This week of #GivingTuesday, LVC Volunteer Ashley in Omaha will lead other Volunteers in centering -- a meditative exercise to help with relaxation, focus, and contemplation. She may not have come into the program with experience centering self and others, but will leave with the ability to facilitate calm and mindfulness where she serves, for a lifetime.

"So grateful for the experience thus far with the LVC community. Meeting new people, developing lasting relationships and serving others, while striving to make the world a better place through diversity and social justice has been inspiring to say the least."

Cassie and Caleb Rollins (LVC '16) married after meeting at LVC. They both came back after becoming alumni, Caleb as staff member and Cassie as board chair.  Both moved from Volunteer lessons learned, to the real-life challenges of leadership.

Social justice in practice is hard. And rewarding, particularly when your support helps alumni like Cassie and Caleb look back and live forward. Cassie says:

"Serving with LVC changed the trajectory of my life – and not just because I met my spouse in Wellstone House! But seriously, my LVC experience shaped and continues to shape who I am in this world. It gave me foundational values for intentional living, tools to examine my positionality and privilege, and conviction to confront oppression in its various forms. I am not always the best at doing these things, but LVC taught me that internal work does not take one year; it is a lifetime commitment, and it is made all the better when done in community."