Spirituality, Service & Social Justice

Spirituality, Service, and Social Justice provides a range of programs and resources for students who wish to explore their connections with and involvement in identities greater than themselves – both spiritually and socially. In addition to collaborating with the Community Involvement and Action Center (see entry below), University Chaplain Dave Wright and Social Justice Coordinator Kate Cohn coordinate and support a range of programs, groups, and activities that provide both support and challenge to students from all ethical perspectives and spiritual/religious traditions. Sponsored activities include: local and national speakers on issues related to social justice, spiritual and religious diversity, and contemporary ethics; supporting all student-organized religious clubs from any faith tradition; discussions and events related to activism and civil liberties; community service and civic engagement; and other student-requested programs and initiatives that the office is able to support. The chaplain is also available for spiritual support and discussion with individual students or groups, as well as for hospital visits in the case of a medical emergency. A weekly Christian chapel service with interfaith themes and a justice-oriented emphasis is offered on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. throughout the school year. We also offer growth opportunities for students from any background interested in exploring spiritual leadership through the Peer Ministry scholarship, which offers five students each year the chance to engage in leadership in worship, social justice, communications, diversity, and interfaith programs.

Additional staff leadership roles include chapel musicians, chapel assistants, and student social justice coordinator, as well as volunteer leadership opportunities with different religious life clubs and organizations. Our resources and support are available to all students, regardless of background or personal belief.

The Community Involvement and Action Center (CIAC) (253.879.3767) promotes service within the community and provides links between the university and more than 250 Tacoma-area service providers, including schools, nonprofit organizations, and families, thus guaranteeing a diverse selection of opportunities that might apply to a student’s area of interest. CIAC encourages these agencies to view service as a complement to the educational experience, providing Puget Sound students with real-time training and support required for the roles they will assume in the future.

The CIAC staff includes 11 student-staff members who coordinate the “KIDS CAN DO!” mentoring program; provide leadership for the Food Salvage Program; manage CIAC’s community outreach by overseeing the community database and publishing the monthly Service Scene newsletter; assist in the facilitation of communication between members of our campus, as well as community representatives; organize all CIAC-related events and activities; and work to create partnerships between the university and the community.

Special CIAC events include the Fall Service Awareness Fair; Winterfeast, a holiday banquet for all participants in the “KIDS CAN DO!” program; the Puget Pacer, an annual 5K walk/run that provides support to the “KIDS CAN DO!” program; and Operation S.A.V.E., a year-end clothing drive with donations supporting Tacoma Public Schools.