Newly arriving University of Notre Dame students will visit with a variety of local organizations Monday (Aug. 20) as part of Day of Community, an annual Welcome Weekend event that introduces first-year and transfer students to opportunities for engagement with the local community.
The students will depart campus by bus from Stepan Center, visit with the organizations and then return to campus by bus. Destinations will be assigned by residence hall, and the day will be divided into shifts: the first shift will be from 10 a.m. to noon and the second shift will be from 1 to 3 p.m.
Now in its third year, Day of Community introduces newly arriving Notre Dame students to a variety of service, education and arts and culture organizations throughout the South Bend area. Students become familiar with the great work being done in South Bend and learn about opportunities to get involved during their time at Notre Dame.
With the help of the Center for Social Concerns, Welcome Weekend has partnered with the following organizations for this year’s event: The Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County, South Bend Center for the Homeless, Unity Gardens, Food Bank of Northern Indiana, Reins of Life Inc., St. Joseph County Parks, Near Northwest Neighborhood Inc., St. Margaret’s House, St. Adalbert School, La Casa de Amistad, City of South Bend Venues Parks & Arts, Hannah & Friends, Robinson Community Learning Center, ND-LEEF, Healthwin, South Bend Cubs, Downtown South Bend, enFocus and Holy Cross House.
“The annual Day of Community introduces Notre Dame students to local businesses and nonprofit organizations to help foster a better understanding of who they are and what they do. It is our hope that through this experience, Notre Dame students will feel more comfortable partnering with these organizations and in many cases volunteering their time,” said Lauren Donahue, program director for new student engagement. “The South Bend community is full of rich and vibrant opportunities for our students to work, learn and serve, and I hope this experience serves as the beginning of their involvement with the place they will call home for the next four years.”
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg said, “Cities and universities are at their best when they find unity of purpose with one another. Sound Bend is proud to be a destination, a home and a research space for Notre Dame students and faculty. Day of Community strengthens our communities’ mutual support for one another.”
Contact: Erin Blasko, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-4127, eblasko@nd.edu