Tufts University
09/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/25/2024 13:49
Second Annual Day of Service Brings Community Together
On September 20, more than 250 Tufts students, faculty, staff, and alumni participated in the university's annual Tufts Day of Service. Volunteers divided into teams to cover six different service sites located throughout Tufts' host cities of Medford and Somerville. This year's event built upon the successful community cleanup held as part of President Sunil Kumar's inauguration last year.
For 2024, the Day of Service expanded to include two additional community partner service sites, Medford High School and the Somerville Council on Aging. The event, co-sponsored by Tufts Government and Community Relations, Tisch College of Civic Life, and the Leonard Carmichael Society, attracted volunteers from across Tufts. Service activities included the painting of two rooms at Medford High School, partnering with senior citizens on an arts and crafts project at the Somerville Council on Aging, and picking up trash in Medford and Somerville business districts and residential neighborhoods.
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Photo: Alonso Nichols
President Sunil Kumar addresses the volunteers at the kickoff for the university's second annual Day of Service. The president emphasized the need for Tufts community members to continue to seek ways to partner with campus neighbors and local nonprofits located in Tufts' host communities.
Photo: Alonso Nichols
A group of Tufts volunteers, including the two students pictured, spent the afternoon painting two spaces at Medford High School: the orchestra room as well as an area that will be used as a quiet cafeteria.
Photo: Alonso Nichols
Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne (left) and Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn showing off their Day of Service t-shirts at the kickoff event in Breed Hall on the Medford/Somerville campus.
Photo: Alonso Nichols
A Tufts student and a Somerville resident share an arts-and-crafts project at the Somerville Council on Aging. The Tufts volunteers and the seniors had the opportunity to share information about their backgrounds and identify common interests while decorating some flower pots.
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"Service days are an important entry point for many to begin their pathway to robust and livelong civic engagement, but they are also an opportunity for collaboration and listening," said Dayna Cunningham, Omidyar Dean of the Tisch College of Civic Life. "We are grateful to our neighbors and partners in Medford and Somerville for working with us to ensure volunteers addressed the needs and concerns of our communities."
At the event's kickoff, President Kumar addressed those assembled, touching on the importance of Tufts community members making a positive impact in their communities. He emphasized the responsibility of Tufts to continue to seek ways to partner with our neighbors and local nonprofits.
Joining President Kumar were Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, both of whom thanked the volunteers for their involvement before those who were gathered fanned out to the various service sites in Medford and Somerville neighborhoods.
"Our Tufts students, faculty, and staff are proud to live, learn, and work in the cities of Medford and Somerville and are committed to supporting our neighbors and local community partners," said Rocco DiRico, executive director of Tufts' office of Government and Community Relations.
"From Medford's Hillside neighborhood to Somerville's Davis Square, volunteers spent the afternoon picking up litter, painting classrooms, spending time with seniors, and beautifying local streets," said DiRico. "Participants have already expressed that they want to cover even more ground next year."