Service extends beyond your time at Saint Louis University. SLU's Center for Social Action encourages lifelong personal and social responsibility by transforming student volunteers into effective servant leaders and advocates for social justice. One way to start is by engaging in advocacy and social action through one of the center's many programs.
Policy Pods
Policy Pods are small groups of students who engage in legislative research and meetings. Students meet weekly on topics such as criminal justice reform, immigration reform, environment, education immigration and disability rights. Toward the end of each semester, they set up legislative meetings, advocate for their positions, and host an event to educate the campus. Groups start each year by meeting with advocacy agencies to get information on their topics and celebrate with a keynote address at the end of the year.
Social Justice and Advocacy Training
If you want to take your service and community engagement efforts to the next level, enroll in the Social Justice and Advocacy Training series, sponsored by the Center for Social Action and the Cross Cultural Center for Global Citizenship.
Through this intensive series, accepted applicants develop skills related to working for social change at the systemic level.
Students who are accepted and complete the program gain:
- The opportunity for a paid social change internship for the semester, at a community organization of their choice, for up to $1,000.
- A letter from the vice president of diversity and innovative community engagement, along with a certificate of completion from the trainers.
- The tools, skills and knowledge necessary to work for social justice.
Voter Engagement
Most states support online voter registration. Websites like www.vote.org or www.vote411.org will assist with registration, polling places, absentee ballots, election reminders and voter registration status. Questions? Visit SLU’s Center for Social Action in Wuller Hall, Suite 204. In addition, there are always Missouri Voter Registration Forms available in the CSA.
Students who register to vote using their campus address (20 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103) may vote in the Busch Student Center in presidential and midterm elections.
Need a notary public? Contact Leah Sweetman in the Center for Social Action at leah.sweetman@slu.edu to have your absentee or mail-in ballot notarized.
Learn Aout Polling Places, Upcoming Elections and Guidelines for Political Activity at SLU
Jesuit Refugee Services Advocacy Day
We need your help! Join us in April as we meet virtually with congressional offices and urge policymakers to act on behalf of refugees. JRS/USA will help you prepare for this event as we schedule meetings, host a webinar and provide talking points. For questions, contact Jessica Trout in the Center for Social Action at jessica.trout@slu.edu.
Legislative Advocacy
This tutorial provides advice about researching national and state legislation likely to influence issues important to you and will help you effectively advocate for your causes with your political representatives.