022

The UCSC is proud to introduce five outstanding students from across the University who are demonstrating a high level of engagement in community and civic life and achieving incredible things in our communities. Go to the link in our bio to learn more about Ashlin Kamoe and our other 2022 winners!

05/05/2022

Join us tomorrow for tea and snacks as we discuss working with community partners, problem solve to alleviate concerns, and share best practices! Register at the link in our bio.

04/26/2022

Make a difference on campus by joining
UChicago Civic Engagement's Student Advisory Committee! The one-year term will run from May 2022 to April 2023. Applications are due by Wednesday, April 27. Learn more and complete the interest form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebkKcqSrP6pcefHno9VjKE8NF0MPjutiwg6d_LXaBDOuBY6Q/viewform

04/22/2022

Get your hands dirty tomorrow at UCSC's Earth Day of Service, where you can both enjoy the beautiful weather AND give back to our community! Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepHw-KbPPUcd_XbApV9z_CJQ8L6nQCJNWfBWwop8u_o8hhWQ/viewform

04/05/2022

Join us in honoring our shared green spaces, environment, and vital resources this ! Learn and work alongside community partners to enact change at our April 22 panel and April 23 Day of Service. Register today at the link in our bio!

02/16/2022

Today's the day! Submit your nominations for UCSC's President’s Volunteer Service Award and Perry Herst Prize TODAY to recognize the highly-engaged, civic-minded student(s) in your life. More info at the link in bio.

02/04/2022

Join and for a conversation about the power of movement building in 2022. Abdul will share lessons learned from his own experience building the Young Black Lawyers’ Organizing Coalition (), a network of Black lawyers and law students who are working to protect and empower Black electoral voice. Participants will engage with concepts of power and positionality, community-centered organizing, and identity empowerment as they learn about Abdul’s approach to movement building. Register at the link in bio!

01/13/2022

Calling all UChicago Alumni in Chicago, LA, and the Bay Area! Register today for service projects that bring together students, staff, faculty, alumni, family, and friends during MLK weekend, starting this Saturday. There are several service projects to choose from in each community, focusing on everything from alleviating hunger and homelessness to providing much-needed clothing for children in need, neighborhood clean-ups, and more. See the full list of opportunities here: bit.ly/3rcdrzp

01/13/2022

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the UCSC has developed and curated a set of programs to bring campus and community together for a variety of service events. Learn more about how you can get involved in today's newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/uchicago/have-a-safe-and-restful-break-5739132

12/16/2021

In Chicago and planning to volunteer over the winter break? Check out our roundup of local, holiday-focused volunteer opportunities for ways to give back to our neighbors and communities this season! https://mailchi.mp/uchicago/have-a-safe-and-restful-break-5720108

10/17/2021

APPLICATIONS DUE TONIGHT: Are you a first-year in the College interested in social justice? Seeds of Justice is an academic year-long student leadership development program that provides students with the opportunity to have and reflect on meaningful service and social change experiences, increase their awareness of complex social justice issues in Chicago, and practice valuable leadership and community-building skills to guide their work in creating change on and off campus. During large and small group discussions, speaker events, and engagement activities, and in concert with their own civic work, participants are empowered to use what they have learned to become actors for change. Don't miss this valuable experience -- apply now at the link in bio.

06/19/2021

Learn about the significance of Juneteenth featuring UChicago’s very own Dr. Julie Saville. Also consider taking part in the many activities happening around the city today!

“More than an official pronouncement by the state, emancipation reflects the cumulative impact of the “war within the war” fought by people in bo***ge, Saville said. The notion that a proclamation by a Union officer was sufficient to abolish slavery overshadows the efforts of others: the 750,000 enslaved men, women, and children who successfully escaped to federal territory or died in their attempts; the enslaved people who surreptitiously mounted work stoppages and slowdowns behind Confederate lines; or the nearly 200,000 African American soldiers who served in the Union Army.”

What Juneteenth tells us about the history of emancipation