Open Arms of Minnesota

The University of St. Thomas has enjoyed a service-learning partnership with Open Arms of Minnesota since 2004. Open Arms is an organization that prepares meals for and delivers meals to people living with HIV/AIDS, MS, ALS, and breast cancer.

Each semester, faculty in disciplines as diverse as philosophy, communication studies, theology, art history, justice and peace studies, sociology, health and human performance, business, and psychology learn the content of their courses through application to the work of Open Arms. For example, students in sociological methods have developed skills in survey writing and analysis by conducting surveys for the benefit of Open Arms. Students in epidemiology learn about food-born pathogens by preparing food safety kits for distribution to new Open Arms’ clients. Students in business have applied their skills in marketing by raising funds for Open Arms’ projects in South Africa. And students in theology have learned about the theology of the Second Vatican Council and its concern for the innate dignity of the human person by delivering meals to Open Arms’ clients, and reflecting on these experiences in academic journals. 

Questions about the partnership with Open Arms? Contact:  Dr. Kimberly Vrudny.