March 05, 2009
The
Vincentian tradition of service is deeply embedded within the St.
John’s community and our students continue to display a unique
compassion and commitment to assisting those most in need.
A public acknowledgment of that heartfelt commitment came from
center court at Madison Square Garden on the evening of March 3
when Robert V. Hess, Commissioner of the New York City Department
of Homeless Services (DHS) joined with James
P. Pellow, Ed.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer and Rev. James J. Maher,C.M., Vice President of Student
Affairs and Executive Director of the Vincentian Institute for
Social Action to pay tribute to the St. John’s students who
participated in the 2009 Homeless Outreach Population Estimate
(HOPE) campaign.
On January 26, 67 students and administrators met at 10pm to count
the number of homeless people living unsheltered in the areas
surrounding York College in Queens. Their participation was part of
a broad annual effort to estimate the number of people throughout
the five boroughs living unsheltered and in vulnerable
circumstances with the goal of targeting assistance to reduce
homelessness throughout New York City.
The Madison Square Garden ceremony acknowledged the unique
partnership between St. John’s and the New York City Department of
Homeless Services (DHS) which serves as a testament to the
dedication of both organizations to serve the needs of the most
vulnerable members of our community.
“It’s a wonderful cause for our students to be involved with,” said
Father Maher. “And it is an activity that is quite faithful to our
mission and helps our students gain insight into the disquieting
reality of homelessness that touches so many lives in our
city.”
The university’s initiative with DHS is coordinated under the
rubric of the newly established Vincentian Institute for Social
Action (VISA) which was created to address issues of global poverty
and social injustice.
“The strategic partnership with DHS represents a significant goal
of VISA to create opportunities for ‘action with impact’ in
addressing the needs of the most vulnerable members of our
community. We intend to build upon this relationship with the city
to partner in a number of ways to actively engage in finding real
solutions to the scourge of poverty and in making a contribution to
its eradication through scholarship, research and service,” said
Dr. Pellow.
DHS Commissioner Robert V. Hess concurs. “St. John’s University
has, once again, demonstrated a clear dedication to serving the
community,” he said. “It is a pleasure to work with such bright and
eager students, as their leadership makes a difference in the lives
of so many. As we look onward to future projects, I anticipate and
value a continued relationship with such an esteemed New York
institution grounded in faith and service.”
For more information about the Department of Homeless Services,
please visit the DHS Web site www.nyc.gov/dhs. To learn more
about VISA, please visit the Vincentian
Institute for Social Action web page.