Post-ACE Service

The ACE staff works hard to facilitate the transition from life in ACE to the post-ACE world, and actively seeks out opportunities for graduating ACE members to continue a life of service, both in America and abroad. Recent ACE graduates have gone on to serve in such diverse locales as Thailand, Australia, Chile, East Africa, Northern Ireland, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and East Timor. In 1999, ACE established a community of ACE graduates in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where four former ACE members taught English for a year. As well, ACE is currently working to provide post-ACE international service opportunities by continuing in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and establishing new post-ACE communities in Santiago, Chile; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

On-Going Professional Support

In addition to assisting graduates seeking to serve the poor around the world, ACE provides resources for its graduates in many practical ways. ACE is currently developing a new on-line Alumni Network, which will provide job listings in service and education to ACE graduates; will house a lesson plan database which will serve as an enormous resource for graduates who remain in teaching; and will connect ACE graduates by providing such services as an on-line directory and chat forums for ACE alumni.

On-Going Communal and Spiritual Support

To help graduates as they continue to grow and develop in faith beyond the context of the small Christian communities of ACE, Notre Dame has launched the Post-ACE Spirituality Initiative, which is manifest in annual retreats held specifically for ACE graduates on the Notre Dame campus. Participants receive subsidized travel expenses, along with room and board in order to gather once again as a community with a shared experience. In the future, ACE plans to coordinate regional retreats for graduates as well, offering graduates in cities like Boston, Portland, and Atlanta opportunities for gathering and for continuing to explore and deepen their faith in the context of the larger ACE alumni community.

Visit our new page For ACEr's & Alumni