Tufts Reaches Out To Community

At the third annual meeting between Tufts and members of the local non-profit community, both sides hailed the value of university-community partnerships.

Medford/Somerville, Mass. [02.28.05] As part of its continuing dialogue with members of the surrounding community, Tufts officials met with community leaders on Feb. 16 at the third annual Presidential Symposium, entitled "Partnering for Community Impact." While evaluating the current success of local partnerships between the University and community groups, both sides looked forward to future progress.

"How can we do better?" asked Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow, according to the Medford Transcript. The symposium was co-sponsored by the University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS) and Tufts Community Relations.

The answer, many agreed, was to build upon the strong collaborations between the University and community already in place.

Rusty Russell, director of field-based education in the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, cited projects involving affordable housing, local environmental concerns such as the Mystic River, and expanded bicycle and pedestrian access. Other programs underway include an anthropology program where Tufts students are exploring the history of West Medford.

By finding new ways to connect students and faculty with local community initiatives, Russell believes much more can be done.

Tufts professor Molly Mead agrees, according to the Transcript.

"We work with faculty to get them to teach more community-based courses and conduct more community-based research," Mead said, explaining the ways in which Tufts’ UCCPS is focused on community partnerships.

Other panelists included child development professor Maryanne Wolf and civil engineering professor Chris Swan.

The community leaders in attendance spoke warmly of Tufts' activities.

"I hear a lot from people in the community, 'Wouldn't it be so wonderful if,' then Tufts comes forward and says, 'Well, we have this to offer,'" Diane McLeod, diversity director at Medford's Office of Human Diversity and Compliance, told the Transcript.

McLeod, describing the value of Tufts service at community organizations, said the students with whom she had worked were "free-thinking, motivated and fabulous."

"If it weren't for them, I don't think we would have achieved this much," Lisa O'Loughlin, president of Medford Health Matters and executive director of the Greater Medford Visiting Nurses Association, said of Tufts students, the Transcript reported.

The Transcript quoted Rob Hollister, dean of UCCPS, as saying that the symposium's goal was to "benchmark progress and improve university-community partnerships."

The meeting comes after last May's agreement between the University and the cities of Medford and Somerville to boost Tufts' investment and involvement in its neighboring communities.

This past fall, Tufts also began putting into motion its 15-year campus plan, developed in cooperation with both Medford and Somerville to keep the needs of the cities in mind.

“Tufts values its longstanding relationship with the cities of Medford and Somerville,” President Bacow said during September 2004's Community Day celebration, where local residents came on campus to enjoy lectures, performances and other events.