Grace Scartz
Grace Scartz is a senior studying global affairs and Arabic. She is also co-chair of NDVotes, a student-led organization that encourages voter education and participation.
“ We do so much because we think it is the right thing to do, but I have found that I can offer the most to others when I am doing something I truly enjoy for its own sake."
You are a volunteer at the Robinson Community Learning Center, working with the elementary literacy program there. How do you see that work helping to build the kind of community you want to see?
I value the chance to connect the ND community to the larger South Bend community as I think both have a much to learn from and offer each other. I see tutoring as a way to build connections and work with students through struggles, forming authentic relationships across boundaries.
You participated in Study Abroad with the School for International Training, with a focus on human rights and multiculturalism. Where did you go, and what was that experience like?
I studied in Morocco and learned about human rights in this context. I also had the chance to intern with an NGO to teach English, which taught me about communication and the sociopolitical influences of language. I learned so much from the people I met in Morocco and I am grateful for the chance to learn about the universality of justice and human rights across very different communities.
As a research assistant at the Center for the Study of Religion and Society, you study how religion interacts with social movements and political action. What lessons have been most interesting to you?
I have enjoyed getting to look closely at communities, especially in Chicago, and see the unifying power of religion at work. A single congregation can have such a large impact of people and what they decide to get involved with or care about in society.
You are now co-chair of ND Votes. What are the group’s goals, and how do you see them relating to the goals of the Klau Institute?
Our goal is to increase civic engagement among students. We focus most on helping people register to vote and raising awareness, in a nonpartisan way, of the importance of voting. This relates to the Klau Institute's emphasis on human rights because voting helps all people find a voice and speak for what they believe in, ensuring rights for diverse groups and needs in society.
What advice would you give Notre Dame students who want to make a difference in their community, their country, or the world?
I would advise Notre Dame students to focus on relationships and serve in a way that truly brings you joy. We do so much because we think it is the right thing to do, but I have found that I can offer the most to others when I am doing something I truly enjoy for its own sake.