• To give students the opportunity to experience Chicago's diverse populations and needs through an extended urban service experience that provides reliable, consistent assistance from the Loyola community.
• To provide the opportunity for students to reflect on their experience, analyze the social systems impacting the lives of the people they work with, and foster a commitment to creating a more just society.

Service with reflection is the best and most direct way that students begin to fulfill the Jesuit educational goal of becoming “persons for others.” Working among the marginalized raises the universal questions of life's meaning and purpose. More than anything, an openness to grappling with the questions that consistent volunteer service inevitably raises is a must.

Monthly reflections organized by the student leaders consist of informal gatherings among individual groups that are an opportunity to build an understanding of the work. Any forum that provides opportunity for discussion and fun is welcome and encouraged. A few gatherings each year bring all the Loyola4Chicago groups together and share their experiences through a relaxing, supportive environment that is bound to foster relationships and present continued opportunities to become involved with working for justice through service.

Signing up for Loyola4Chicago means you are committing to serve at the same time and same place every week while classes are in session. This is an important commitment to make to our community partners. Making that commitment and not following through adversely affects the individuals we serve, the community partners we work with, and the relationship between Loyola and those partners. We ask that you only sign up for Loyola4Chicago if you are willing to make that commitment for at least one semester.

Additionally, you commit to monthly reflection sessions with your volunteer team. These conversations help us to learn about our community and ourselves through the lens of our shared service experiences.

All times include travel to and from the volunteer site. 

Please note that you are committing to one instance of volunteering, not all. For example, you can volunteer with Jordan Community School on Tuesday *or* Wednesday. You would not volunteer both days.