Community Engagment

During two out of the three semesters I participated in service learning, I worked with the Ritter Center, a community organization that supports individuals and families facing housing insecurity, food instability, and health challenges. My role involved helping distribute food, assisting clients with basic needs, and building relationships with people who rely on the center as part of their daily survival network. Week by week, I saw how much strength, resourcefulness, and cultural knowledge exist within communities that are so often labeled by their “deficits.”

Serving at Ritter taught me how to slow down, listen, and show up with empathy — not just as a volunteer, but as a future educator who will work with families navigating similar pressures. I learned to adapt, communicate across differences, and recognize how fragile systems can be when government support falls short. This experience changed the way I understand community: it’s not abstract, and it isn’t built by institutions alone. It’s built by people supporting one another with whatever they have. My time at Ritter deepened my commitment to equity-focused teaching and helped me view service as a meaningful part of my own learning and growth.