Crossroads Holds Interfaith Community Service at Arboretum

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By Sophia Xiong
CCBP Volunteer

The Crossroads Community Engagement Center (CCEC) hosted a meeting of about 50 people as part of the Serve Better Together program at the Arboretum on November 11, 2017 to discuss community service projects.

“This is a really good opportunity for students to unite despite any differences and make a positive input in the community,” said Marcelle Peters, a senior student in journalism, vice president of Hispanic Latino Association. “I’m happy I was able to participate and meet all these great people and serve the community together.”

Serve Better Together is part of the series of Crossroads interfaith events, which are designed to unite students from different faiths and cultural backgrounds to understand each other better. Serve Better Together does this through community service and engagement projects. people from different backgrounds working as a team, students not only make new friends, but also learn different cultural and religious values from individuals.  One student with no religious affiliation said, “I always want to keep an open mind. This activity helps me to know different religions without any presumptions.”

On November 11, students served at the arboretum in the morning and came back to campus for discussion during lunch. During the lunch sections, students were seated in interfaith groups. The topic was “How do you think your faith and religious belief influence your serving in the community?” Students got a chance to share with each other in an open and friendly environment.

Serve Better Together not only provides students to make friends, but it also prepares them to help people in their future career, according to CCEC Director Lane McLelland. Lauren Curtner-Smith, a senior in the Capstone College of Nursing said, “When nurses know more about patients’ culture and religions, we can tailor a treatment plan specific to that patient to care for their physical, mental and spiritual needs. We can help our patients feel more comfortable and give them hope which helps patients feel better and heal more quickly.”