CENTER FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT NEWSLETTER | SPRING 2023
became involved in political advocacy and went to the State House with students and coalition members and spoke with state-wide elected officials, city counselors, and asked them to support the Hunger Free Campus Initiative (S.835/H1293). Senator Lovely’s amendment for the Hunger Free Campus Initiative was adopted at $1 million with bipartisan support. This is a huge victory for the coalition, and we are eagerly awaiting its inclusion in the FY24 budget.
As the academic year comes to a close, the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) has learned that one of our closest allies and fiercest Salem State student advocates, Ronnette Wongus (Ronni) is relocating to be close to her children. In her honor we are sharing her Salem State advocacy journey.
This semester Salem State witnessed an increased concern in addressing our students’ most basic needs.
The SSU Hunger Free Campus Coalition, a student-led coalition of faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners, worked diligently all year to develop solutions to address campus hunger. Ronni, an active coalition member was moved to go beyond the work of the coalition and inspire others to give in ways they haven’t before. As Ronni tells her story she was called to become involved in food justice work. When she asked God what she could do to make a difference? He said “ASK!” and that is how her advocacy journey began.
As a member of the SSU Hunger Free Campus Coalition, Ronni firmly believed that she could make a difference for students struggling with food insecurity and immediately went to work. Ronni developed a food drive and asked faculty to donate to the campus food pantry. She received over three boxes of donations. Ronni also
After attending the State House Lobby Day Ronni had a renewed energy and once again said, “Let me get to work.” This time she spoke with four department chairs and a dean on campus. As she went to each chair to ask for a donation to SSU’s food pantry, she knew there was a possibility that they would say no, but that fear did not stop her. Ronni asked and all four departments said “YES.” This inspired Ronni to find a solution on how to advertise the food pantry to make it more accessible. She spoke with Brian Alves, Associate Professor of Art and Design, who supervised a student designer to develop marketing for the pantry.
After all donations were made, Ronni raised over $1000. Due to Ronni’s advocacy SSU’s Student Wellness Case Manager, Susan Berube said that there is enough food for Summer and Fall of 2023. The efforts led by Ronni made this achievement possible.
The CCE is grateful for Ronni’s infinite passion and advocacy for supporting our students. As she embarks on her new journey may we be inspired by Ronni’s advocacy and ask ourselves the same question that guided Ronni. What can we do to make a difference? How can we use our unique gifts to find solutions to our community’s most pressing challenges? Ronnie, good luck on your upcoming adventure – your new community is very lucky.
- Kate Adams, Assistant DirectorADVOCACY MONTH
This year’s Advocacy Month theme was Youth to Power: Watch Us Rise. The month included roughly 20 workshops and events hosted by departments across the university to bring campus and community members together to learn important activist skills and explore social justice topics. Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio kicked off the month as our keynote speaker. She shared her journey to public service and her compelling story of speaking truth to power. Throughout the month we explored issues such as reproductive justice, homelessness, food insecurity, mental health, LGBTQ+ advocacy, fast fashion, climate justice, racial justice, community organizing and understanding power.
CIVIC FELLOW ADVOCACY
CIVIC DINNER SERIES
The Civic Dinner Series provides students the opportunity to network and learn from local advocates while fostering community and belonging at SSU. This spring our dinners focused on criminal justice reform and reproductive justice. During the dinner focused on criminal justice reform, students engaged with leaders from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Roca Inc., Black & Pink Massachusetts, and the Office of District Attorney Paul Tucker. Our Reproductive Justice advocates were from Planned Parenthood Boston, Free the Pill, Reproductive Equity Now, Heath Q Beverly, and Salem State’s Health Services. Each dinner ended with participants reflecting on what was learned and how they plan to continue to advocate for these important issues.
The Civic Fellows engaged in multiple advocacy initiatives during the academic year which focused on campus hunger, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and reproductive justice. The campus hunger advocacy was accomplished through their leadership in the SSU Hunger Free Campus Coalition. The LGBTQ+ Committee created, distributed, and analyzed a survey about LGBTQ+ students’ experience at Salem State. They also educated the community on Bill S.2207, which seeks to codify the non-binary option on driver’s licenses into law. The Reproductive Justice Committee created, distributed, and analyzed a survey to determine if Salem State students were aware of the reproductive and personal health resources available through SSU Health Services. The fellows then provided recommendations of health resources to promote and marketing strategies to reach students.
CIVICS PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP WITH COLLINS MIDDLE SCHOOL
This year the CCE developed a partnership with the Collins Middle School 8th Grade Civics Pilot Program. Assistant Director, Kate Adams and Graduate Assistant, Rachell Krell, facilitated an advocacy education workshop for the students at Collins in the spring. Weeks later, we welcomed the 8th graders to campus to meet with SSU Civic Fellows and other student leaders to gain feedback on their civic action projects and the social issues they were researching. Those civic action projects were showcased at the Civic Engagement Hall of Fame. Attendees provided feedback on the students’ projects. In May, CCE Executive Director, Cynthia Lynch and Kate served on panel at Collins Middle School to share about this mutually beneficial partnership and their hopes for continual collaboration.
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON DIVERSIFYING THE TEACHER WORKFORCE
In partnership with the Educator Scholars of Color and Education Club, the CCE cohosted a community discussion about diversifying the educator workforce through bill H.549 and featured State Representative Manny Cruz. Students are eager to move the legislation forward, be a part of public hearings, and learn how they can advocate for eliminating barriers that prevent people from pursuing careers in education and becoming licensed teachers. We look forward to continuing this partnership with Rep. Cruz and engaging our students on this important advocacy initiative.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT HALL OF FAME
The Civic Engagement Hall of Fame returned to an inperson induction ceremony this year and recognized six outstanding advocates working toward social change in their communities. The following members of the Salem State community were honored: undergraduate students Gamael Chalvire and Lizabeth Davis, graduate student Dany Acosta, faculty member Dr. Melissa Kaplowitch, staff member Karen Gahagan, and alumni Lisa McFadden. The inductees received an award to commemorate their achievement, and they each selected a community partner to receive a $200 donation on their behalf. The organizations recognized were the Association of Haitian Women in Boston, the Salem State Food Pantry, the Latino Support Network, the Boston Regional Anti-Defamation League, Salem Main Streets, and LEO Inc.
SSU HUNGER FREE CAMPUS COALITION
The SSU Hunger Free Campus Coalition is a student-led coalition supported by the CCE and the Student Wellness CARE Team. The coalition consists of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners. Their mission is to reduce and destigmatize food insecurity on our campus. One of the coalition’s priorities is to ensure students are knowledgeable about the resources available to support their basic needs. The second priority is to advocate for the Hunger Free Campus bill (S.835/H.1293). This year the coalition hosted a campus food pantry open house and an Instagram takeover to ensure students know where our pantry is located and how to access it. They also attended a lobby day at the Massachusetts State House to advocate for the hunger-free campus bill and worked with the Creative Services Department to design marketing to promote our food pantry.
LOBBY DAY
On March 30, 2023, members of the SSU Hunger Free Campus Coalition went to the Massachusetts State House to advocate for the MA Hunger Free Campus Initiative
S.835/H.1293. This lobby day was hosted by MASSPIRG, the MA Hunger Free Campus Coalition, and the Greater Boston Food Bank. This legislation would provide funding to support college campuses across the Commonwealth with technical assistance and funding to alleviate hunger on campuses. Liz Davis, co-chair of the SSU coalition, spoke at the welcome and shared how our students would benefit from this legislation. Students met with their elected officials to share their lived experiences with food insecurity and how this bill would benefit them.
SERVICE SATURDAYS
Service Saturdays provide students the opportunity to volunteer one Saturday a month to develop meaningful relationships with community partners and like-minded students. In February, students volunteered at NAGLY, our local LGBTQ+ youth agency and assisted in revitalizing their resource library. In April, we worked with SPUR Inc. in Marblehead to help create holiday cheer bags in preparation for their holiday gift program. Service Saturdays provide students the opportunity to develop a sense of place and belonging at SSU and in the North Shore. This is also a great opportunity for Day of Service alumni to remain connected throughout the year.
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT
The CCE, Wellness Team, and Healthcare Studies Department collaborated to participate in the YWCA Rape Crisis Center’s Take Back the Night. SSU community members marched through the streets of Salem to bring awareness to sexual assault and honor survivors. Multiple people shared their stories to bring awareness to this issue and help community members realize they are not alone.