Tour of the 20th Ward in Chicago, IL

Students and faculty from the Community Partnership Program (CPP)at Meadville Lombard Theological School recently participated in a tour of the 20th ward on Friday, September 26, 2008. The Tour was part of the CPP's unique focus to integrate the traditional classroom learning process with praxis based learning in the community. While this alone is not new, what is new the the students are placed in community sites in their first year of matriculation. Our eight first year seminarians have been matched with non-profit organizations serving the 20th ward. In addition to working eight hours a week on site the students participate in a weekly two hour faculty led reflections group that draws on interdisciplinary texts augmented with discussion, experiential exercises, and check ins.

The tour began at 7:45 am on board a yellow school bus at 57th and S. Woodlawn Avenue, the current location of Meadville Lombard. Our first stop featured a brief stop at 62nd street and S. Ellis, the site of the future home of Meadville Lombard. Ground breaking is anticipated in 2011. The day concluded with a panel