Harvard is an institution wherein students are encouraged to engage critically and liberally with myriad academic disciplines. While there are certainly benefits to a hyper-academic approach to learning, one pitfall is in the lack of hands-on engagement with the material about which students are learning. The engaged scholarship courses challenge students to integrate theory with practice, creating an environment for students to develop as academics and professionals. As a student minoring in Global Health and Health Policy, I sought opportunities that allowed me to incorporate traditional methods of classroom learning with immersive field experience. When I found the course, Urban Health and Community Change: Planning Action with Local Stakeholders, I was enlightened as to the opportunity for local community engagement. By working in Somerville I met truly inspiring people doing valuable work toward food security in the area, many of whom I still volunteer alongside. From connecting families with government resources to being invited to community member’s homes, my academic and personal lives were enriched through my experience with the Mindich Program. The program and faculty within have given students, including myself, meaningful opportunities to move beyond the Harvard bubble and not only learn about but also contribute to the world beyond.
Emelia Vigil ’18
