Santa Clara University

Arrupe Community Partners

With whom do we partner?

Our many community partners are at the heart of our work. They include agencies, schools, and parishes. They provide students, in connection with their SCU coursework, the opportunity to contribute to the partners’ work in the community and to interact face-to-face with their clients so as to learn from the unique challenges they encounter. This beneficial partnership between the University and our community partners fixes the concern for justice firmly within the University’s curriculum. 

Over fifty community partners contribute in this way to the education of our students. Read about three of these below

The MACSA Latch-Key Center serves the Latino community in Santa Clara County. This licensed development center is located next to the Olinder Elementary School. It provides extended after-school child care and full day care services for children of parents who work, are in school, or in training. SCU students assist children with their homework and to participate in other activities, including outdoor play.

“I love working with kids. The best part of my placement is knowing what they can teach me. It is amazing how intuitive and knowledgeable they are. I find myself blown away by them on a daily basis. The most difficult aspect of my placement is trying to help the kids on their homework without enabling them. It is important to me that they are actually learning the material...Because I feel that these kids trust and somewhat depend on my attendance; it is important for me to take advantage of the time I have with them. I want to make a difference in their lives…. I can certainly say that they have made a difference in my life."

The Alzheimer’s Activity Center is an adult day care program. It provides a therapeutic activity program and socialization in a protective, caring environment for persons with Alzheimer’s disease. SCU students observe and interact with clients and assist with activities. They are encouraged to share their talents and hobbies with participants.

“The best part of my placement has been meeting the people in the Center. The center has a terrific staff that comes to work each day with a smile and lots of patience. They have amazing stories and are very interesting people. I really enjoy listening to stories about their lives and their experiences. I had a grandfather die of Alzheimer’s so I know how difficult it is, but most individuals have a good attitude and try to make each day exciting and entertaining. The people really are the best part.”

John XXIII Multi-Service Center The John XXIII Multi-Service Center provides social services, activities, lunch, educational and health care opportunities for mainly Asian elders in the downtown San Jose area. The majority of the seniors who go to John XXIII are Vietnamese or Chinese immigrants. SCU students help in the kitchen and with lunch set-up, work with seniors to pack bags of food and distribute the bags to low income seniors, or they help seniors prepare to take their citizenship test.

“I have learned that the students at John XXIII, elderly immigrants who are trying to become U.S. citizens, are the most dedicated students. They’ve been studying for the test for over three years and are so motivated and determined to pass the written and oral part of the examination process. I’ve learned the most, however, about how hard it is for them to learn English, and how hard they try to practice both listening and speaking. Now when I see immigrants at the grocery store or at the mall, I wonder if they have been studying for the citizenship test, or if they have been struggling to learn English for years. The experience has also taught me that I am a better teacher than I would have guessed, and that I myself have accepted many false stereotypes before this experience that I have now learned were inaccurate.”

To see an alphabetical listing with links to our many community partners please click here.