If you ever swing by a Habitat Wake construction site and see the Cardinal Gibbons High School bus parked nearby, you're in for something special. Sure, there's a bit more goofy energy going around than usual (Picture: 30 high school seniors at 9am in hardhats). But there's also something special happening here: young adults are laying the foundation for a lifetime of service and community engagement.
“Service is a huge part of our mission at Gibbons, and this is one way to live that out,” says Windi, the community outreach coordinator at Cardinal Gibbons. The school’s approach to service is unique. Students participate in weekly volunteer efforts across the community during school hours.
“I love it,” Windi says. “This is the first school I’ve worked in where we actually go out during the school day. I was really impressed by that. It’s basically part of the curriculum. Faith, service, and leadership are part of our mission, and it’s really lived out here. Making service a part of the school day is just as important as going to math class.”
The partnership between Habitat Wake and Cardinal Gibbons has been going strong for more than a decade.
This fall, Habitat Wake is participating in the Pope Leo Campaign, a multi-city initiative honoring Pope Leo and encouraging young adults to engage in community service. When Habitat Wake joined the project, it was clear that the long-standing relationship with Cardinal Gibbons exemplified the kind of youth engagement the initiative celebrates.
“A big part of the Catholic faith is Catholic social teaching,” Windi explains. “Pope Leo talks a lot about this. Faith, prayer, and worship are extremely important, but so are service and social justice. That hands-on piece is really important to us.”
And how do the students respond to the experience?
“I find that students are hungry for volunteer work,” Windi says. “They want personal connection and the feeling that they’re empowered to help their communities. It really goes beyond high school. It carries into college and beyond. It’s about getting them out there and fostering that spirit of service.”
We’re so grateful for our long-standing partnership with Cardinal Gibbons. Their students bring energy, dedication, and open hearts to our build sites each week. We hope each student who volunteers with us leaves with a deeper understanding of housing in this community and a path towards lifelong service.