Learning Empathy and Taking Action

To fully understand what it means to empathize, people must first immerse themselves with others to learn their perspectives on life. Getting to know different individuals on a personal level can help us better understand them, as they share their stories, goals, and dreams for the future. It is through this new perspective and letting go of our own biases that we take hold of our own civic responsibility for our community.

Through the Ignatian Center’s Immersion program, students are able to learn about injustices in different marginalized communities, both local and global. These Immersions allow the student participants to go outside the Santa Clara University campus (and sheltered “bubble”) and accompany people who are experiencing injustice in the world. The immersion leaders guide students to understand their privilege and release the prejudices they might have. 

Earlier this month, six students from the incoming class of 2028 took part in the five-day San Jose First Year Immersion and learned about their new hometown! On the second day of the Immersion, participating students met with an organization called Recovery Cafe and with officials from the City of San Jose.

The day began at 9 o'clock in the morning when the students gathered on the SCU campus and took a public bus to Recovery Cafe. There, the SCU students attended an orientation and learned about how this growing, national organization supports members who are homeless, healing from trauma, addiction, and mental health challenges. This organization hosts a variety of meetings that are specific to the needs of the members to help them recover from their troubled past and build a sustainable future. 

Elena, the orientation leader, explained the mission of the organization and what specific programs they are doing to help the community of people trying to improve their lives.

“Recovery cafe is supposed to be a safe/sober place with food, and like-minded people,” Elena explained. "The main core of our programs are recovery circles which are small peer support groups of 10-12 members and a facilitator. The facilitators are a mixture of staff, volunteers, and people who have been members for a long time.”

When the orientation finished, the students connected with the members at Recovery Cafe by creating vision boards with them. This activity gave the SCU students and members of the organization a chance to genuinely bond through conversations in which they discussed their likes, dislikes, and goals for the future. The kindness and patience that the students conveyed with the members showed how much they cared about getting to know the individuals at Recovery Cafe and learning about their lives. 

One student, George Zhang ‘28, reflected on his experience with creating vision boards with the members. 

 

“Creating vision boards with the members of Recovery Cafe was definitely an insightful experience,” he explained. “We used the collages to reflect our pasts and set social goals for the future. Overall, the experience was therapeutic and built a greater community in the Cafe.”

Later, the students decompressed together while they had lunch. They all recapped the conversations they had with the members. Not only did they get to know the members individually, but they enjoyed some funny conversations with them, as well.

After lunch, the students walked across the street to attend a San Jose City Council meeting to learn about injustices in San Jose and the ways in which the Council works to support the community. Through this experience, the SCU students (most of whom had never attended a city council meeting before), gained an understanding of social injustices facing the different districts of San Jose. They learned about the actions related to the Resolution on Federal Recognition for Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Students were also able to observe the different posters that people in the audience brought to show the councilmembers what they wanted changed in the San Jose community. 

“I really enjoyed being able to attend a city council meeting,” explained Immersion Leader, Alicia Nelson ’26. “I got to learn more about what civic engagement means to me and also to the people of San Jose.” 

After the council meeting, the students gathered in one of the City Hall conference rooms for a panel discussion with some of the staff from the Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services Department, City Manager's Office, and Councilmember Peter Ortiz’s office. The seasoned staff members expressed their passions that led them to work for the City, explained how people can be civically engaged in their community, and informed the students, as new community members, about ways they can get involved. 

Each employee told their own story of what led them to their careers now and what community means to them. They wanted the students to understand how they can get involved in their communities through volunteer work and voting in the upcoming November election. 

The students were dismissed from the meeting in the late afternoon and returned to Recovery Cafe to help out with organizing, moving boxes, and straightening up the rooms.

Looking back on the day, it is clear that both groups with whom the students met are taking action to make a difference in the lives of local residents. At Recovery Cafe, the individuals they serve are given support and guidance to have a sustainable life - now and in the future. Just being present with the members at Recovery Cafe, the students were able to learn about the lives of the members and understand their hopes for a sustainable, healthy life. In the same way, the City Council members serve their constituents from their respective districts to make San Jose a better place. Witnessing the council members as they listened to the needs of the people of San Jose was inspiring, causing the students to consider ways to take action for causes that we are passionate about.

Recovery Cafe and City Hall both have the same mission, which is helping out the greater San Jose community. Learning and practicing empathy is the first step, but taking action leads to making a difference in one's own community. 

- Camila Perez ‘27

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