Last month, Concordia University Wisconsin students donated more than 200 backpacks stuffed with daily essentials to the Milwaukee-based nonprofit Kids Matter.
Hundreds of Concordia students from 13 psychology classes recently wrapped up a service-learning project titled “Fostering Resilience through Service.” The three-day initiative was a collaborative effort between the Psychology Department and the CUW Psychology Club.
Assistant Professor of Psychology Vittoria Sipone, PhD, and CUW Psychology Club Vice President Mikayla Dolan spearheaded the effort, which combined education, service, and faith-based reflection to benefit local children and families in crisis. Students involved learned about the realities of foster care and the struggles many children face, particularly the instability and trauma associated with frequent moves.
“The Fostering Resilience Through Service project was very close to my heart,” says Dolan, who is majoring in Psychology and Social Work at CUW. “There are thousands of children in the foster care system that have had to navigate great challenges, and many people are unaware of what a difficult process it can be for the children, their families, and their foster families.”
Learning through service
As part of the project, CUW students had the opportunity to participate in learning sessions with seven guest speakers who shared their expertise on family trauma, child welfare challenges, and mental health support for vulnerable populations. The speakers approached the subjects from varying lenses such as pastoral care, counseling, or social work.
Students then put their knowledge into action by assembling backpacks and activity bags and distributing them to local children and teens through a partnership with Milwaukee-based Kids Matter. Faculty worked to integrate the service experiences into the curriculum, reinforcing themes of trauma, resilience, and Christ-like compassion.
Bridging academic studies and real-world impact
By engaging in this service project, students connected psychological theories to practical applications, witnessing firsthand how their studies could make a meaningful impact. One tangible way students sought to make an impact was by providing backpacks filled with essentials, that could be gifted to youth in the foster care system. The donations were meant to ensure the recipients had something of their own rather than using garbage bags to transport their belongings from dwelling to dwelling—as Concordia students learned can sometimes be the case.
“A garbage bag sends the message that they are not important or that they’re seen as disposable, when they’re absolutely not,” says Dolan. “With this project, we wanted to provide backpacks specifically to show foster kids that we see them. We want them to know that they know they matter.”
With the help of a $900 grant from Concordia’s Service Learning Project committee, and through community outreach, students supplied over 200 backpacks, along with six boxes of diapers and wet wipes. They also provided kits for families to throw birthday parties, as well as books that can be read together with families even if there is physical separation. These resources allowed students to participate in a meaningful service-learning experience while making a direct impact on the lives of children in need.
Want in?
The CUW Psychology Club is one of the largest and most active student clubs at Concordia. Whether a CUW student is pursuing a major in psychology or not, they’re welcome to join the club, which gives students a chance to practice leadership roles, work as a team, and learn about the diverse and interesting field of psychology while getting involved in campus life and in the community. The group is responsible for creating and facilitating major psych-educational service events that serve the community.
Concordia also offers a variety of degrees in psychology or psychology-related fields. Explore our Department of Psychology by clicking on the link below.