About Me, Casey Berna

In high school, I was exposed to community service and could not look at the world the same again. Majoring in social work, religious studies and completing a concentration in peace and justice studies taught me about the great people in the past who have fought for peace and justice. Amazing classes like, Liberation Theology and Martin Luther King Jr. Vs Malcolm X, had a profound impact on my view of the world. What impacted me most, was the service opportunities to places like Tijuana, Calcutta, and West Virginia, learning about the issues of poverty and justice first hand.
I learned many things from these experiences. I learned that to truly help people, you have to empower them, be empowered by them, and work along side of them, hand in hand. I was humbled by the beauty of the cultures, religions, and spirits of the people who I met all over the world. I learned to appreciate things in life that I once took for granted, like running water and the opportunity to be educated. I also learned that in every service experience, a piece of me grew, I became more self-aware, more confident in who I was as a person, even though many of these trips left me feeling less confident in the political and social structures around me that left so many without the basic necessities of life.
After completing a five year program for my Masters in Social Work, I started doing counseling at a high school. Participating in service projects with these kids, cemented my belief that no matter what a kid was struggling with personally, getting out and doing service work, made a huge impact on their life for the better. I felt I was exposing them to a “high” that they weren’t previously aware of! With the help of the Campus Ministry staff, I went on to establish the LOVE Program at Manhattan College, a program that organizes service learning trips for college students on their breaks. I again witnessed that transformation that occurred with each individual as they were exposed to the struggles and heartaches of their fellow human beings.
I am now a stay at home mom with my little girl, Annie. We watch many children’s programs that teach her to count, say the alphabet, learn colors, and shapes. All of these things are crucial to her survival in today’s world. What is crucial for the survival of the world, is for Annie to be a kind and compassionate human being. To be aware of the environmental issues, that may only be worse as she gets to be an adult, is imperative. Only through service, social action and a sense of thoughtfulness to our fellow human beings and our earth, can Annie meet the global challenges that she will face. My hope is that a television special like Lend A Hand Project can plant a seed that will encourage Annie to be a thoughtful citizen in the future.