Mercer Law School partners with United Way and Brookdale Resource Center

For the second consecutive year, Mercer Law faculty, staff and students gathered to take a stand against homelessness in the community through a compelling service-learning project organized by United Way of Central Georgia and Mercer Law. On August 14, 2024, from 9 to 11 am, about 60% of the incoming 1L class devoted their time and efforts to the Brookdale Resource Center by working in the garden, weeding, harvesting, digging trenches and composting.

The service-learning project, which coincided with Orientation Day, saw Mercer Law faculty, staff and students actively engage in diverse activities at Brookdale. This immersive experience granted invaluable insights into the center’s operations, the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness and the strides being taken to combat this pressing social issue.

Mercer Law and United Way of Central Georgia also partnered with Keeping Macon-Bibb Beautiful to beautify the surroundings of the Brookdale Resource Center, further underscoring their collective commitment to making a positive impact in the community.

Preparing for the practice of law goes beyond what happens in the classroom. It includes becoming an engaged leader in the community. Mercer Law School has a long tradition of producing lawyers who are ready to practice and are committed to serve. According to Dean Karen J. Sneddon, “Our students, under appropriate supervision, participate in externships and clinics that promote access to legal services. Our student organizations raise funds and directly support a number of organizations in Middle Georgia. We are intentional about incorporating a service-learning event into orientation to promote community engagement from the first day of law school. The service-learning event is just one of many ways in which the students will make an impact in the community.”

The Brookdale Resource Center, a pioneering initiative in partnership with Macon-Bibb and United Way, has been a driving force in combating homelessness in the region. By offering a comprehensive 90-day program that provides transitional housing and essential support services, the center has made a significant impact on the lives of numerous families and individuals in need.

Among the remarkable features of the Brookdale Resource Center is the Gardens at Brookdale, a flourishing project that has yielded impressive results. In 2023, the garden contributed more than 4,230 pounds of fresh produce to the center’s kitchen, which serves as a vital source of nourishment for those experiencing homelessness and supporting the center’s mission. So far in 2024, the garden has produced more than 2,500 pounds of fresh produce and is on track to out-produce last year’s harvest.

First year law student and participant in the service project Kennedy Wright believes there is an immense need to give back and serve others in the community. Before coming to law school, she served AmeriCorps as a gardener at United Way’s community garden and at a homeless shelter for young adults in her hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. Having this experience, she was impressed to see how organized Brookdale Resource Center and the Gardens at Brookdale are.

“The compassion and dedication of the staff at Brookdale is truly inspiring. They approach each day with a commitment to help others, despite the often challenging and heartbreaking nature of the work. What impressed me most about the Brookdale Resource Center was its focus on empowering individuals to become self-sufficient. At the end of the day, we are all human beings who deserve dignity and respect. It’s important to remember that the line between having a home and being unhoused can be as thin as one bad day.”

Wright said one of the main reasons she chose to attend Mercer Law is the school’s commitment to graduate lawyers who practice with purpose. “This aligns perfectly with my own aspirations to pursue a legal career that makes a meaningful difference. I do plan on reaching out to the Brookdale Resource Center about volunteer opportunities. I am so thankful Mercer introduced me to such a wonderful organization.”