Finding Purpose in Serving the Community

In fall 2025, the Marymount Institute established the Sr. Mary Genino, RSHM, Fellowship Program. The fellowship provides financial support to enable LMU students to gain valuable professional experience at local justice-oriented community organizations offering vital social services. The program honors Sr. Mary Genino's life work and commitment to the Los Angeles community, as well as the mission of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary "to place ourselves and our resources at the service of those who are most in need of justice, especially women and children, enabling the powerless, the deprived, the marginalized, the voiceless to work effectively for their own development and liberation." The inaugural MI Genino Fellow - Jeny Anaya '28, a Sociology major and Spanish minor - has been working at South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project (SC LAMP), an organization founded by the RSHM and other congregations of women religious in the aftermath of the 1992 uprising in Los Angeles. Jeny offers the following reflection based on her first semester of work at SC LAMP.

In the fall of 2025, I had the opportunity to serve as a Sr. Mary Genino, RSHM, Fellow while interning at South Central LAMP (SC LAMP), a community-based organization dedicated to supporting families, especially mothers and children, through education, resources, and advocacy. This was my first experience working in a setting so deeply connected to community service, and while I began the semester feeling nervous, it quickly became one of the most meaningful experiences of my academic journey.

From my first day at SC LAMP, I was welcomed by a supportive and encouraging staff. I was introduced to the facility, the programs offered, and the many ways the organization serves the community. Yacqui and Jessie played an especially important role in helping me adjust to the environment. They consistently reminded me to ask questions and reassured me that learning takes time. Their encouragement helped me gain confidence and motivated me to grow both personally and professionally.

During my first few days, I felt overwhelmed by how much there was to learn. However, with guidance from staff members, I became familiar with office responsibilities such as assisting with paperwork, documenting clothing distributions, and stepping in to support others when needed. I also helped families look for supported resources that they needed.

I was asked if I would like to work with the after-school program, which I enthusiastically accepted because of my love for working with children. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I supported the after-school program. From the beginning, the children welcomed me warmly, greeting me with smiles, drawings, and kind gestures that truly touched me. Although learning all their names was challenging at first, with time and support from my coworkers and Teacher Maria, I became more comfortable in the classroom environment and more confident in my role working with the kids.

I want to sincerely thank Professor Elizabeth Drummond, the Marymount Institute, and everyone who made this opportunity possible. Being part of SC LAMP through the Sr. Mary Genino, RSHM, Fellowship has been an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life. This experience is helping me grow not only professionally, but also personally, by giving me confidence, purpose, and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to serve a community. I am incredibly grateful for the trust, guidance, and support I received throughout the semester. My time at SC LAMP is something I deeply enjoyed and will always remember as a meaningful and formative part of my journey.