By: Lauren F. Carlson '12
Published on
Aquinas College service-learning trips are the backbone of the Dominican charism of
service. Venturing into communities in need, AQ students seek to find a better understanding
of their world while giving a piece of themselves in return. Each semester, whether
they travel domestically or internationally, AQ service-learning participants explore
their purpose, find time for reflection and garner practical application of lessons
learned. Reflecting on her experience at Jerusalem Farm during her junior and senior
years, alumna Lisa Murawski '13 is thankful for the opportunity to reaffirm a career
in service.
Murawski, a sustainable business major and Bay City native, has long been interested in helping others. "Service has always been something that interested me," she said. Exceeding the community service requirement at her high school, this interest spilled over into college, where she attended the Bethlehem Farm trip during her freshman year. "After going to Bethlehem Farm as a freshman, I discovered how a non-profit can incorporate social and ecological justice and I was hooked. I decided to declare my major as sustainable business as a direct result from that trip," said Murawski.
Later, during the summer of her junior year, Murawski sought an internship and discovered that a new, similar program was just beginning. Contacting the newly formed Jerusalem Farm, Murawski offered her services for their budding sustainability projects. Living and working on the farm as an intern throughout the fall of 2012, she returned the following spring as a service-learning leader.
"Jerusalem Farm is a Catholic Intentional community located in Kansas City, Missouri, built on the four cornerstones of prayer, community, service and simplicity," according to their website. During her time at the farm, Murawski and other students participated in low income home repair, gardening and preparing meals for the group. Through these daily tasks and reflection, Murawski was immersed in the farm's four cornerstones and was able to dig deeper into the Gospel Message and Catholic Social Teaching. Most of all, Murawski got an education on the inner workings of a grassroots organization focused on frugal and sustainable living.
Murawski noted that this focus on service, both during her internship and the weeklong service-learning program with fellow students, "reaffirmed my commitment to sustainable business within the nonprofit sector," she said. In addition, Murawski's experience at Jerusalem Farm directly impacted her work after she graduated from Aquinas. "Jerusalem Farm inspired me to look into doing a year of service that had an intentional community component. I spent a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest in Boise, Idaho as the Services Coordinator at homeless day shelter, which has ultimately inspired me to pursue community organizing social work at the University of Michigan," she said.
Now, as Murawski serves as an AmeriCorps member for the American Red Cross and looks forward to beginning her graduate studies at the University of Michigan in the fall, she is confident in a career devoted to service. "My hope is that with a background in sustainable business, experience in the nonprofit sector and a future master of social work with a concentration in community organizing, I will be able to work on systemic and sustainable change in society," she said.
Murawski, a sustainable business major and Bay City native, has long been interested in helping others. "Service has always been something that interested me," she said. Exceeding the community service requirement at her high school, this interest spilled over into college, where she attended the Bethlehem Farm trip during her freshman year. "After going to Bethlehem Farm as a freshman, I discovered how a non-profit can incorporate social and ecological justice and I was hooked. I decided to declare my major as sustainable business as a direct result from that trip," said Murawski.
Later, during the summer of her junior year, Murawski sought an internship and discovered that a new, similar program was just beginning. Contacting the newly formed Jerusalem Farm, Murawski offered her services for their budding sustainability projects. Living and working on the farm as an intern throughout the fall of 2012, she returned the following spring as a service-learning leader.
"Jerusalem Farm is a Catholic Intentional community located in Kansas City, Missouri, built on the four cornerstones of prayer, community, service and simplicity," according to their website. During her time at the farm, Murawski and other students participated in low income home repair, gardening and preparing meals for the group. Through these daily tasks and reflection, Murawski was immersed in the farm's four cornerstones and was able to dig deeper into the Gospel Message and Catholic Social Teaching. Most of all, Murawski got an education on the inner workings of a grassroots organization focused on frugal and sustainable living.
Murawski noted that this focus on service, both during her internship and the weeklong service-learning program with fellow students, "reaffirmed my commitment to sustainable business within the nonprofit sector," she said. In addition, Murawski's experience at Jerusalem Farm directly impacted her work after she graduated from Aquinas. "Jerusalem Farm inspired me to look into doing a year of service that had an intentional community component. I spent a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest in Boise, Idaho as the Services Coordinator at homeless day shelter, which has ultimately inspired me to pursue community organizing social work at the University of Michigan," she said.
Now, as Murawski serves as an AmeriCorps member for the American Red Cross and looks forward to beginning her graduate studies at the University of Michigan in the fall, she is confident in a career devoted to service. "My hope is that with a background in sustainable business, experience in the nonprofit sector and a future master of social work with a concentration in community organizing, I will be able to work on systemic and sustainable change in society," she said.