A community is a society of people bound together by commonalities, trust and camaraderie. In community, one can discover support, a sense of belonging and a home.

Coming to Creighton, I immediately found a home. I was part of the Creighton community, my dorm community, and the Omaha community. I fully engaged in my Creighton home by going to class, participating in events, and talking with fellow students. Even still, I remained removed from the greater Omaha community.

This changed when I began volunteering weekly with Families in Action Omaha, an outreach program dedicated to promoting healthy families and communities. Through this volunteer opportunity, I have been able to interact with community members and have become more involved in the Omaha community.

The mission of Families in Action is to promote health of the body, mind and spirit with the congreations and groups of people they strive to serve. The organization anticipates growth and provides resources to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

A large part of the mission for this organization is providing a role model to the children who utilize its services. They highlight the important role of women and families

in society.

Families in Action has created a platform from which I have been able to develop relationships with community members of predominantly Latino heritage. Though assisting with childcare during weekly Zumba classes and lending a hand during mobile health clinics, I have seen a side of Omaha I would never  have witnessed had I remained confined within the boundaries of Creighton.

As a result of the relationships formed through Families in Action, I have learned about many of the positive attributes of Omaha, while also discovering several of the problems the population faces. I now have a stake in the community and a desire to make it the best place it can be, not only for myself, but also for my new friends and mentors. 

Families in Action is just one example of a volunteer opportunity beyond Creighton’s campus. Countless service sites are easily accessible through sororities, fraternities or the Creighton Center for Service and Justice. Many of these Creighton groups provide transportation to and from the sites, allowing any student to become engaged with the

Omaha community. 

Not only does participating in service activities enhance involvement in the Omaha community, it also provides helpful job training and introduces passions that may be a guiding factor in future decision-making.

Omaha has an extremely diverse and vibrant population. Getting to know the people who make up the community via service is a great way to augment the social and educational Creighton experience. After developing a stronger tie with the others, I can now proudly call this place my home. 

Families in action