Social Justice Internship

Loyola University Chicago's Social Justice Internship Grant Program is a year-long, 250-275 hour internship experience where students have the opportunity to engage in significant work at one of two Chicago area non-profits: Catholic Charities and Misericordia. Ten students are selected each year to move through the internship experience in a cohort model. The class portion of the internship is focused on community building, reflection, and continued training.

My name is Rachel Gerton and I have been the Fitness and Aquatics Intern at Misericordia, a home for adults and children with developmental disabilities, for the 2017-2018 academic year. As the Fitness & Aquatics Intern, I worked directly with residents at Misericordia to promote healthy lifestyles through physical activity and health education.  Through the Social Justice Internship Program, I was able to get hands-on experience in an immersive internship setting, while supplementing this experience with monthly class meetings. These class meetings consisted of discussions of leadership, privilege, advocacy, and community development, as well as proactive reflections about our internship experiences. These assignments and reflections are just a glimpse into my year as a Social Justice Intern at Misericordia!

The 2017-2018 Social Justice Interns:

Misericordia's Mission Statement: "The mission of Misericordia Heart of Mercy is to support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who choose our community by providing the highest quality residential, training, and employment services. We provide the full continuum of care designed to meet each person’s changing needs and maximize his or her independence, self-determination, interpersonal relationships, and engagement in the community. Through our dedicated families, employees, volunteers, supporters and community networks, we offer an environment that fosters each person’s spirituality, dignity, respect, and quality of life."