Kerri Tobin's Service Learning Class Partners With Youth Oasis
March 05, 2025
BATON ROUGE, LA - The Homelessness in Our Community class taught by Kerri Tobin, PhD, partnered with Youth Oasis, a non-profit organization that supports youth and young adults recovering from the trauma of homelessness and family separation through housing, healthcare, and advocacy. The class chose to assist the Maternity Group Home (MGH) that serves mothers ages 17-24 and their young children while they search for permanent housing. The class collected donations and contributions totaling more than $3,000 for the program.
After learning about the many types of homelessness that exist in the US, the class
chose to focus their service learning on youth homelessness, specifically young mothers
and their children. Students raised awareness of the issue at Free Speech Alley, placed
collection bins on and off campus, fundraised, and purchased necessities to keep the
children and the mothers at the MGH safe and healthy. They delivered diapers, cleaning
supplies, dishes, baby furniture, car seats, strollers, books, educational toys, clothes,
and bedding. Students also helped decorate the living space to make it welcoming for
mothers and babies.
The experience gave students a new perspective on the issue of homelessness. It was an eye-opening experience to connect with young women their age who were struggling to make it on their own with young children. Sophomore Mary Margaret LeBlanc said she was surprised to learn about these young women's lack of community support systems. “As a country, we have lost a sense of community beyond families and immediate circles. Think about how much could be prevented if we had a stronger sense of community and support for one another.”
Tobin says she “is proud of how these students rose to the occasion, not just raising money and awareness, but bringing their own compassion and critical thinking skills to a problem of such social significance. And the mothers there told me they felt seen and cared for, which is the best outcome I could have hoped for.”
Tobin’s spring semester class is continuing the partnership with Youth Oasis, this time bringing the expertise of students from the School of Education to create educational and instructional materials for the mothers and young children in the Maternity Group Home.
About the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education
A school of the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education, the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education (SOE) offers undergraduate programs for students who want to pursue a career as a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teacher or acquire dual certification in both traditional elementary and special education classrooms. In addition, SOE offers 3 graduate certificates, 17 master’s degree program areas, 9 EdS certificate programs, and 2 PhD degrees in 11 areas of focus. SOE’s focus is not only on preparing highly qualified teachers but also in preparing educational leaders, curriculum studies scholars, educational technology experts, applied researchers, higher education professionals, school counselors, and clinical mental health counselors. SOE specializes scholarly expertise regarding pressing educational and wellness issues across the entire lifespan. Visit the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education.
About the College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan. Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education website.