Tufts University Government and Community Relations hosted an Ice Cream Social in the neighborhood on the Health Sciences Campus in Chinatown on July 21st. It was a great opportunity to beat the heat and meet our neighbors. This reporter had the opportunity to interview Liza Perry, Deputy Director, Tufts University Government and Community Relations, about the past, present, and future of Tufts University’s role in the Chinatown community.
What initiatives are you hoping to launch after the summer’s over?
We are fortunate to have several ongoing partnerships with our community partners. The Government & Community Relations team at Tufts University offers nonprofit event sponsorships on a rolling basis, we manage the Tufts Community Grants program every spring. Our office, as well as our colleagues at Tufts’ Tisch College of Civic Life and Tufts’ schools on the Boston Health Sciences Campus, are always looking for new ways we can collaborate with the Chinatown community, which includes sharing our spaces and funding stipends for students. Right now, we are excited to announce we will be partnering with the Pao Arts Center and the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) to activate the Tufts Community Common on our Health Sciences Campus in Chinatown with a vibrant public art exhibit, ResLab 2022. The exhibit is under the creative direction of local artists and residents of Chinatown. The ResLab 2022 kickoff is this Friday, August 5, and all are invited to attend and view the exhibit through September 24.
How do you see Tufts’ role in Chinatown has improved during the pandemic?
From the earliest days of the pandemic, we looked for ways Tufts University could provide support to the community. In early 2020, we hosted a lunch to encourage others to patronize local Chinatown businesses. During the height of the pandemic, we provided emergency grants to Chinatown nonprofit organizations and we offered housing to Tufts Medical Center healthcare workers who were putting themselves on the front lines of the pandemic. When it was safe to return to indoor dining, we hosted a restaurant challenge to encourage Tufts University staff, faculty, and students to give their business to restaurants in Chinatown.
What distinguishes Tufts as an agent of positive change in the neighborhood? Tufts University’s faculty, staff and students have a reputation of taking civic and community engagement very seriously, which is something we are immensely proud of. While our students are working hard to earn their medical, dental, and professional degrees, they are also looking for ways to do good in the community. The Tufts University Cherish Chinatown initiative organizes a neighborhood clean-up every spring, and that is just one example of an annual tradition we look forward to every year that serves both Tufts and the local community.
