Volunteer Fair allows students to learn about various post-grad opportunities

Right after A.J. Cabrera graduated from Holy Cross in May 2005, he joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) and became a high school teacher in a small community in Chuuk, Micronesia. He says he “absolutely loved” the experience and has “a completely new perspective of the world and my place in it.”

He returned to the United States this June, and has been talking to college students about devoting their post-grad time to volunteering.

“I am strongly encouraging college students to do any sort of volunteering service after graduation because it is such a rewarding and meaningful experience,” says Cabrera. “Holy Cross students are incredibly equipped to make a strong impact in any volunteer program because the idea of ‘men and women for others’ is thoroughly taught at the College. JVC was by far the best program for me and I think it appeals to many students looking for a chance to serve the poor directly, as well as have a personal formation experience.”

As a recruiter, Cabrera does a lot of traveling to colleges — mostly Jesuit and Catholic — across the East Coast. On Oct. 24, he will visit Holy Cross to be part of the College’s 10th annual Volunteer Fair, sponsored by the Chaplains’ Office, in the Hogan Ballroom from 6 to 8 p.m.

Close to 50 organizations that offer volunteer opportunities across the nation and the world will be present at the fair, according to Cara Joyce ’09, Volunteer Fair student coordinator. The organizations will focus on domestic volunteer work, international volunteer work, and teaching. Other organizations include Teach for America, Maryknoll China Service Project, Nativity School of Worcester, and Christian Appalachian Project.

Each organization will have a table in the Ballroom, along with a recruiter. Many organizations will also have participants and alumni of the programs available to speak with students.

As a Jesuit institution, one of the most popular volunteering programs for Holy Cross students is JVC. Within the last three years, Holy Cross has had close to 50 students go on to dedicate a year of service through the organization.

Cabrera, who graduated with a major in political science and a minor in film studies, decided to volunteer after he heard so many positive things from former volunteers when he was a student. “I wanted to live out the four values during my time in service — social justice, simple life-style, community and spirituality — as well as for the rest of my life. I felt that the support for the volunteers was very strong, and the work placements were very diverse.”

In addition to JVC, many students go on to do post-grad volunteer work through teaching positions. Just this year, 28 members of the Class of 2007 began volunteer teaching positions, 23 of whom committed themselves to Teach for America’s two-year program.

Joyce says that Holy Cross, as a Jesuit institution, has a special responsibility to the world’s poor and powerless.

“The Holy Cross mission statement urges Holy Cross students to ‘make the best of their own talents, to work together, to be sensitive to one another, to serve others, and to seek justice within and beyond the Holy Cross community.’ Volunteer work following graduation allows students to do just this; to take what they’ve learned within the gates of Holy Cross and put it into action in pursuit of the betterment of others and of themselves.”

Students who are not able to attend the fair, and who are interested in learning more about JVC can e-mail Cabrera at eastrecruiter@jesuitvolunteers.org. Students can also e-mail Marybeth Kearns-Barrett, associate Chaplain and director of Service and Social Justice Programs, at mkearns@holycross.edu.

Related Information:

• Chaplains’ Office