Community Service / en Carrying on Dr. King's Legacy /stories/2022/carrying-dr-kings-legacy <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Carrying on Dr. King's Legacy</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-01-14T13:20:03-05:00" title="Friday, January 14, 2022 - 13:20" class="datetime">Fri, 01/14/2022 - 13:20</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Student-led story times among events honoring MLK </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2022-01-17T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">January 17, 2022</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was unafraid to fight for civil rights even in the face of fierce opposition. As the fight for racial justice continues today, 51łÔąĎÍř students are inspiring the next generation to stand up for their beliefs and to carry on King’s legacy.</p> <p>As part of the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice’s MLK event series, students will lead virtual story times for preschool and school-aged youngsters. They will read and discuss books about using one’s voice to create change.</p> <p>“These children are the future,” said <strong>Tessa Pequita</strong>, ’23, an elementary education and psychology major from New Bedford who aims to study reading in graduate school. “We have to put this seed in them young so they can inspire others and make this world a better place by standing up for what they believe is right.”</p> <p>Tessa and <strong>Chantel Almanzar</strong>, ’23, organize a recurring bedtime book club through a collaboration between BSU and the educational nonprofit Raising Multicultural Kids. They recruited peers who became role models for the youngsters as they read stories with messages of diversity and inclusion.</p> <p>“I love how it’s about multicultural kids and how we’re choosing books that represent them,” said Chantel, a <a href="/department/movement-arts-health-promotion-leisure-studies/academic-programs/health-science">health science</a> major from Lawrence who aspires to become a doctor.</p> <p>The program, which attracts children from as far away as Canada, also teaches BSU students how to engage children even through a computer screen; a skill that Chantel and Tessa may find useful in their careers.</p> <p>“A lot of our students want to be educators,” said <strong>Nicole Mitchell</strong>, ’11, G’21, senior site manager for Jumpstart, a service organization within the institute. “For those who don’t want to be a teacher, it’s still a great opportunity to serve the community.”</p> <p>The MLK-themed virtual story times are one aspect of the Martin Richard Institute's 2022 programming honoring King. The series also includes virtual discussions, film screenings and guest speakers. Also, the BSU community will gather on March 26 to make aprons for classrooms, welcome home signs for families transitioning out of homelessness, and school supply bags for kids in need.</p> <p>“We really wanted to make sure it was an accessible program for everyone in the community and adaptable so we’re still capturing the essence of Dr. King’s work,” said <strong>Laura Mulvey</strong>, G’18, assistant director at the institute.</p> <p>For more information and to register for events, visit the <a href="/center/martin-richard-institute-social-justice">Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice’s website</a>.</p> <p><em>Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-cafa08395f8" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Graphic announcing the 2022 MLK series Jan. 17-27 with an image of Martin Luther King Jr." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/MLKgraphic.png" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--129356 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-129356"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> These children are the future. We have to put this seed in them young so they can inspire others and make this world a better place by standing up for what they believe is right. </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Tessa Pequita, ’23 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/community-service" aria-label="Related stories tagged Community Service" hreflang="en">Community Service</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/racial-justice" aria-label="Related stories tagged Racial Justice" hreflang="en">Racial Justice</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 14 Jan 2022 18:20:03 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 242706 at Memory Serves /stories/2021/memory-serves <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Memory Serves</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2021-11-23T11:46:46-05:00" title="Tuesday, November 23, 2021 - 11:46" class="datetime">Tue, 11/23/2021 - 11:46</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> CafĂ© allows interns to help seniors facing dementia </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2021-11-24T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">November 24, 2021</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-carousel-gallery field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--gallery-carousel paragraph---id--127891 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="gallery carousel id-127891"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-images field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" role="presentation" aria-label="department slideshow"> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_large_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/webp" width="1200" height="583"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 1199px)" type="image/webp" width="1183" height="575"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_tablet/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/webp" width="951" height="462"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px)" type="image/webp" width="703" height="342"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_extra_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 767px)" type="image/webp" width="511" height="249"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_large_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1200" height="583"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 1199px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1183" height="575"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_tablet/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/jpeg" width="951" height="462"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px)" type="image/jpeg" width="703" height="342"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_extra_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 767px)" type="image/jpeg" width="511" height="249"> <img loading="eager" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory5.jpg?h=de836872" alt="Students and elders shake maracas."> </picture> </div> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_large_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/webp" width="1200" height="583"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 1199px)" type="image/webp" width="1183" height="575"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_tablet/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/webp" width="951" height="462"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px)" type="image/webp" width="703" height="342"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_extra_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 767px)" type="image/webp" width="511" height="249"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_large_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1200" height="583"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 1199px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1183" height="575"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_tablet/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/jpeg" width="951" height="462"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px)" type="image/jpeg" width="703" height="342"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_extra_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 767px)" type="image/jpeg" width="511" height="249"> <img loading="eager" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory4_0.jpg?h=de836872" alt="Students and elders move a large, colorful fabric together."> </picture> </div> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_large_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/webp" width="1200" height="583"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 1199px)" type="image/webp" width="1183" height="575"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_tablet/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/webp" width="951" height="462"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px)" type="image/webp" width="703" height="342"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_extra_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 767px)" type="image/webp" width="511" height="249"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_large_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1200" height="583"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 1199px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1183" height="575"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_tablet/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/jpeg" width="951" height="462"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px)" type="image/jpeg" width="703" height="342"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_extra_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 767px)" type="image/jpeg" width="511" height="249"> <img loading="eager" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory3_0.jpg?h=de836872" alt="Students and elders move a large, colorful fabric together."> </picture> </div> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_large_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/webp" width="1200" height="583"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 1199px)" type="image/webp" width="1183" height="575"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_tablet/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/webp" width="951" height="462"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px)" type="image/webp" width="703" height="342"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_extra_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 767px)" type="image/webp" width="511" height="249"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_large_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1200" height="583"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 1199px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1183" height="575"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_tablet/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/jpeg" width="951" height="462"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px)" type="image/jpeg" width="703" height="342"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_extra_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 767px)" type="image/jpeg" width="511" height="249"> <img loading="eager" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory2_0.jpg?h=de836872" alt="A student and a professor shake maracas."> </picture> </div> <div class="field__item"> <picture> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_large_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/webp" width="1200" height="583"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 1199px)" type="image/webp" width="1183" height="575"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_tablet/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/webp" width="951" height="462"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px)" type="image/webp" width="703" height="342"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_extra_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.webp?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 767px)" type="image/webp" width="511" height="249"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_large_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 1200px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1200" height="583"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_desktop/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 1199px)" type="image/jpeg" width="1183" height="575"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_tablet/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 992px)" type="image/jpeg" width="951" height="462"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (min-width: 768px)" type="image/jpeg" width="703" height="342"> <source srcset="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_extra_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.jpg?h=de836872 1x" media="all and (max-width: 767px)" type="image/jpeg" width="511" height="249"> <img loading="eager" src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/gallery_carousel_small/public/media/gallery_carousel/memory1_0.jpg?h=de836872" alt="Three students and their professor stand behind a senior center sign."> </picture> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>Alice’s CafĂ© serves up far more than pastries and orange juice. Its menu includes dancing, art, and cuddling with baby farm animals. The eclectic programming is planned by 51łÔąĎÍř interns and implemented for an important purpose.</p> <p>As a so-called memory cafĂ© held twice a month at the Bridgewater Senior Center, Alice’s CafĂ© caters to people facing cognitive changes and their caregivers.</p> <p>“A lot of people with dementia feel isolated,” said intern <strong>Rachel Birtwell</strong>, ’23, a <a href="/department/communication-sciences-and-disorders">communication sciences and disorders</a> major from Taunton. “The whole point of Alice’s CafĂ© is to reduce the stigma and get them more socially engaged. It leads to a more meaningful and stimulating life.”</p> <p>At a recent cafĂ© session, Rachel brought in a movement specialist to lead seniors through a musical exercise. BSU students joined in. Gathered in a circle, participants young and old swayed to music, shook maracas, and waved streamers. The intergenerational bonds took shape literally as everyone connected their arms to a large fabric and moved it as one in time to classical music.</p> <p>Rachel, and volunteer <strong>Maggie Walsh</strong>, ’23, said their service helped solidify their aspirations to become speech-language pathologists working with seniors.</p> <p>“It’s really fulfilling to do this,” said Maggie, who is from New Bedford. “I’ve met a group of older adults who I’ve learned a lot from.”</p> <p>Alice's CafĂ© is named for a senior citizen whose dementia progressed due to isolation and loneliness during the pandemic. Bridgewater resident Don Sweetman Sr. hopes the cafĂ© helps his wife, Elaine, who also has dementia, avoid the same problem.</p> <p>“That’s the idea – to keep her moving,” said Don, who attended a caregiver support group while Elaine visited the cafĂ©. “We have gotten so much support.”</p> <p>Thanks to the town-gown partnership behind the program, this is the first intergenerational memory cafĂ© in Massachusetts, said Emily Williams, the town’s elder affairs director.</p> <p>“It was a natural fit,” she said. “We wanted to do something for people with cognitive changes and (Professor <strong>Karen Aicher</strong>) wants her students to learn hands-on in a community-based setting.”</p> <p>Dr. Aicher, an assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, said the internship provides an immersive experience for students to work with senior citizens.</p> <p>“I really love this internship,” Rachel said. “I think it’s relevant to my career goals.”</p> <p><em>Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-35e8d46a2da" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="A student and seniors shake maracas." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/memorycafe.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--127836 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-127836"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> A lot of people with dementia feel isolated. The whole point of Alice’s CafĂ© is to reduce the stigma and get them more socially engaged. It leads to a more meaningful and stimulating life. </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Intern Rachel Birtwell, ’23 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/2765" aria-label="Related stories tagged Internships" hreflang="en">Internships</a> </div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/community-service" aria-label="Related stories tagged Community Service" hreflang="en">Community Service</a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-credit field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Photos by Charlie Peters, G'20 </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:46:46 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 242141 at Closing the Gap /stories/2020/closing-gap <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Closing the Gap</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2020-06-16T08:31:37-04:00" title="Tuesday, June 16, 2020 - 08:31" class="datetime">Tue, 06/16/2020 - 08:31</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Projects allow students and alumni to connect with local seniors </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2020-06-16T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">June 16, 2020</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>It can be easy to feel lonely while social distancing and observing stay-at-home recommendations, especially if you’re a senior citizen. But, for local elders, 51łÔąĎÍř students and recent graduates are here to forge connections.</p> <p>BSU's&nbsp;<a href="/center/martin-richard-institute-social-justice">Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice</a> is partnering with the Town of Bridgewater’s Senior Center on two intergenerational initiatives that foster safe socialization. In one, volunteers become seniors’ pen pals. The other focuses on capturing elders’ stories of their youth.</p> <p>“I know a lot of seniors are especially affected by what’s going on right now,” said participant <strong>Heather McKenna</strong>, ’20, who recently earned a <a href="/department/school-of-social-work">social work</a> degree. “Any form of community is very important.”</p> <p>BSU and town staff had discussed partnering before the pandemic hit. But, the efforts take on new importance now.</p> <p>“It really shows, even with everything going on, you can make a difference in someone’s life,” said <strong>Nick Jordan</strong>, ’20, who majored in <a href="/department/communication-studies">communication studies</a>.</p> <p>Jordan and McKenna are among more than two dozen students and alumni serving as seniors’ newest pen pals. They are also part of a smaller group of paid interns&nbsp;working on the Reunion Project, which Massachusetts photographer Lora Brody launched to record seniors’ stories. Their memories and portraits will be displayed this fall.</p> <p>“We knew our students were eager to stay connected to service and the community and give back,” said <strong>Laura Mulvey</strong>, G’18, program manager in the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice.</p> <p>Seniors are excited to share their stories, especially with young people who are eager to listen and learn from them.</p> <p>“They really do enjoy being around youth and teaching us. They enjoy sharing their wisdom,” said Emily Williams, the town’s elder affairs director. “This is great to have the two generations interact. They can learn from each other.”</p> <p>The projects are perfect for McKenna and Jordan, who during their time as students participated in service activities and trips and conducted interviews on their WBIM radio show.</p> <p>“It combines the things I loved throughout my four years at BSU,” said Jordan. “To have this opportunity to get to know all these seniors is really cool.”</p> <p>Added McKenna: “It gives me a sense of purpose as well.”</p> <p><em>Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-384fba182a0" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="A young alumna and senior citizen write letters." decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/penpalfeatured.jpeg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--85456 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-85456"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> “I know a lot of seniors are especially affected by what’s going on right now. Any form of community is very important.” </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Heather McKenna, ’20 </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/community-service" aria-label="Related stories tagged Community Service" hreflang="en">Community Service</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:31:37 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 229681 at Spreading the Word /stories/2020/spreading-word <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Spreading the Word</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang about="/users/bbensonbridgewedu" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>BBENSON@bridgew.edu</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2020-06-11T08:25:45-04:00" title="Thursday, June 11, 2020 - 08:25" class="datetime">Thu, 06/11/2020 - 08:25</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Student and faculty volunteers translate flyers on domestic violence and sexual assault </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2020-06-11T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">June 11, 2020</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>Domestic violence and sexual assault don’t stop with social distancing. Neither do efforts to support victims. And, thanks to 51łÔąĎÍř, information about those resources is available in several languages.</p> <p>Staffers in the Massachusetts House of Representatives approached BSU for help translating a flyer about hotlines and restraining orders into languages commonly spoken in immigrant communities. They worried victims would not know services remain available during the pandemic.</p> <p>“We were honored they asked Bridgewater State to do this,” said Dr. <strong>Wing-kai To</strong>, assistant provost for global engagement and senior international officer.</p> <p>Members of BSU’s diverse community completed Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese and Khmer (the official language of Cambodia) translations.</p> <p>“It shows what we can do as a campus,” said To, a Chinese native who put his own skills to use for the project. “We have good resources among faculty, staff and students who speak all these languages.”</p> <p><strong>Lyhour Sreang</strong>, an international student from Pannasastra University of Cambodia, was happy to do the Khmer translation and serve Cambodian-Americans.</p> <p>“This is my responsibility as a student to do what is better for society,” said Lyhour, who also taught the language to a BSU contingent who traveled to Cambodia.</p> <p>Faculty members <strong>Ryan LaBrozzi</strong>, <strong>Fernanda Ferreira</strong>, <strong>Castagna Lacet</strong> and <strong>Quoc Tran</strong> also provided translations.</p> <p>Thanks to their efforts, state representatives are posting the flyers on social media and in their communities. They are also displayed in package and convenience stores.</p> <p>House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, praised the effort for allowing information “to be shared widely across the commonwealth.”</p> <p>The BSU translators knows these resources are especially important in the COVID-19 era as people spend more time at home.</p> <p>“This is very meaningful for us to help and address the issues of sexual assault and domestic violence,” To said.</p> <p><em>Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-0cfdf0065ee" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="Lyhour Sreang works at a computer" decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/media/article_featured_image/translationfeatured.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial paragraph---id--84856 scroll-reveal box1 paragraph--view-mode--default" aria-label="testimonial content id-84856"> <div class="media-wrapper"> <div class="media"> <div class="media-body"> <blockquote> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> “We were honored they asked Bridgewater State to do this. ... This is very meaningful for us to help and address the issues of sexual assault and domestic violence." </div> </div> </blockquote> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Dr. Wing-kai To, assistant provost for global engagement and senior international officer </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/community-service" aria-label="Related stories tagged Community Service" hreflang="en">Community Service</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 11 Jun 2020 12:25:45 +0000 BBENSON@bridgew.edu 229266 at University Celebrates Dr. King’s Legacy /news-events/news/university-celebrates-dr-king%25E2%2580%2599s-legacy <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">University Celebrates Dr. King’s Legacy</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>Anonymous</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2020-01-09T10:35:58-05:00" title="Thursday, January 9, 2020 - 10:35" class="datetime">Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-description-v2 field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Volunteers perform community service at local sites </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <time datetime="2019-01-22T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">January 22, 2019</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> Brian Benson </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-article-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-above field__items"> <div class="field__label">Story Series</div> <div class="field__item"> News Feature </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div> <div data-embed-button="media_entity_embed" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.full" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;link_url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;link_url_target&quot;:0}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="ea76d4fc-8789-4c7c-bf9c-e3d7bed67d18" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image blazy--field-media-image--full field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-52ee403b55d" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/IMG_4713.jpeg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>Whether advocating for civil rights or the eradication of poverty, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. remained steadfast in his commitment to improve the lives of others. Members of the 51łÔąĎÍř community on Monday demonstrated that same resolve.</p> <p>“I think it’s important to acknowledge with action a person who was above all a person of action,” said&nbsp;<strong>Dr. Kelly Brotzman</strong>, executive director of BSU’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BSUInstituteforSocialJustice/">Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice</a>.</p> <p>Bridgewater State students, employees, alumni, friends and family members turned Monday’s holiday marking King’s birthday into a day of action. Volunteers tackled projects at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.giftstogive.org/">Gifts to Give</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oldcolonyymca.org/">Old Colony YMCA</a>, two Southeastern Massachusetts organizations dedicated to helping those in need.</p> <div> <div data-embed-button="media_entity_embed" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.full" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;link_url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;link_url_target&quot;:0}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="45f34fd7-63dd-4b97-978e-5db1da51e03b" class="align-right embedded-entity" data-langcode="en"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image blazy--field-media-image--full field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-9f155e5849a" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/20190121_153933_0.jpg" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>“What Martin Luther King Jr. called upon us to do was to serve each other,” said President&nbsp;<strong>Frederick W. Clark Jr</strong>. “51łÔąĎÍř’s expression of that charge was evident in multiple sites on Monday through our students, staff, alumni, and community partners trying to make a difference for the region we serve.”</p> <p>At Gifts to Give in Acushnet, volunteers sorted and inspected donated children’s clothing that will be distributed to families facing financial hardship. The organization seeks to provide children with high-quality clothing, books, toys and other items.</p> <p>Volunteers also painted two murals at the Old Colony YMCA in Brockton. One mural by the entrance featured the word “welcome” in different languages The other brightened a space downstairs at the Y, and reflects the organization’s values. Volunteers also joined local youth in taking an African dance class.</p> <p>“Remembering the strength that exists within our community is a big part of the day,” said&nbsp;<strong>Laura Mulvey</strong>, G’18, program manager at BSU’s Community Service Center.</p> <p>The work of the YMCA and Gifts to Give is critical, as many struggle to make ends meet and the region faces significant income inequality, Brotzman said.</p> <p>“If Dr. King was alive today he would be active and concerned about that level of poverty and inequality,” she said.</p> <p><em>Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email <a href="mailto:stories@bridgew.edu">stories@bridgew.edu</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide-featured field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> No </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-migrated-featured-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="ckeditor-media-class"> <div class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="blazy blazy--field blazy--field-media-image-9 blazy--field-media-image-9--image-max-470x470 field field--name-field-media-image-9 field--type-image field--label-hidden field__items" data-blazy> <div class="field__item"> <div data-b-token="b-dac2c5197bb" class="media media--blazy media--image is-b-loading"><img alt="President Clark, center, with volunteers at Gifts to Give" title="President Clark, center, with volunteers at Gifts to Give" decoding="async" class="media__element b-lazy" loading="lazy" data-src="/sites/bridgew/files/styles/max_470x470/public/IMG_4720.JPEG" src="/sites/bridgew/files/media/images/image-loading.gif"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline field__items"> <div class="field__label">Tags</div> <div class="field__item"> <a href="/tags/community-service" aria-label="Related stories tagged Community Service" hreflang="en">Community Service</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000 Anonymous 221821 at