"I was taught that the world had a lot of problems; that I could struggle and change them; that intellectual and material gifts brought the privilege and responsibility of sharing with others less fortunate; and that service is the rent each of us pay for a living...the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time or after you have reached your personal goals."    
-Marian Wright Edelman

History:The Feinstein Institute for Public Service was established in 1993 when Providence  College was named the recipient of a $5 million grant from Rhode Island philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein to develop an innovative academic program that would educate community leaders by integrating community service with academic study. At the core of the Institute is the  major and  minor in Public and Community Service Studies.

Mission: Through a process of focused conversations and deep reflection, the Feinstein Institute for Public Service works collaboratively to increase an understanding of and promote positive, sustainable social and economic change through community building.
 
The Institute’s mission of service flows from the understanding of the Judeao-Christian heritage that all human beings as sons and daughters of the living God are called to serve one another.  It is built upon the unique Catholic tradition of the Dominican Order, which calls upon all persons to bear witness to the human and social dimensions of their religious faith as expressed in the Mission Statement of Providence College, and Alan Shawn Feinstein’s dream of compassionate service.
 

Objectives: In order to achieve this mission, the Feinstein Institute embraces an ethic of servant leadership and is committed to pursuing the following objectives:

Campus Objectives
• House, support, and encourage the growth of the Department of Public and Community Service Studies and the Global Studies Program
• Provide service learning opportunities for students in academic courses and extracurricular involvement
• Support individual faculty and departments interested in incorporating service learning into their courses and/or curriculum

Community Objectives
• Develop long-term “core” community-based partnerships
• Provide core partners with reflection-based assessment
• Focus on youth development initiatives
• Focus on the principles and practice of nonviolence as a way to build democratic community
• Offer reflection-based development opportunities for community leaders, students, and alumni
 
The Feinstein Institute offers opportunities to students from all academic disciplines and all class years to get involved with their community.