Loyola University Community Action Program not only provides a gateway for service, but also gives students the opportunity to create and lead their own service projects.

“This is the first semester we’ve ever made an actual process to get this done,” said Chad Carson, sociology junior and LUCAP chairperson of public relations.

In order to create a service project through LUCAP, a student meets with a chairperson, completes the appropriate paperwork, explains how the project meshes with LUCAP’s mission and how it will benefit Loyola and the community and writes a budget.

Then, the project is on a trial basis for a semester to monitor its success. The new projects receive basic support – transportation, public relations and advertising to draw volunteer participation – during the trial phase, equal to services provided to other LUCAP projects, said Carson.

LUCAP executive board members vote whether they want to adopt the new programs at the end of the semester.

“The most important thing is just being in a community of people who are committed to doing service and having that support network,” Carson said. “Because I’m sure with all projects things don’t always go right, and you just need someone to talk to, to tell you how to work through it, and I think LUCAP is that support network.”

No individually created service projects succeeded in absence of a formally-developed process, according to Carson. He cited “Voice to the Voiceless,” a social justice newsletter, as one of the projects that failed.

“I guess it hadn’t been thought out all the way, so we’re making sure that happens now,” Carson said.

One project in LUCAP’s trial phase provides recreational therapy services to individuals with spinal cord injuries at Touro Hospital. Another project in the formative stages pertains to animal rights, working with Animal Rescue New Orleans.

“LUCAP is about following your passion and using it for service and getting others involved,” said Kathleen Warner, LUCAP chairperson and Spanish and Latin American studies senior.

University Mission and Ministry funds LUCAP. Finding funds to support a project has never been an issue, Carson said.

“Our budget is always tight, but we can always reprioritize and find out what the most important needs of the community are and focus on those things,” he said.

Allison Sickle can be reached at [email protected].