Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest is a popular option for Loyola graduates

Katie Collier

The holidays are rapidly approaching, which for seniors means an overwhelming amount of questions from family and friends about post-graduation plans.

However, it is not essential to jump right into an office job. Rather, many seniors consider doing a year of service before settling down to an official job.

Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest is a year-long commitment that volunteers make to serve in alignment with Jesuit values. Volunteers are placed in a location that works with their interests and skill set. They live with fellow volunteers for a year, doing service at a site five days a week.

With Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest, volunteers are placed in a house with five other volunteers all doing different jobs in the same area. All of the jobs in the household have a common thread of engaging and serving marginalized people, such as with local nonprofit organizations and schools for low-income families.

Katie Sloan A’14 is currently working as a caregiver at L’arche in Spokane, Washington. The L’arche houses adults with disabilities, which Sloan said she was interested in.

“I’ve had a passion for much of my life for working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in some capacity, and I read that JVC, specifically in the Northwest, had a lot of opportunities for placements with this population,” Sloan said.

Assistant Director of University Ministry Laura Alexander agrees that JVC is a great opportunity for Loyola graduates to give back and engage in social justice work.

“JVC is based on four principles: spiritual growth, building community with other JVs and those they serve, living simply and the pursuit of social justice.  I know that for many of our recent graduates, living and working for a year or two as a JV has helped them integrate the ideals and values they encountered at Loyola into their post-graduate lives and worldviews,” Alexander said.

Bridget Kratz A’13, Carissa Marston A’13, Mar Trujillo A’13, Margaret Leiderbach A’13 and Jordan Harbaugh A’13 all completed their Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest year this past July. Kratz is currently doing a second year with the organization in Sitka, Alaska.

Terri Zehyoue, criminal justice senior, is considering applying for JVC.

“I’m considering applying to JVC for many reasons. I’ve heard great reviews about it and I want to do as much service as I can while I’m still young!” Zehyoue said.

The deadline for Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest applications for the 2015-2016 year is Feb. 1. For those looking for a way to give a year of service, fulfill passions, explore and learn in a new community and state, Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest could be considered as an option for post-grad life.

“I wanted exploration, community and experience, and JVC had all of these things,” Sloan said.


*Correction: A previous version of this article stated that the six alumni mentioned served with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, when they instead volunteered with Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest. Both organizations share a similar history and values, but Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest is a different, independent organization from the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.