Photos by Patrick Clancy
On September 27, a total of 150 students, alumni, faculty, and staff gathered on campus for Citizen Katie, St. Catherine University’s annual tradition that brings the community together for service projects and reflection.
After a kick-off breakfast and short program in Rauenhorst Ballroom, St. Kate’s community members got into their service groups to collaborate with University efforts and local organizations.
Participants like Lauren Skar ’22 were eager to share their experiences: “My favorite part of Citizen Katie is volunteering with organizations that have a great mission and the direct tie to serving the St. Kate’s campus and neighborhood,” Skar said. “It’s also a great day to connect with current students, alumni, and staff members.”
“Participating in Citizen Katie is always a rewarding experience,” said Rhiannon Arkala ’18, alumna and current University staff member. “It's a great opportunity for me to live out the values and mission of St. Kate's!”
Alex Lape ’81 was another alumna who returned to campus for the event. “As a St. Kate’s social work graduate, the collective power of individual actions in a supportive environment always feeds the soul and heals the world in small ways,” Lape said.
Student Senate President Victoria Lo ’26 agreed: “Citizen Katie is a great opportunity to give back to the community. It’s about sharing collective time, energy, and effort to make a difference for great projects. The small actions that we have taken have made a difference.”
The volunteers worked on a variety of different service projects:
- One group of 56 volunteers worked with the nonprofit organization Bridging, which provides donated furniture and household goods to families and individuals who are transitioning into housing stability. The group assembled 50 dressers, all of which will be donated to households Bridging serves.
- Another group of 18 volunteers assembled menstrual kits with the Minnesota chapter of Days for Girls, an organization whose mission is to increase access to menstrual care and education around the world.
- Twenty-two volunteers created clay bowls as a part of the St. Kate’s Empty Bowls Project. The bowls will be used at a soup social later in the year where guests can donate to take home a bowl. Event profits will support Open Arms of Minnesota, an organization that provides free nutritious meals to people living with life-threatening and chronic illness.
- Fifteen volunteers also supported the Food Access Hub by tending to the St. Kate’s/CSJ community garden. Produce grown in the garden, along with other food donations, is available through the food shelf to anyone in the St. Kate’s community facing food insecurity.
- A group of 18 volunteers worked with the dialysis sweatshirt project to assemble sweatshirts that are accessible for people undergoing dialysis treatment, requiring access to the upper chest region and both arms.
- Eight volunteers headed into the neighborhood in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi to stencil environmentally educational messages on 34 street drains and distribute an impressive 215 educational door hangers around the neighborhood.
- Another 13 volunteers worked with Agate Housing and Services, creating “plarn,” plastic yarn to weave together into sleeping mats for people experiencing housing insecurity.
“I am so grateful that we had such amazing participation on Saturday,” said D’Ann Urbaniak Lesch, assistant vice president for engaged learning and employer and community partnerships, and the director of the Office of Scholarly Engagement. “And beyond the numbers, as I walked around to the service project areas, each space was alive with energy and collaborative, hardworking efforts. Citizen Katie showcases our mission and values in action!”
Citizen Katie is a collaboration between Community Work and Learning, Residence Life, Campus Life, Center for Spirituality and Social Justice, Alumni Relations, and University Events.
