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2024 Network Summer Service Projects in El Cajon, CA, St. Charles, MO, Omaha, NE, and New York, NY

2024 Network Summer Service Projects in El Cajon, CA, St. Charles, MO, Omaha, NE, and New York, NY
  • Upper School

Several Carrollton students participated in the Sacred Heart Network Summer Service Projects this past summer. Grounded in the Goals and Criteria, particularly Goal III, these projects are designed to provide students with immersive learning experiences that uphold the dignity of every human being and deepen their understanding of service to others.

Throughout these projects, students from the Sacred Heart Network come together to explore various social justice issues and engage with different global realities. These initiatives promote critical thinking, informed action, and civic responsibility through direct service, advocacy, and collaboration. All students and faculty members within the Network are encouraged to apply for these programs. This summer, Carrollton's Isabella Duarte-Crespo '25, Veronica Franzino '27, Grace Diez '27, Nina Heffron '27, Audrey Prabhakar '27, and Isabella Carratala '27 were selected to participate in the 2024 Network Summer Service Projects.

Featured in a previous school news story, Isabella details her and Veronica's experience at St. Madeleine Sophie's Center (SMSC) in El Cajon, California. Through innovative programs, SMSC provides adult students with intellectual and developmental disabilities with continued primary education, independent living skills, and pre-vocational training. Isabella, who has a physical disability herself and is dedicated to advocating for disability rights, was intimidated by having to navigate adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities but was surprised by how quickly she found joy and a more profound passion for raising awareness. Isabella and Veronica credit the incredible staff, uplifting environment, and robust programming for such an impactful experience at SMSC.

Grace Diez '27 traveled to Villa Duchesne in St. Charles, Missouri, to focus on and understand the realities of food insecurity and sustainability. She and her peers worked with the Red Farm to prepare food for distribution to those in need. She also had the opportunity to visit Sacred Heart landmarks, like the shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, and other landmarks, like the Gateway Arch and the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. 

Nina Heffron '27 and Audrey Prabhakar '27 spent time at Duchesne Academy in Omaha, Nebraska this summer, also focusing on agriculture and sustainability. They visited multiple farms and greenhouses, and learned how to implement sustainability in their own community. Some of their favorite activities were harvesting over 40 pounds of potatoes at Big Garden and volunteering at Open Door Mission, where they distributed goods from the food pantry. After interacting with the wider community, they enjoyed a group activity at the local flower shop where they created their own arrangements and delivered them to the nursing home.

Isabella Carratala '27 visited Convent of the Sacred Heart, 91st Street in New York City where she learned about liberation theology and Catholic social teaching. Alongside the group, she actively put Catholic social teaching into practice by engaging in service throughout the city. 

We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication and commitment to the Sacred Heart Network Summer Service Projects. Their participation exemplifies the spirit of compassion, leadership, and service that is at the heart of our Sacred Heart community. We thank Isabella, Veronica, Grace, Nina, and Audrey for representing Carrollton with such grace and integrity, and for their willingness to contribute to a more just and compassionate world. Your efforts have not only enriched your own understanding but have also strengthened the ties that bind our global Sacred Heart family. Thank you for your inspiring example!