WSU Urban Studies Blog

  As the warm breeze of spring ushers in a new season, the time to roll up our sleeves and lend a hand to nurture our environment has come. On Monday, April 22, 2024, Earth Day, from 1 pm to 3 pm, we gathered at the Worcester State University (WSU) Teaching Garden for a community event like no other. This Earth Day, volunteers from Bet Shalom, alongside students and faculty came to the garden and assisted in clearing away debris to prepare the soil for planting. The day did not end with just cleaning and clearing. As a special treat for the volunteers, succulent plants are given away, a small token of appreciation from the garden manager, Isabel Bartlett. Succulents, known for their resilience and beauty, are the perfect addition to any garden. Not only do they add aesthetic appeal, but they also symbolize the strength and endurance of our community as we come together to create positive change. More than just a gardening event, this is an opportunity for connection and collaboration.

Student staff of the UAI participated in the Clothesline Project, representing the institute. The event took place in Sheehan Hall, where there were shirts for students to include written messages like facts about sexual assault, parts of their own story or messages of hope to survivors among the WSU community. Students that passed by Sheehan Hall where the shirts were hung up could see what peers had shared and take part in the event. The purpose of the activity/event was to bring awareness to any college student facing that problem, show they're not alone, that there are people available to help them get through it and it doesn't define who they are.

Pascual Vasquez, Ricaury 2024-03-27 On March 12th, the Urban Action Institute (UAI) team hosted its first Housing Justice Summit. With a total of 71 participants and 12 community partners involved, there was an incredible crowd at this event. The Housing Justice Summit, led by Director Danielle X. Morales and Assistant Director Midaly Carrasquillo Delgado, was sponsored by the Urban Studies Department, the Binienda Center for Civic Engagement at Worcester State University, Quinsigamond Community College, and UniBank. The summit was created to bring awareness about how housing insecurity can affect students at Worcester State University and Quinsigamond Community College. Some of the learning outcomes from the event were: a) Building the collective capacity in the local higher education community and advancing housing justice goals, specifically in terms of helping housing-insecure students locate resources and connecting students with city advocates and service providers; b) have an o