Moreau Center Social Justice Programs

Tshombe

2019 Service Plunge Applications Now Open!

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We are very excited to announce that applications for the 2019 Service Plunge Pre-Orientation Experience are now open.

>>> Click Here to Apply! <<<

It’s only open to incoming first-year and transfer students, and acceptance is on a first-come first-served basis, so be sure to apply early.

When you attend this 3-day event, you’ll spend your first days as a UP student meeting new people (not only your peers, but also upper-level students and key faculty and staff), working hard (and playing hard!), and immersing yourself in your new North Portland community.

Looking for other FAQs? Click Here.

service plunge 2019 participants

Our Tanzanian Homestay Experience

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Jambo!

Over this past weekend we had the opportunity to have a home stay experience in various parts of the Kilimanjaro region. We split up into groups of two and three. Angie, Yeudith, and I were in the same group and paired up with a lovely family.

Our baba, Peter came to pick us up and brought us to his restaurant, located near the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, where we stayed for the next two days. Everybody we met was so kind and welcoming, they truly made us feel a part of their family. Peter and his friends helped us with our Swahili and introduced us into his daily life.

On Saturday, we walked up to the gates of Mt. Kilimanjaro where we got a tour of the base and a beautiful view of the village.

Later in the day, our baba drove us to his home where we met his wife and two sons. His wife, Agnes cooked an amazing home cooked meal as we played UNO with the boys. She cooked us a meal, ndizi (banana stew), traditional to the Chaga people. The Chaga people live in the Mweka village. We got a glimpse into their daily life, which integrates a sense of brotherly love among all neighbors.

Driving down the muddy road, there was not a single person Peter did not acknowledge, from beeping his horn to pulling over for s short conversation. We passed an old woman whose conversation lasted a little longer than the others.

When we left, he explained that she was a life-long friend of his mother, so “There is never an appropriate time to pass her without saying hello and giving her shikamo.”

The next day we went to mass. Experiencing mass in a different country was quite interesting, especially since we didn’t understand much of the mass. The mass lasted a little over three hours and afterwards we ate lunch together.

After lunch we traveled back to the retreat center and shared our experiences with the rest of the team.

On Monday we will continue our Swahili lessons, can’t wait to see what else we learn! 

Kwaheri!

With love,

Angie, Yeudith, and Haley

FAME: Our hosts for inaugural North Portland Immersion

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FAME Zion ChurchIsn’t this a beautiful image of First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Zion Church in Portland? We think so!

We’re grateful for the generous hospitality of the FAME Zion congregation who is hosting us for our inaugural North Portland Immersion.

We will explore the history and current realities of gentrification, the housing crisis, inequity in representation and education, especially as it adversely and disproportionately affected/affects African Americans and other minorities.

Journey with us here and on our Facebook Page as we undercover our past, encounter our present, and envision how together we can create a just and equitable future.

Freedom, Service, and YOU this 4th of July

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Martin Luther King & Bald Eagle CollageWhen you think of Freedom and Independence, if you think of Service, you made the right choice to attend University of Portland.  Service is one of our core pillars, and it is a real indicator of what it means to be a Pilot.

That’s what we think about this 4th of July: Freedom, Service, UP, and you.

Jumpstart your commitment to leadership and service by joining us at Service Plunge.

Get the scoop at http://TinyURL.com/ServicePlunge

Go Pilots!

Meet the 2018 Service Plunge Co-Coordinators

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Moreau Center is pleased to announce the 2018 Service Plunge Student Co-Coordinators, Kelley McCaffery and Jumel Villacarlos. The Service Plunge is an annual 2 1/2-day pre-orientation experience open exclusively to incoming freshmen and transfer students that immediately connects them to their peers and to nonprofit organizations in North Portland.

kelley mccaffery service plunge co-coordinator

Kelley is a rising senior and English/Communications Major. She was introduced to Moreau Center through the Civil Right Immersion in May 2018.

She was so impacted by the social justice issues encountered in the American South that she wanted to make up for lost time by serving in additional capacities with Moreau Center.

 

jumel villacarlos service plunge co-coordinator

Jumel is also a rising senior and a Biology Major. He most recently (spring term 2018) co-coordinated the Collegiate Challenge, a Habitat for Humanity program for college and university students.

Jumel has a long history with Service Plunge, having participated as a freshman and served as a volunteer small group leader his sophomore and junior years. Now, as a coordinator of Service Plunge, he comes full circle to the program that introduced him to University of Portland and its core pillar of Service.

Border Immersion (March 15 2018)

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March 15, 2018

One thing that really stood out to us today was learning about the sanctuary movement and the role of churches. We visited the Southside Presbyterian church, which is rooted in the sanctuary movement of the 1980’s and is a leader in the new current sanctuary movement. It continues to help people in the community.

We heard a story of a member of the Tucson community that they recently helped by providing sanctuary. Her name was Rosa, she is a mother of two and stayed there for a year and 4 months because of her immigration status. She was in such a difficult situation that she had to resort to going into sanctuary which is still very much like a prison because she is restricted to one location with limited access to loved ones.

This was very powerful and helped us to see the true magnitude of the sanctuary movement.

By: Karina Diaz and Melissa Olivera