As we look ahead to the McCarthy Award for Public Service next month, we celebrate how it empowers our students by honoring those who exemplify service and leadership. 

With election day approaching, I encourage everyone to exercise their civic duty by voting. Our voices shape our communities and futures. Together, we can continue to make an impact, both through our work and our participation in democracy.

Best regards,

Derick E. Brown 
Senior Director

USFVotes has been hard at work with GOTV activities to prepare the USF community for Nov. 5. Those efforts are being rewarded with the Highly Established Action Plan Seal from the All In Campus Democracy Challenge and mean that USF is recognized as being among the best in the country for building and fostering nonpartisan civic engagement. Look for the USFVotes team in the coming weeks as they create opportunities for reflection, debrief, and dialogue across campus at voter information pop-ups and tables.

We’re so excited to announce House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi as the recipient of the 2024 Award for Public Service. “Speaker Emerita and Member of Congress for the 11th District, Nancy Pelosi was a protegee of and friend to Leo T. McCarthy, so it is most fitting that she receive this award named in his honor and meant to perpetuate his example of public service,” said USF President Fr. Paul J. Fitzgerald. Join us in sponsoring a table to support our students who are preparing to become the next generation of ethical leaders. Sponsor a table »

Sixteen McCarthy Fellows in San Francisco have begun their internships with the City and County of San Francisco, supporting departments and agencies in policymaking, program administration and evaluation, and community outreach and engagement. This fall’s placements include:

Nicole Wilmot ‘25 | Department of the Environment

Alyssa Traina, Politics ‘24 | Board of Supervisor Dean Preston

Joslin Kimani, Sociology ‘25 | Department of Recreation and Parks

Diana Silva-Corral ‘25 |Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs

Alison Yang‘25 | SF Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing

Jaden Golden ‘24 | Department of Recreation and Parks

Nikaella Mariano ‘26 | SF General Hospital

Jaeda Johnson ‘26 |SF Fire Department

Cassidy Chung ‘25 | Department of Early Childhood

Isabelle Sholes ‘25 | Department of the Environment

Violet Biggs  ‘24 | Office of the Public Defender

Amina Anshasi ‘25 | SF Recreation and Parks

Emily Choto, Politics ‘25 | SF Department of Public Health

Tsolmon Magnaibayar  ‘25 | SF Planning

Kay Han ‘25 | SF Department of Public Works

The Silk Financial Literacy Initiative, funded by Trustee Jeff Silk, launched in summer 2024 as a collaborative effort between the McCarthy Center, School of Education, School of Management and the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco. This fall, it expands by adding six new student fellows and including the Tenderloin Clubhouse. The goal remains the same: advance financial freedom and economic empowerment for youth from multiply-marginalized communities through culturally relevant and critically contextualized financial literacy education in a year-round program across the city.

This month we installed a new chair for the Board of Advisors, Judson True. Judson currently serves as San Francisco's Director of Housing Delivery in the Office of Mayor London Breed.  Prior to his current role, he served as chief of staff to California State Assembly member David Chiu (D-San Francisco). Judson’s track record includes work at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. He also conducts live on-stage conversations for City Arts & Lectures.

Benjamin Getchell '25 is a politics major with an environmental science and a public service and community engagement minor. His time as McCarthy Fellow in Sacramento this summer taught him how the system of our country truly needs to hear all voices of the people. While interning for the California Department of Conservation, he describes the process of finding his role in public service among his fellow interns. This semester, Benjamin holds a spot as one of our USF in DC fellows interning at Monument Advocacy. Read Benjamin’s guest blog post»

This fall, we are welcoming middle-school students from five community partners: Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, Prince Hall Computer Learning Center, Collective Impact, Braid Mission, and Ingleside Community Center. While onsite, mentors support students in 6th through 8th grades by tutoring and assisting with homework and essays, answering higher education questions, and promoting a college-going culture amongst youth and teens. The mentors are hosting three Hilltop events. This fall, our hopes are to collaborate with USF's Nursing Simulation Center, the Kinesiology and Athletics departments, and Engage SF.

Read USF Rising Youth Mentor Koa Fong’s guest blog » 

During the 2023-24 school year, assessments for Engage Literacy tutors illustrate their work impactful and positive from partners: 67 percent rated tutors as “excellent” in building relationships with children, and 75 percent rated them as “excellent” in literacy and academic support skills.This year, the Engage Literacy program resumes its mission of supporting K-5 literacy development in San Francisco’s historically Black Western Addition, employing 33 tutors for 12 weeks per semester.

It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Leo T. McCarthy Center's Founding Director Richard Spohn passed away in late July. Richard played an instrumental role in shaping the center’s mission and impact, and his legacy will remain a guiding force for us. A native San Franciscan and graduate of St. Ignatius High School and Harvard Law School, he served as the director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs from 1976-1983. He later joined San Francisco law firm Nossaman, where he helped establish the firm’s healthcare practice. Read the official announcement »

Every Tuesday | 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
USFVotes Election 2024 Pop-Up
University Center 1st Floor

Tuesday, Nov. 5  |  9 a.m.–10 p.m.
2024 Election and Watch Party
University Center 1st Floor Atrium

Thursday, Nov. 7  |  11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
Post Election Reflection
Lone Mountain 100 - Handlery Room

Thursday, Nov. 21  |  6–8:30 p.m.
Leo T. McCarthy Award for Public Service
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
5 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, California 94111