|
Immersion Groups
Social Justice Immersions at St. Anthony Foundation offer incredible opportunities for deep personal and community transformation.
What is a St. Anthony’s Immersion?
A St. Anthony’s Immersion is an extended visit by a group of volunteers, who spend 3–10 days at St. Anthony’s. Immersion groups participate in direct service, solidarity experiences with our guests, and several education/learning sessions on issues of poverty and homelessness with the Justice Education staff.
Volunteer
Opportunities
With an extended visit, participants usually explore many St. Anthony Foundation programs, including the Dining Room and the Clothing and Housewares Program. We also partner with other neighborhood organizations, allowing participants the opportunity to work with a variety of populations and services.
Top
of page
Core
Curriculum
The core educational sessions that we design into each immersion experience are:
| • |
An orientation to St. Anthony Foundation and the Tenderloin, communicating our strong emphasis on human dignity and respect. |
| • |
A solidarity
experience — usually standing in line with our guests and joining them for lunch in the Dining Room. |
| • |
Group Reflection - Participants share stories of people they have met, and staff then connect these stories to some of the structural causes of poverty and homelessness. |
| • |
A guided tour
of the neighborhood, visiting sites and hearing stories of hope
as well as challenge. |
| • |
A discussion of the continuity between charity and social justice, in preparation for participants’ subsequent work in their own communities for both charity and justice. |
| • |
A closing
reflection appropriate for the group, including readings and
sharing of prayers or hopes stemming from their immersion experiences. |
| • |
A closing reflection appropriate for the group, including readings and sharing of hopes stemming from their immersion experiences. |
Top of page
Enrichment
Curriculum
Participants’ understanding of issues impacting our guests is further deepened through focused education sessions. In addition, groups learn analytical tools to enhance their understanding of poverty and assist them in future work towards social justice.
Special issues:
| • |
Causes of Homelessness — lack of affordable housing, dismantling of the mental health care system, and declining wages |
| • |
Hunger — interactive activity demonstrating causes and solutions |
| • |
Substance Abuse and Mental Health — includes a talk by a Fr. Alfred Center resident in recovery from addiction |
| • |
Growing gap between rich and poor — interactive activity |
| • |
Franciscan tradition — Francis, Clare and Anthony as examples of charity, empowerment and social justice. |
| • |
Taking Action – What does it mean to serve and “make a difference”? Tools for continuing the work when the group returns to their home community. |
Immersion Leaders
- Institutions sponsoring immersion groups (such as schools) usually plan evening activities such as community building, journal writing, and faith-based reflections. Some groups enhance solidarity aspects of the immersion by staying in or near the neighborhood, often on church floors, and eating on a Food Stamp budget.
- St. Anthony Foundation does not have housing for immersion groups. There are many hostels and hotels in the local area.
Top
of page
|
