St Ignatius College Prepatory - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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Advocacy (on, JuiUcc Why did we wake up at 5 in the morning, wait in long lines for food, and trudge across Sacramento for hours in 100 degree weather? I cannot say that I knew the answer to the question on my first day at Loaves and Fishes Homeless Survival Services. The simple answer would be solidarity or understanding how another portion of our population lives. However, our first days of Immersion were designed to actually make us feel homeless; to be freezing in the morning, blazing hot by the afternoon, tired from a lack of sleep, and uncertain of what would come of the day. The emotions and sensations we felt helped us to understand what the homeless of Sacramento need- both physically and spiritually. The experience taught us that we must be open to uncomfortable situations so that we can translate our interactions and observations into advocacy for justice. We met countless people who were willing to share their stories and views of the world, and from them we took away friendships and irreplaceable knowledge. After our days as homeless men and women, we worked in different parts of the Loaves and Fishes services including the school for children, womens' center, kitchen, and service desk. During our days working with and for others, we also had dinners by the river, played dominoes with the boys, learned to make hip-hop music and dance, and swam in Lake Natoma. We leave St. Ignatius not only with the memories of the powerful experience of solidarity, service, and advocacy, but also of the two weeks we spent together as we went from a group of individuals to a family. 1. The Sacramento Immersion Group gets together with a friend they met. 2. The Sacramento Immersion Group in front of Friendship Park. 3. Kaitlyn Hameister. Grace Buckingham. Caitlin Ng. Kelsey Krook. and Brian Yee pose for a photo. 4. Brian Ycc. Gerry Kelliher. and Ryan Spiers with their new friend. 5. Grace Buckingham. Caitlin Ng. and Brian Yee hanging out. 6. The Sacramento Immersion Group takes a walk around Friendship Park. 7. The Sacramento Immersion Group sings along in a karaoke competition. 8. The Sacramento Immersion Group takes a break and plays a game of Cranium. 21

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Nogales, a town split by a large, metal U.S.-Mexico border fence, is a center of many immigration issues. Throughout our two-week trip to this border town, we had the opportunity to not only learn about immigration, but also to get to know many migrants who have been directly affected by border issues. Upon arriving in Nogales, we took a walk along a migrant trail in the desert, and we were struck by the litter and make-shift shelters left by migrants. This set the stage for serving at the “comedor,” or soup kitchen, in Nogales, Mexico, where we heard stories of migrants who had been affected by long journeys along desert trails, similar to the migrant trail that we saw. The stories that we heard at the comedor taught us both about the border issues and about how to be present to and learn from all types of people. We'll always remember the migrant trail and the migrants we met and continue to spread the stories that we heard in Nogales. Building CouimuiCtg JPCNmo EL SASABE 1. Everyone saying goodbye on the final day at the EXPENDIO EL SASABi Comedor. 2. Samantha Schuetz and TheresJ Martin washing dishes. 3. Walking the Mexicc Desert. 4. The Nogales group getting ready tc cross the border. 5. Madrc Ingracia and the Nogales group pose for a photo. 6. Theres; Martin. Annie Dillon. Kelsey Merrigan. Samanth; Schuetz, and Ms. Shorrock at the bowling alley. 7. Alicia Martinez. Theresa Martin, and Samanth; Schuetz admiring the cactus. 8. Kelsey Merrigan Theresa Martin. Sophia Sepp. and Ms. Shorrocl enjoying the sunset. 9.The Nogales Group walk; around Sasabe. 10. Walking across the border.

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The Salinas Immersion experience is something that cannot be summed up. It was eye-opening, challenging, heartwarming, and tear-jerking two weeks. We spent time working at the most unique soup kitchen any of us had ever seen - a community of love and openness, much more than just a place to eat. We spent time in the lettuce fields with the workers watching the back breaking labor they do for an unfair wage. We spent time with the laborer's children by playing at a small labor camp where the workers and their families live. Eventually, we spent every minute of every day with these kids at camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and learned that they live with struggles we could never even imagine. For the nine days we weren't at camp, our Salinas group lived in one room, shared one bathroom, and had some of the most fun we've ever had in our lives. We reflected every night and found under the surface how challenging and different our own lives are. Salinas Immersion was everything anybody could hope for in an Immersion trip, and we can't tell you how much we’ve learned, so ask us our story. 1 1. Kelsey Bertiglia and Anastasia Reyes go for swim. 2. The Salinas group gathers for mornin prayer. 3. Anastasia Reyes. Audriana Ossenberj Liam Shorrock. and Sarah Stinn enjoy their tim at Camp St. Francis 4. Liam Shorrock. Franccsc Pucrzcr. Sarah Stinn. and Anastasia Reyes jum into their sleeping bags. 5. Amaris Applir Anastasia Reyes, and Francesca Puerzcr prcpar to serve lunch. 6. The Salinas group makes thci own t-shirts. 7. The Salinas group hangs out a Camp St. Francis. 8. Trevor Burke, Liar Shorrock, and Donald Sullivan plant flowers in th garden. 9. Anastasia Reyes. Kelsey Bertiglia. Sara Stinn. Audriana Ossenberg. Amaris Applin, an Francesca Puerzer take a break at Dorothy Place. 22