Founded in 1988 and inspired by Catholic Social Teaching, The Center for Social Concerns empowers students to make community service, education for peace and justice, and civic engagement for social change an integral part of Gannon education.
Alternative Break Service Trips
Alternative Break Service Trips take students to two developing countries and three North American locations for one week of service and mutual cultural exchange over spring and summer breaks. The trips are based on four pillars: service, simplicity, community, and reflection and are co-led by students and staff.
Advocacy and Awareness
Take Back the Night
This annual rally against sexual assault and domestic violence, is held every spring in cooperation with the Gannon Counseling Center, SafeNet Domestic Violence Safety Network, the Erie County District Attorney's Office, and the Crime Victims Center.
Hunger and Homelessness Week
This is an entire week devoted in November to raising awareness about hunger and homelessness issues at the local, state, national, and international level. Past projects have included lectures from homelessness speaking bureaus, an overnight service retreat, a Thanksgiving food basket project for refugees, poverty simulations, philanthropy events, and advocacy actions.
Community Service
GIVE Day and Day of Caring
GIVE Day and Day of Caring are annual, one-time service events that draw hundreds of students to meet neighborhood needs and help support the Erie-GAINS project.
Tutoring and Mentoring Program
Gannon students go every Friday from 2:30-5:00pm during the school year to help serve a hot meal and provide enrichment activities at Sr. Gus’s Kid’s Café. In addition, Gannon student groups regularly tutor and mentor at the Neighborhood Art House and the Martin Luther King, Center. Students can also choose to enroll in the Community Fellows program to receive work study funds and AmeriCorps benefits while increasing access to college for children and youth living in poverty.
Post-Graduate Service
Post-graduate service opportunities are advertised, encouraged and celebrated in collaboration with Campus Ministry and Service-Learning. Some Gannon graduates have recently chosen placements with the following agencies: