A Culture of Community Service
What is community service?
At USC, serving the community means taking care of the children. You read to them after school. You share with them not only your sense of wonder about the cosmos, but also your algebra skills. You teach them about self-expression through dance and jazz. You help them understand that the choices they make now may affect them for a lifetime, so they should eat more fruit and play more softball. You prepare them for college.
You prepare children for life.
At USC, serving the community means making the streets safer for children walking to and from school and playing in parks. You create trust among police officers, city officials and residents so that there can be more streetlights, fewer potholes and less crime. You provide families with the tools and information they need to form neighborhood watch programs and stop graffiti.
You make families feel safer.
At USC, serving the community means bringing business to the community. You hire, and ask other organizations to hire, local residents. You support local entrepreneurs by buying their products and services.
You invest in the community.
At USC, serving the community means having a stake in the affairs of the neighborhood. You talk to your neighbors and listen to them. You encourage your employees to live in the area. You encourage your students, staff and faculty to volunteer and support the neighborhood.
In the end, serving the community means that you are a good neighbor. And when you are a good neighbor, the neighborhood is part of your family.
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Featured Program
JEP
Founded in 1972, the USC Dana and David Dornsife College’s Joint Educational Project (JEP) is one of the oldest and largest service-learning programs in the United States, linking students’ coursework with experiences at neighborhood schools, hospitals and other service organizations.