UMass Donahue Institute

At the heart of the UMass Civic Initiative’s mission lies a commitment to fostering mutual understanding and creating meaningful connections between our participants and the communities with which they engage. Our summer exchange programs go beyond classroom discussions. We also immerse participants in hands-on community service that illustrates the importance of collaboration and shared values in addressing local challenges. By working alongside community organizations in Western Massachusetts, participants not only gain valuable insights into solutions to pressing social issues but also develop a deeper appreciation for the role of service in building stronger, more resilient communities.

In 2024, we worked with three local organizations in western Massachusetts to not only show our participants in-action examples of solutions to public problems but also get them directly involved.

The mission of the Treehouse Foundation is to seek out new ways to improve the lives of children and young people who have experienced foster care through intergenerational communities and national advocacy. After first meeting representatives in an academic session to discuss the issue of both foster care and elder care and how the community was adopting an alternative model to solve these issues, SUSI Pakistan visited the Treehouse community in Easthampton. After a shared meal, the participants gave a presentation about Pakistan and its culture.

Our community engagement continued at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, with both SUSI Pakistan and the Economic Empowerment (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia) cohorts visiting the Hadley farm. The farm team discussed the importance of the Food Bank and local farmers in addressing food insecurity in the area and participants made the connection to their earlier engagements with the Amherst Survival Center. The lead farmer also shared the climate-positive and sustainability goals of the farm and the “no-till” practices they are instituting. Participants then helped prepare beds for planting by laying down cardboard, covering the beds with compost, and raking to level the beds. Another group worked on weeding beds that were already planted. The four total hours of service work provided by the two cohorts equaled two weeks’ worth of labor for the four-person farm team. This was our fourth year of helping the farm.

Not Bread Alone: A communal dining space in Amherst, Not Bread Alone offers fresh, nutritious, and family-style meals. The free meals program fosters a caring environment that relies on strong volunteer and community involvement. Both SUSI Pakistan and the Economic Empowerment groups volunteered this summer. Their tasks included setting up tables and chairs, chopping vegetables, cooking, serving, sweeping, washing and drying dishes, mopping, general cleaning of the space, and organizing food and cooking supplies. We’ve had cohorts volunteer here for the last few years. More about our work at Not Bread Alone.

We are thankful and proud of the work that our participants happily put in for these organizations this year. We extend our thanks to all past cohorts from all programs who rolled up their sleeves and helped out their adopted community in Western Massachusetts.

Looking back at 2024, we can’t help but feel proud and grateful, for our participants who give their time and energy so willingly and for the amazing local organizations that welcome us year after year. Supporting places like the Treehouse Foundation, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, the Amherst Survival Center and Not Bread Alone doesn’t just help the local community—it also reinforces the core values we aim to share empathy, teamwork, and the power of service. These experiences bring people together in a way that crosses cultural boundaries and builds lasting connections. These components of our programs instill a sense of responsibility and inspire participants to carry these experiences and values back to their home countries, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

January 06, 2025