Spring Break
Justice continues at home
by Julie Zong
News | 4/8/08
Posted online at 4:46 AM EST on 4/8/08
Students, Waltham residents, professors and members of the Waltham Group congregated to encourage students to help underprivileged children in the Waltham community as part of an effort to build a working relationship between Brandeis and the Waltham community in the International Lounge last Wednesday.
The event, "Justice Continues at Home: Building Brandeis-Waltham Community Partnerships," was attended by over 90 people including University President Jehuda Reinharz, Prof. Mark Auslander (ANTH) and Prof. Laura Goldin (AMST) led the program.
The program was a follow-up to last year's event, which focused heavily on the Community Engaged Learning initiative, an initiative that integrates Brandeis' dedication to academic excellence and social justice with its obligation to be a part of the surrounding communities.
The event began with a keynote address from Marina Bartley, executive director of the Waltham Partnership for Youth. The Waltham Partnership for Youth is a service organization that brings together youths and different service organizations. She emphasized that the "critical needs of Waltham youths could be met with productive partnerships." Bartley gave an anecdote about underprivileged youths who had never attended the ballet. "Most of the audience knows what the ballet is," said Bartley, but many youths have never heard of it. "We should always be questioning our assumptions," said Bartley.
Two of Waltham's challenges are literacy and poverty, and that many families are unable to afford early childhood care. Bartley also emphasized the importance of literacy and its relationship with employment and wellness.
Bartley outlined three ingredients for successful volunteer programs, sustained partnerships, quality programs, and strong partnerships between schools and communities during their breakout sessions.
"We may not come up with the right answers, but at least we are coming together to ask the right questions," said Bartley.
The event, "Justice Continues at Home: Building Brandeis-Waltham Community Partnerships," was attended by over 90 people including University President Jehuda Reinharz, Prof. Mark Auslander (ANTH) and Prof. Laura Goldin (AMST) led the program.
The program was a follow-up to last year's event, which focused heavily on the Community Engaged Learning initiative, an initiative that integrates Brandeis' dedication to academic excellence and social justice with its obligation to be a part of the surrounding communities.
The event began with a keynote address from Marina Bartley, executive director of the Waltham Partnership for Youth. The Waltham Partnership for Youth is a service organization that brings together youths and different service organizations. She emphasized that the "critical needs of Waltham youths could be met with productive partnerships." Bartley gave an anecdote about underprivileged youths who had never attended the ballet. "Most of the audience knows what the ballet is," said Bartley, but many youths have never heard of it. "We should always be questioning our assumptions," said Bartley.
Two of Waltham's challenges are literacy and poverty, and that many families are unable to afford early childhood care. Bartley also emphasized the importance of literacy and its relationship with employment and wellness.
Bartley outlined three ingredients for successful volunteer programs, sustained partnerships, quality programs, and strong partnerships between schools and communities during their breakout sessions.
"We may not come up with the right answers, but at least we are coming together to ask the right questions," said Bartley.
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