Serving from the Heart LLC

Psychology & Community Engagement

Serving from the Heart connects students who are committed to learning about social justice and engaging in meaningful community advocacy. Working closely with faculty, community leaders and peers, students explore issues of inequality and justice within the local Bridgeport community and beyond. This Living & Learning Community encourages students to connect personal experiences to larger social systems while developing a deeper understanding of responsibility, dignity and the common good. Through dialogue, service-learning and mentorship, students move beyond awareness toward thoughtful, ethical action.

Serving from the Heart LLC Experience

Students examine how social, economic and structural inequities impact individuals and communities while reflecting on their values, identities and roles as engaged citizens.

Through this program, you’ll explore:

• Systems of inequality and social justice
• Local and community-based social challenges
• Advocacy, ethical leadership and civic responsibility
• Connections between personal values and public action

What you’ll experience:

• Service-learning experiences and partnerships with local community organizations such as Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Nourish Bridgeport, mental health and advocacy groups and immigrant and refugee support agencies
• Faculty-led discussions and engagement with guest speakers involved in social justice research and advocacy
• Participation in campus initiatives such as Social Justice Week
• Ongoing mentorship from co-leaders supporting academic success and reflective growth
• Structured reflection connecting service experiences to systems change and community impact

Through hands-on engagement and guided reflection, students develop practical strategies for advocacy and social change while strengthening leadership, empathy and collaboration skills. Serving from the Heart supports Sacred Heart University’s mission by fostering responsible citizenship, compassion and a sustained commitment to justice—on campus and in the wider world.

Is Serving from the Heart Right for You?

This community may be a great fit if you:

• Care deeply about social justice and equity
• Want to engage directly with community partners
• Are interested in advocacy and ethical leadership
• Hope to turn awareness into meaningful action
• Value reflection, dialogue and community engagement

We are looking for students who are enthusiastic and excited to join the LLC program.

Cost

$350/semester

Housing Information

Students may request a roommate; however, all residents of the Serving from the Heart LLC must apply and be individually accepted into the program. Room assignments are determined by the housing staff, and requested roommates must also qualify for and be accepted into the Serving from the Heart LLC.

How to Apply

Students must complete the online application by June 11, 2026. In addition to the application, students must complete the University Housing Application.

More Information

Lisa Smith, Psy.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor
smithl13@sacredheart.edu

Arlete Perez Paez
Assistant Director of Community Engagement
perezpaeza@sacredheart.edu

For more information on housing, contact:

Greg Madrid
Executive Director of Residential Life
madridg@sacredheart.edu