Center for Social Concerns

Gannon’s Center for Social Concerns has turned 30, and you’re invited to their year-long 30th birthday party! Watch for more information to be released in February.

Founded in 1988 and inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, the Center for Social Concerns equips students and campus colleagues to engage with Gannon’s communities, both local and global, through purposeful service, exploration and action for the common good. We form student leaders to facilitate a meaningful experience for their peers and faculty/staff accompaniers, including community building, reflection, and post-trip action.

Alternative Break Service Trips

Through our Alternative Break Service Trip (ABST) program, student leaders design and facilitate experiences for their peers based on four pillars of service, simplicity, community and reflection. These immersions focus on broadening participants’ worldviews and fostering global citizenship, through service and relationship-building with neighbors across our human family. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, all ABSTs seek to create intentionally inclusive, diverse community through their group formation and trip experiences. ABSTs are co-curricular, student-led, and accompanied by trained faculty and staff from all divisions of the Gannon University family. Students and faculty/staff interested in going on a trip can read more about trip options and obtain application information through the CSC’s engagu page.

Advocacy and Awareness

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week 

Homelessness Awareness Week is a national event sponsored by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness.  The Center for Social Concerns supports on-campus awareness and events this week, the keystone of which is the Baskets of Blessings project. Student groups and campus offices create baskets of cold-weather gear, school supplies, and culturally appropriate food to recently arrived refugee/New American families as an act of hospitality, to welcome them for their first Thanksgiving in the United States. 

Interfaith Initiatives

 We are proud to spearhead Gannon’s commitment to interfaith cooperation in partnership with the Interfaith Youth Core. Learn more about founder and president Eboo Patel’s message to Gannon and keep up-to-date with our initiatives.

Community Service

GIVE Day

GIVE Day is Gannon's Invitation to Volunteer Everywhere.  Over 1,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends gather to volunteer in the Erie-GAINS neighborhood, with the Our West Bayfront, the city of Erie, Ruskin, Florida, and cities across the country.  This gives Gannon students the opportunity to be present in their community, meet real needs, and support our community partners. More than 400 students spend their GIVE Day working at International Coastal Cleanup sites throughout the county. 

Day of Caring

Day of Caring is part of Keep Erie County Beautiful' s Days of Caring. An annual spring event, Gannon works with nonprofit organizations, community watch groups, and municipal organizations to send about 400 Gannon family members into the community for a bit of "spring cleaning." 

Post-Graduate Service

Post-graduate service opportunities are advertised, encouraged, discerned, and celebrated in collaboration with Campus Ministry, Career Exploration and Development, and the Office of Service-Learning.  If you are interested in exploring post-graduate service opportunities, please contact Jessie Badach Hubert, director of the Center for Social Concerns, at 871-5602, to set up an appointment for one-on-one advising.  We can also connect you with one of our 4 students doing a year of service in 2016-17. In the meantime, check out our resources!

• Governmental and non-profit post-graduateservice opportunities
• Faith-based service opportunities
•  Graduate programs with a service focus 
• Catholic Volunteer Network, a searchable database with thousands of volunteer opportunities ranging from 3 week to 2 year commitments.  You can also find discernment and application resources.