Rite-of-Passage: Juniors Complete Kingdom Fair Service Projects

Photographer: Katie Scheibal 16

Photographer: Katie Scheibal ’16

Ryan Netter '16, Staff Writer

The Kingdom Fair Project is one of the most anticipated and exciting parts of the junior year theology class at Marymount. This project is designed to give students the opportunity to research different organizations across Los Angeles that dedicate their time and efforts to advocating a certain social justice cause. Every junior chooses to volunteer at one organization, and they become experts on the group and its methods of service. Each junior champions a cause that means something to her. Personally, I had a great experience with Kingdom Fair. Volunteering for the Salvation Army and working with veterans is something I have never had the opportunity to do before, making this a truly special experience. I also got to learn a lot about widespread problems in Los Angeles, and it really opened my eyes to the impact that my service can have. I’m so proud of all the work the juniors did, and know that they had just as great an experience as I did. Here are some organizations that juniors devoted their time to and their thoughts on the Kingdom Fair process!

Julia Burgess ’16, volunteered at the Pregnancy Help Center in Torrance, which offers aid to women before, during, and after the process of pregnancy. Whether it be offering women free ultrasounds and referrals for abortion clinics, adoption agencies, and OB/GYNs, or giving clothes and diapers to women who cannot afford it, the Pregnancy Help Center offers help to all women, no matter what their circumstance.

Amy Mora ’16 focused on another important issue: our environment. She chose to volunteer with the TreePeople organization, which helps urban cities like Los Angeles become more eco-friendly by educating the community, restoring ecosystems, and promoting greenery across the city. Amy reflected, “Overall I loved this project, and feel that it is a great experience that all Marymount girls should go through . . . it really opens your eyes to so many problems in the world, and the small things that you can do to make a difference.” Amy’s overall Kingdom Fair experience was eye opening, as she was able to see “several meaningful organizations that work towards a particular social justice issue that would not have previously crossed [her] mind.” Her favorite part of the project was doing the actual service at TreePeople because she got to work collaboratively alongside a dedicated group of people and make a difference in local environments.

So sophomores . . . get ready for an amazing project next year!