Luis G. Pedraja: Community partnerships strengthen our education system, communities
As Quinsigamond Community College began welcoming students back for the fall 2022 semester on Wednesday, it was with a renewed sense of excitement and energy. This is an exceptionally special time in our college’s history, as our on-campus presence hasn’t been this strong since before the pandemic.
There is much that has changed at QCC in the last couple of years, yet there has always been one thing which has remained constant – our strong community relations or connections. In fact, the pandemic has helped to grow and strengthen our community partnerships, which are so vital to our students and our region’s economic wellbeing. I discussed community partnerships in my January column, but it bears repeating as we enter this new era in our college’s history.
I have always been a huge advocate of community partnerships. They helped me to be successful in my own life. Growing up, my community was part of my identity. It shaped me and nourished my soul. From the little old lady down the street who greeted me on her porch with cookies and café con leche (Cuban latte) on my way home from school and asked me about my day, to the barber who always asked what I was going to study at college. There were my former teachers who stayed after school to prep me for entrance exams, the church secretary who helped me with my college application, and the bodega owner who gave me a free treat when I stopped by the store – they were all part of my community that helped me succeed and I am forever grateful.
Our community shapes our students, and our students shape the community. That is why community partnerships are so critical to the success of our students and, in turn, to building a thriving community.
At QCC we know the value these community partnerships bring, not only on a grassroots level of support similar to what I experienced, and our students experience daily, but also on a more formal level with community businesses, nonprofits and organizations. From our Early College partnerships that offer college credit to high school seniors, to our transfer programs with four-year institutions, there are innumerable community partnerships designed to promote student success. As we enter the fall, we are already forging new community collaborations that will help fortify our students and our communities in this post-pandemic world.
Recently, we partnered with the Worcester County Bar Association to host the Massachusetts Attorney General forum. All four candidates from both major political parties took part in the forum, giving students and the Central Massachusetts region the ability to learn about each candidate before the Sept. 6 primary election. So why is this so important for our students and the community? Events such as this one teaches the value of civic engagement.
In a June 4, 2020, article published by the Brookings Institution, it said, “Americans’ participation in civic life is essential to sustaining our democratic form of government. Without it, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people will not last.” I cannot think of a more profound reason to co-host these types of events.
Other community partnerships that are vital to the holistic well-being of our students and the community include new relationships with health and social service agencies. As recently as July and August, we hosted COVID-19 vaccination clinics for the public on QCC’s main campus, through a partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Another new partnership is with the Massachusetts-based insurance company UniCare, which will offer free outdoor yoga classes for the community on QCC’s soccer field at the end of September and beginning of October.
I’ve written before about the amazing HomePlate Food Pantry and Resource Center on QCC’s main campus, which is invaluable to many of our students and their families. However, it would never have been possible without a myriad of community partnerships that now also include Goya Foods, which is regularly donating a variety of its food products to add to our weekly food donations from the Worcester County Food Bank. These valuable partnerships are making a major difference in the lives of many of our students, and in turn, their families.
Building strong local and regional relationships with community organizations and businesses also creates a robust pipeline of skilled workers, who are making a positive impact on our region’s economy. One such program is QCC’s mentoring program, which connects QCC students with staff, faculty, industry and community members to create one-on-one mentoring relationships. Mentors work to help students develop their academic, social, networking and professional skills, which help them gain an understanding of workplace expectations, increasing the likelihood of finding a rewarding career. In turn, this helps businesses find skilled workers. Multiple organizations have become core partners (10 or more mentors from an organization) and include Abbvie, the City of Worcester, UMass Memorial Medical Center, the Worcester County Bar Association and Family Behavioral Health, as well as our brand-new core partner, Hanover Insurance Group.
Additionally, our innovative entry-level Biomanufacturing On-Ramp Workshop designed in partnership with Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, AbbVie, and most recently funded by a grant from the Mass. Office of Business Development, is helping people to upskill or reskill so they can enter the biomanufacturing industry pipeline, an industry increasing exponentially in our region.
There is a strong synergy between QCC and the organizations, businesses and nonprofits in our region that we are continuing to grow and cultivate. This is not just good business sense for our college, it makes good sense for our students, our community and our commonwealth.
Luis G. Pedraja is president of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Luis Pedraja column on community partnerships strengthening ed system
