—By Maria Iacobo
Students in the Class of 2011 took part in one of USC Law’s fundamental programs last week when they participated in the Fourth Annual Orientation Service
Project, co-sponsored by the Office of Public Service (OPS) and Community Service Affairs Committee (CSAC), a student-led organization.
In previous years, students have painted murals in local elementary school classrooms, worked with nearby Challengers Boys and Girls Club and cleaned up the L.A. River.
This year, students had two projects to choose from: community mapping with Strategic Action for a Just Economy (SAJE) and spending an afternoon with youth at “A Place Called Home,” a local holistic community center for children and teenagers.
“These projects have a multi-layered purpose,” said Dean Lisa Mead, Director of OPS. “They help students get to know each other as well as get to know their new community.”
With lunch catered by a restaurant in the nearby La Paloma Mercado, students also became acquainted with a local off-campus resource for tasty ethnic food.
David Robinson, Director of Action Research for SAJE, took a group of students to the Mercado, describing it as a “business incubator” and one of the better examples of a development that has improved the community. About 22 students explored the neighborhoods just east of the USC campus, photographing some of the blighted and improved areas in the neighborhood. They noticed there were fewer trees and 
considerable graffiti farther away from campus. Students learned of private developers’ and USC’s growing impact on the community as new high-rise luxury housing, student housing and campus development move east and north.
Ben Beach, an attorney with the Community Benefits Law Center, helped students understand the connection and intersection among urban planning, SAJE’s work and the law, including negotiating community benefits agreements, winning inclusion of affordable housing in market-rate projects, negotiating and enforcing local hiring and living wage requirements, and strengthening local redevelopment and planning policy to encourage affordable housing development.
“Participating in the orientation service project with SAJE not only taught me more about the neighborhood around USC, but also the ways I can be a contributing member of the greater community during my time at law school,” said Alison Gomer. “SAJE is such a positive force in the area, and it was exciting to think about the ways I could use the skills I'll be learning at USC Law to contribute to the organization's work. I met great people, both my new classmates and community members, and I'm looking forward to staying connected with them in the years ahead.”
Eighteen students spent part of the day at “A Place Called Home,” (APCH) a non-profit youth center located in South Central Los Angeles. APCH provides educational programs, recreational programs and music, dance and art classes to at-risk youth. The center encourages youths to achieve a better sense of themselves, develop their talents and pursue their educational goals. The 1Ls played soccer, instructed students on basic computer software programs, participated in dance and knitting classes, and led jam sessions with aspiring musicians.
“It was an absolutely fantastic day,” said Kim Bui, CSAC co-chair. “Everyone had an amazing time at ‘A Place Called Home.’ As we were leaving, the recreations director, Jeremiah, told us that we were the BEST volunteers they had ever had. It was extremely flattering!”
The experience had a positive impact on the new students; several indicated they were interested in returning for additional volunteer hours at the center.
"It was amazing to see how open the kids were, how full of wonder," said Samuel Shnider. "They were very eager to connect and to learn from us on all levels. Also, since I am new to the West Coast, it was really important for me to get some understanding of what it is like to grow up in a neighborhood with gang members, and what opportunities there are to help."
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