Reflection is one of the most important aspects of service learning. It is where our head, heart, and hands come together to make sense of our experience, better understand the context of those we work with, and for us to discern our learning and values. Check with your professor to find out if attendance at a reflection session is required for your course. Reflection sessions are specifically geared toward service learning experiences. Students should sign-up for reflection sessions through MUEngage. Students who RSVP get priority entry for sessions. Arriving more than 15 minutes late or leaving more than 15 minutes early for any reflection session will not be counted as a reflection session attendance. Sessions will be held in-person or virtually, please make note of where and when we will meet.
For online sessions, please note:
Register for reflection sessions through your service learning course on MUEngage. Refer to this presentation on how to register for reflection sessions on MUEngage if you have questions.
Please only register for one reflection session. If you would like to attend two, please notify the Service Learning Program. We need to make sure we have enough space to accommodate all the students who are required to attend a session and to make sure we have appropriate staffing. If you find yourself unable to attend the session you registered for, please cancel your registration so we can open up the space you held. Please note that reflection sessions do fill up, so you are highly encouraged to register early.
R1: MKE 1001: (Virtual)
Whether you are new to the 414 area code or if you have lived your entire life in this city, it is very likely that there are lots of things you don’t know about Milwaukee’s rich history or some of its current day hidden gems. Join us as we watch a documentary by Adam Carr, created for Marquette students embarking on community engagement opportunities to better understand the strengths, struggles, opportunities, and the beauty of Milwaukee. After the video we will spend some time discussing our roles, goals, and responsibilities in the city. Please come with any questions or concerns about starting your service learning and we will work to support you!
R2: Understanding the Difference Between Charity and Justice
Meeting immediate needs through acts of compassion—such as providing food, shelter, or other essential support—is a vital expression of our commitment to human dignity. At the same time, Catholic Social Teaching invites us to ask deeper questions. Why do some individuals and communities continue to face these challenges? What systems, policies, or social conditions contribute to these inequities? What are the root causes, and how can we work to address them? In this session, you will explore the relationship between charity and justice and discover why both are essential. Together, we will define these concepts and examine how they complement one another. Finally, we will consider how acts of compassion can be paired with advocacy, civic engagement, and systemic change to build more just and equitable communities.
R3: Housing First: Homelessness in Milwaukee
Approximately 745,000 to 771,000 people experience homelessness in the United States on any given night, according to Point-in-Time counts by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Milwaukee’s shelter system has 750 beds for folks who are experiencing homelessness, and in the colder months, there are an additional 250 beds available. But on most nights, those beds are full. Milwaukee has made great strides in reducing the numbers of unhoused people through housing first initiatives and with federal funding, but those numbers are slowly on the rise and money has dried out. During this session we will discuss the root causes of homelessness in Milwaukee, the impact homelessness has on our community and neighbors, and we will think about how we can serve this population of people with dignity and respect.
R4: Moments of Significance: Meaning Making in Milwaukee
Jesuit universities strive to do more than challenge students academically. Their mission is to educate and form individuals who become men and women for and with others—people committed to serving their communities and contributing to the greater good. At Marquette, service learning is one of the transformative experiences that helps shape students’ minds, hearts, and hands. As we gather to reflect on our service learning experiences, we invite you to consider the moments that left a lasting impression. What experiences challenged or inspired you? Who are the individuals you will always remember? What encounters prompted you to think more deeply about the meaning of your life and the person you are called to become? And most importantly, what lessons, insights, and commitments will you carry forward from this experience?
R5: Our Call to Work for Social Justice
“Our Lives Begin to End the Moment We Stay Silent About Things that Matter” - MLK Jr.
What did you encounter during your service learning that challenged your assumptions or opened your eyes to injustice, inequality, or bias? What experiences stirred something within you, and why? Service learning is meant to ignite us—to challenge our perspectives and invite us to see the world through a new lens. But reflection is only the beginning. How will these experiences shape the person you are becoming? What responsibility comes with your new understanding? Join us as we explore how service learning calls each of us to be advocates for social justice—not only as students, but also as future professionals and engaged citizens. Together, we will reflect on what we've learned and brainstorm meaningful ways to continue working for justice, peace, and the common good in our communities.
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