On a warm Saturday morning last spring, the nonprofit Center in Hollywood was full of activity, even though the facility is usually closed on weekends. Members of Companions in Mission from Loyola Marymount University were there for a morning of yard work and cleanup for the organization that serves people experiencing homelessness in the Hollywood area.
Over the course of the day, LMU faculty and staff learned from leaders at the center about walking alongside unhoused Angelenos and the political and social issues that shape housing insecurity in Los Angeles. Then, they got to work beautifying the outdoor space used by the center’s community, including weeding, raking, pruning, and power-washing. By the time the volunteers and staff broke for a shared lunch, the gardens and patios of the center were refreshed and ready to welcome neighbors for social gatherings, programming, and connection to resources.
This day of learning and service was just one element of the Companions in Mission program, which runs from September to April each year, but it was a highlight for Dionne Scrivens. “I love that we were putting what we learned into action,” said Scrivens, who is a senior administrative coordinator in the LMU College of Business Administration. “We can sit and talk and read all day, every day, but to actually be out there and put what we’ve learned into practice and know that we’re making a difference that’s going to help others – that was the absolute best.”
Companions in Mission accompanies a small group of faculty and staff members in deepening their understanding of LMU’s mission and identity as it relates to their experiences and roles. The program consists of roughly once-a-month weekday lunchtime gatherings during the fall and spring, as well as three weekend reflective engagements over the course of the year.
Thuy Le, assistant director for alumni engagement in Career and Professional Development, was another member of last year’s cohort. “Being new to a Jesuit environment, I wished for insight to help guide my work,” she said. “I wanted to ensure I am mindful and thoughtful of how LMU implements its mission and align myself to the greater efforts of the university.”
Through the program’s series of retreats, workshops, presentations, and group discussions, participants completed the program with greater knowledge LMU’s history and identity, as well as the fundamentals of the Jesuit, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (Marymount), and Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange traditions and how they shape our university’s community, educational goals, and orientation toward justice.
Scrivens expressed appreciation for what she learned in Companions in Mission and described her deeper understanding and appreciation for LMU’s mission, especially as it relates to how the university educates its students. “We’re educating them about how to go out into the world and be persons for others. And it’s important to know that I’m part of an organization that makes that a priority.”
“Companions helped me see the breadth and depth of LMU’s mission and how it shows up for different departments,” said Le. “I feel more confident and comfortable speaking of LMU’s mission from my time in Companions.”
All full-time faculty and staff members interested in a community of colleagues learning more about the practices and values that inform our mission are invited to apply for the 2023-24 cohort. To learn more about the program and to submit your application, visit the Companions in Mission website.
Applications will be accepted through Sept. 1, 2023. For more information or to discuss the program in more detail, contact Kat Brown, director of Mission and Identity Programs, at Katherine.Brown@lmu.edu.
