The Center for Service and Social Action believes that, through service, we can deepen our understanding of and be a conduit for positive change within our local, national, and international community.

The Center for Service and Social Action seeks to develop service opportunities which build relationships, enhance learning, encourage active citizenship, and support the John Carroll University mission to "inspire individuals to excel in learning, leadership, and service in the region and in the world." We offer a variety of programs to meet the needs of our community partners and the interests of our service participants, including Service Learning, Voluntary Service, Service Projects and Events, and service-based Immersion Experiences.

focuses on education and action to promote trade practices that support human dignity, economic justice and international solidarity. Here on campus the club works to encourage the use of fair trade coffee and other products.

The Poverty and Solidarity program seeks enhance student learning about poverty through:

•  Development of an interdisciplinary course and summer internship sequence for students seeking a deeper understanding of poverty
•  Creation of interdisciplinary and discipline-based courses that will embed the study of poverty throughout the curriculum
•  Establishment of a public lecture series to educate both the university and Greater Cleveland communities on poverty

The Program also hosts a "Poverty and Solidarity Faculty Learning Community" to engage faculty from throughout various disciplines in dialogue and focused study of  local, national, and global poverty leading to the development of courses on poverty or modification of existing courses to include a component on poverty.  

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a non-profit organization assisting the poor, lonely and forgotten to bridge the spiritual, emotional and financial gaps in their lives. St Xavier and Cathedral Conference activities are confined to those neighbors in Over-the Rhine, West End and Downtown area. Volunteers visit, access and evaluate the situation of the individuals who have requested a need prior to providing assistance. Contact the church office if you would like to volunteer.