salvetoday

Author

Event Coverage / News

Inclusive Reading Club for November tackles cross-cultural American experiences

salvetoday Posted On November 16, 2020

The next Inclusive Reading Club will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m. through Zoom. All staff, faculty and students are invited to attend. Register here to attend the IRC through the library’s scheduling system.

The theme for the IRC’s next discussion is “Reflections on Life in America,” and it will draw from readings from first and second-generation Americans sharing their cross-cultural experiences.

Readings include essays by Jade Chang, author of “The Wangs vs. the World”; Joy Cho, founder of Oh Joy! products; Geena Rocero, a Filipino American supermodel, TED speaker and transgender advocate; and Bambadjan Bamba, award-winning actor, filmmaker and immigrant rights activist.

There will be an excerpt from the book, “The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America,” which was edited by Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman. And well as multiple excerpts from “American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures,” which is America Ferrera’s collection of essays.

Before attending the IRC, there is the option to share thoughts about what being an American means by posting on the Padlet, the IRC’s online board.

Register here to attend the IRC through the library’s scheduling system. Find November’s readings here. Please reach out to either Gretchen Sotomayer (gretchen.sotomayor@salve.edu) or Rose Albert (rose.albert@salve.edu) for more information.

Featured image by Getty Images/scyther5

Mercy Mission / News

Mercy Mondays: It’s time to give back through annual Angel Tree drive

salvetoday Posted On November 16, 2020

This holiday season, the Center for Community Engagement and Service will coordinate its 17th annual Angel Tree drive. As is to be expected, there are going to be many different ways to donate items for the Angel Trees because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Angel Trees are set up in multiple locations across campus and are decorated with a variety of tags that help support individuals in the community, animals in shelters and after school programs. In addition to the tags, a QR Code will be found on the back of each tag to the center’s website.

This year, the Angel Tree drive will support Child and Family Services; the Salvation Army in Newport; Newport Schools; Tashirat Orphanage in Morelos, Mexico; YMCA After School Programs; Boys and Girls Club; the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and the Potter League for Animals.

If someone doesn’t have time to shop for Angel Tree items, they can donate and the Center for Community Engagement and Service will do the shopping. In order to donate, the center has set up an Eventbrite where anyone can donate to the organizations they might like to assist.

Another option is gift cards, which can be dropped off or mailed to Gerety 201. People can also use Amazon or another online shopping service and simply ship their gifts to the center.

If mailing items, the address is:

Center for Community Engagement and Service
100 Ochre Point Ave, Gerety 201,
Newport, RI 02840

All items will be due Tuesday, Dec. 15, before noon to Gerety 201. For more information, contact the Office of Community Engagement and Service at (401) 341-2440 or community.services@salve.edu.

This post is part of an ongoing series called Mercy Mondays that highlights Salve Regina’s dedication to its Mercy Mission. Search the tag Mercy Mission for more updates on the Mercy branches of Salve Regina.

Featured photo by Getty Images/Inside Creative House

Event Coverage / Health and Wellness / News

Faith Mitchell speaks on COVID-19 and the fight for social justice

salvetoday Posted On November 13, 2020

The Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy will host Faith Mitchell, an Urban Institute fellow whose career has bridged research, practice and social and health policy, as she presents “COVID-19 and the Fight for Social Justice” as part of the Pell Center’s fall lecture series. The lecture will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. on the Pell Center’s Facebook page. To register, go to the lecture’s Eventbrite.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the fight for social justice have dominated the public debate in 2020, but these two stories are not independent of each other.

From healthcare to education, food security to housing, the pandemic threatens to worsen the inequities in American society — especially for children of color. Faith Mitchell describes the links between these issues and the solutions available to Congress and the president, if they are willing to act on them.

Faith Mitchell is an Intermittent Institute Fellow, working with the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy and the Health Policy Center. She is also developing Urban’s American Transformation project, that will look at the implications — and possibilities — of this country’s racial and ethnic evolution.

Over several decades, her career has bridged research, practice, and social and health policy. Previously, Mitchell was President and CEO of Grantmakers In Health, a national organization that advises, informs, and supports the work of health foundations and corporate giving programs based in Washington, D.C. Before that, she held leadership positions at the National Academies, part of the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, the U.S. Department of State, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and San Francisco Foundation.

Mitchell has a doctorate in medical anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. She co-chairs the advisory group for the John A. Hartford Foundation/Institute for Healthcare Improvement Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative and serves on the advisory committee of the National Collaborative for Health Equity, the editorial board of Health Affairs and the boards of directors of Community Wealth Partners and The Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation.

To register, go to the lecture’s Eventbrite.

Arts and Humanities / Business and Economics / News / Salve Success

Salve Success: Izabella I. Solivan ’22, global studies major and SGA president

salvetoday Posted On November 12, 2020

“The biggest advice I’d give to anyone, but especially to those entering a new chapter in their lives, is to not be afraid to make noise. What you believe in and what you choose to stand for in these next four years will impact how you show up in your life. Show up as someone willing and ready to fight for what you’re passionate about. Advocating for social justice issues or any other global affairs issues does not make you a know-it-all or loud-mouth or even annoying. It makes you powerful and compassionate and an incredible leader.”

~Izabella I. Solivan ’22

This quote is from the speech that Izabella I. Solivan ’22 gave in September at Salve Regina’s opening Convocation for the 2020-21 academic year as the new president of the Student Government Association (SGA).

Solivan’s words were spoken in a year where the country has wrestled with racial injustice and a volatile election season. Her words were spoken into an unprecedented school year where an entire University is dealing with a pandemic. And her words were spoken into a year where all of the SGA executive board are minorities, which has never happened before in Salve Regina’s history.

It’s clear that Solivan’s words, along with her unique life story and passion to make positive change at Salve Regina as the president of SGA, will help bring important conversations around diversity and inclusion to the forefront of the University.

Choosing Salve Regina, being a minority on campus

Solivan, who is a global studies major with a concentration in global business and economics, was raised in Puerto Rico. She now lives in Hartford, Connecticut. While the county surrounding Hartford is predominantly white, Hartford itself has an incredibly diverse population, and Solivan was fortunate enough to go to a high school that was rich with cultural diversity.

“It became very easy to be immersed in your culture every single day,” she shared of her experience in high school.

Solivan’s family had vacationed in Newport, Rhode Island, and Solivan was familiar with Salve Regina. So when it came to deciding about where to attend college, she definitely looked at other schools — but Salve Regina ultimately stood out.

“Salve kind of fit every single piece from having just an incredible community here to a great location and just having lots of majors I was interested in,” said Solivan. “It just kind of clicked. Salve has a way of doing that.”

While Solivan loves Salve Regina, being a minority within a white majority on campus has had its challenges — which she has spoken out about since the beginning of her time here.

“Being on campus every single day, you’re constantly reminded of being an other, of being outside,” she said. “A lot of people don’t want to speak up about that. They would prefer to just blend in, just want to get through four years and then be done. But in my reality … I don’t get to wake up one day and pretend that [racism] doesn’t exist.”

Becoming president of SGA

Ever since Solivan stepped onto Salve Regina’s campus, she hasn’t hesitated to speak out about the things she hopes to improve. From day one, she’s always given back and served during her time at Salve Regina, and she has found plenty of opportunities to speak into and shape Salve Regina’s culture.

She’s been active in the SGA since her first year. She’s also a RA, as well as a senior logistics coordinator for orientation for incoming first years. She’s a student ambassador for admissions during the summertime, where she gives tours to prospective students, and she’s also involved in Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention, as well as a couple task forces for equity and inclusion. She was most recently asked to join the newly formed Presidential Commission on Equity and Inclusion, which she will be part of for her last two years here at Salve Regina.

On top of all of this, Solivan is now the new president of SGA. She originally started in SGA as one of the senators her first year at Salve Regina, and she moved into the chief of justice position her sophomore year.

“SGA oversees every single club here on campus. Where they get money, where they get rooms, scheduling, making sure conduct is going great in clubs, starting new clubs—everything is overseen by SGA,” Solivan described. “So they have a direct link not only to the student body, but to the administration. So I personally will meet with cabinet members, as well as trustee members, as well as the president of the University.”

At the end of her sophomore year, Solivan ran for president—and she won. In fact, every person on the executive board is a minority this year, which has been unheard of in Salve Regina’s history thus far.

“I feel very honored and humbled by this experience,” said Solivan. “To be part of a club that has such a high link, as well as be a part of an executive board that is the majority women of color …. I’m happy to be in this position, and I don’t want to mess it up.”

Envisioning a more diverse future for Salve Regina and the world

According to Solivan, the executive board for SGA have hit the ground running and are ready to make positive changes. Her executive board shares many different majors — from social work to administration of justice to biology, and Solivan believes this broad range of interests will help shape the way that SGA operates.

“There’s so many different things that we’re involved in and so many areas that we can impact change, and that’s kind of our goal this year,” she said. “In the past … I teamed up with the secretary at the time, and we wrote a diversity initiative to be implemented on campus. I’m working with Dr. Armstrong to have a diversity summit about equity and inclusion, and we’re looking to incorporate diversity training among our faculty.”

To Solivan, all of the hands-on experience that each member of the SGA is getting will help shape not just Salve Regina, but the future of these college students as they go out into the world post-graduation. She is also adamant in pointing out that while the SGA executive board is made up of minorities, they are committed to being a voice for every single student on campus. Everyone can learn from each other, no matter their background.

“If we can get students here on campus to advocate not only for themselves but for the things that they believe in … they’re going to do that here, and then they’re going to go and do that in their lives once they leave here,” Solivan concluded. “How many ripples does that create? It’s insane. So our goal is to be the change we want to see in the world.”

SGA meetings are open to all students to attend to have their voices hears. They happen each Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Antone Lecture Hall, both in person and over WebEx.

Salve Success is a series of student success stories periodically featured on SALVEtoday. Check out the tag Salve Success for more stories.

News

Give a Mask, Get a Mask campaign gives over 500 free masks to students

salvetoday Posted On November 11, 2020

The Office of Advancement has been engaging in a Give A Mask, Get A Mask campaign, which has been a big success. The office will be distributing 500 free masks to students over this week, and bins of masks sponsored by alumni, parents and friends will be sent to departments across campus.

Where students can get free masks:

Center for Business Outreach
Center for Student Development
Health Services
McKillop Library – circulation desk
Mercy Center for Spiritual Life
Nursing Department
Office of Academic Affairs
Office of Community Service
Office of Residence Life
Office of Student Affairs
Office of Student Life
Rogers Recreation Center

The Give A Mask, Get A Mask campaign has raised over $8,000 for the Mercy Emergency Relief Fund, which was established several years ago as a way to support the Salve Regina community and the University in times of need due to extraordinary circumstances.

The Mercy Emergency Relief Fund has become a critical source of funding to bridge the financial gap that many of Salve Regina’s undergraduate students are facing during this coronavirus pandemic. It can be considered a ‘helping hand’ to assist with technology, tuition, wellness and other critical needs that may arise.

There are still masks available to purchase through the Give a Mask, Get a Mask campaign. When a donor buys one mask for themselves, a free mask will be donated to a Salve Regina student. The Office of Advancement is asking donors to share selfies in their masks on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #HeartofSalve.

Alumni, parents and friends show us their masks from the Give A Mask, Get A Mask Campaign. #HeartofSalve.

Posted by Salve Regina University Advancement on Friday, November 6, 2020

Featured photo: Student philanthropy associate Kelcey L. Lee ’23 delivers a basket of free #HeartofSalve masks for the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life to Matthew Kelly, minister of music and social justice.

Arts and Humanities / Event Coverage / News

Students create art gallery exhibition of 18th- and 19th-century objects

salvetoday Posted On November 10, 2020

The exhibition “Self and Sensibility: Women and Decorative Arts in the Age of Jane Austen and Emily Dickinson” in the Dorrance H. Hamilton Gallery brings a treasury of about 50 museum-quality works from the Georgian and Victorian periods to Salve Regina’s campus.

“We’re all excited to bring such wonderful pieces to our campus,” said Dr. Anthony Mangieri, professor and chairperson of the Department of Art and Art History. The work in the show comes from the eighteenth- and nineteenth-centuries, and all are examples of the decorative arts, featuring work like textiles, ceramics and dolls.

This exhibition is a collaborative project by 23 students in the Department of Art and Art History. The students are taking an upper-level Art History class called ART405: Curatorial Practice and the Gallery Experience, which is co-taught by Dr. Mangieri and Ernest Jolicoeur, professor of art and director of the Hamilton Gallery.

Students learn to design and implement a gallery exhibition

Students in the class worked in groups to propose ideas for installing the exhibition in the gallery. Then, as a class, individual groups worked together to identify the best ideas and create a more unified exhibition experience.

“The students helped organize the pieces in the show,” Jolicoeur said. “Every aspect of the exhibition was essentially crafted by the groups. The students worked together with us to build the exhibition. They painted the walls, painted the pedestals and developed the layout of objects.”

Sarah Belling ’22 is a double major in art history and cultural historic preservation, and she welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with her classmates and create the exhibition.

Sarah Belling ’22, said that her favorite items in the exhibit are the two pink vases. They are the first pieces one sees when entering the exhibit.

“I’ve really enjoyed it,” she said. “In my group, we specifically thought that the color pink on the walls would complement nicely both the theme of the show and the objects. Other groups shared that idea, so it was interesting to see how many ideas coincided.”

Samantha Kahle ’22, who is also a double major in art history and cultural historic preservation, was part of a group that created the wallpaper print on the walls to evoke the Victorian period. Her group also discussed the display of dolls to better showcase them as a collection.

“This gallery class has been a really great experience,” said Kahle. “It’s amazing to be really creative and share my ideas and … do things that I’ve never had the opportunity to do before.”

Samantha Kahle ’22 and her group decided to group the dolls together for the exhibit.

Creating public scholarship, a digital catalogue

After the exhibition, the students will be working on a digital catalogue of photographs and essays highlighting the works in the show. The exhibition was scheduled to open to the public, but COVID-19 changed its course. Creating a digital catalogue online will help bring this exhibition to the public and provide an invaluable experience for the students in the class.

“Students are not just writing ‘term papers’ for class,” said Dr. Mangieri. “They’re creating original scholarship.” He goes on to explain, “Students are researching and writing about the pieces in the show to create a work of public scholarship that contextualizes them.”

With this class, both Dr. Mangieri and Jolicoeur hope to offer more holistic learning experiences in art and art history. “We’re trying to create a more dynamic pathway for students in the humanities,” said Jolicoeur. “We’re trying to develop opportunities for students to work in more hands-on ways, using the gallery as a platform for expanding the curriculum.”

Kahle believes that this class is going to be pivotal for her future career, which is why she was excited to take it during her time at Salve Regina. “This class seemed really important for me to get on my resume — to get this kind of experience that no one really gets when you’re in college,” she said. “To be able to say as a sophomore in college that I contributed in a gallery is just really exciting.”

“Self and Sensibility” will be on display until Friday, Nov. 20.

Samantha Kahle ’22 stands by her favorite piece in the collection, an embroidery full of striking detail.

Student Life

YMCA, local restaurants provide student discounts for Salve Regina

salvetoday Posted On November 10, 2020

No matter the challenges that undergraduate and graduate students are facing during a difficult semester with a pandemic, there are always some bright spots along the way. Some of these bright spots include the fact that there are businesses in Newport County that are always willing to help out a student by offering discounts.

Here are a few businesses who are looking to offer discounts to students from Salve Regina:

The Newport County YMCA

The Newport County YMCA will now be offering a special membership discount to Salve Regina students for the 2020- 21 academic year. Salve Regina Students will receive $10 off of their monthly membership dues and pay only $20 a month.

Students must present a valid student ID at the time of registration in order to receive this discount, and registration must be completed in-person. Call (401) 847-9200 with any questions.

Sprout and Lentil

View this post on Instagram

Wowza we are excited about the Thanksgiving menu!!! These lil cutie pies will be available and some other fun holiday snacks, stay tuned for menu. We will have a veggie/mushroom and a veggie/chix option.. I mean, we gotta eat it might as well be veggies! 🔥🔥🌱🔥🔥 pre – order will be up soon!

A post shared by Vegan Kitchen (@sproutandlentil) on Nov 6, 2020 at 11:14am PST

Sprout and Lentil is an amazing vegan, plant-based and Kosher restaurant that offers 15% off of house-made products for Salve Regina students. They are also a female run business.

To get the 15% off discount, a student must show up with a valid student ID at the time of purchase. For questions, please call (401)-426-0500.

Nikolas Pizza

Nikolas Pizza is an Italian restaurant that’s been making Newport proud for four decades with family recipes that have been passed down for generations. While the restaurant is known for its amazing pizza, it also had a variety of other delicious meals to try.

Nikolas Pizza offers students a 20% off discount with a valid Salve Regina student ID. For any questions, call (401)849-6611.

Mercy Mission / Student Life

Celebrate World Kindness Day by donating items for school children

salvetoday Posted On November 9, 2020

World Kindness Day, which is an international observance that is celebrated every Nov. 13, was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of kindness NGOs from different countries. The day is celebrated across the globe, from Slovenia to Australia to the U.S.

The goal of World Kindness Day is to highlight good deeds and give back to the community, focusing on the common thread of kindness which binds everyone on the planet. Kindness is a fundamental part of the human condition, and it transcends the divisions of race, religion, politics and gender.

The Salve Regina community is excited to to celebrate World Kindness Day, and the Center for Community Service and Engagement will be offering undergraduate students an opportunity to participate in World Kindness Day on Friday, Nov. 13 through Monday, Nov. 16.

View this post on Instagram

World Kindness Day is coming your way! On November 13th these bags will be delivered to your door for you to fill with donations to help children in the local schools. The bags will be picked up on the 16th! If you live off-campus and would like to participate, please reach out to the Center for Community Engagement and Service. Swipe to see some donation suggestions! #salveregina #salveserves #worldkindnessday

A post shared by Service At Salve (@salveservice) on Nov 3, 2020 at 7:46am PST

On Friday, Nov. 13, white paper bags will be delivered to the door of each dorm room on campus for students to fill with donations. These donations will help children in the local schools here in Aquidneck Island. During the weekend, students can fill the white bags with items that will help out school children struggling during this time of year, especially due to the pandemic and the strain it has put on families.

The bags will be picked up outside of dorm rooms on Monday, Nov. 16, at noon.

Suggested items to put inside the bag include:

Snacks like cookies, granola bars, protein bars, goldfish, popcorn, pop tarts, ramen noodles, etc.
Bottled drinks like apple juice, orange juice, water, gatorade, etc.
Amenities such as lotion, body wash, hand soap, deodorant, chapstick, hair accessories, toothbrushes, toothpastes, laundry detergent, etc.

If a student lives off campus and would like to participate, please reach out to the Center for Community Engagement and Service at (401)341-2440 or community.services@salve.edu.

Featured photo by Getty Images/Anastasiia Stiahailo

Mercy Mission / News

Mercy Mondays: Chaplain’s Corner – Preparations for Advent season

salvetoday Posted On November 9, 2020

“Speak about Christ only when you are asked. But live so that people ask about Him.”

~Paul Claudel

This quote comes from one of my favorite poets and theologians, Paul Claudel (1868-1955). It eloquently summarizes Claudel’s profound faith. Throughout his life, as evidenced in his writing, Paul was filled with an overwhelming joy and wonder as he shared his faith, his hope and his love.

Today, we are invited to do the same: meditate, reflect and ponder our faith during this month of November. November is typically the month where we remember all the saints – in particular, those loved ones that have gone before us – and it’s a time when we gather as a nation to give thanks. It’s also the month when we begin to prepare for the Advent season and Christmas, which is one of my favorite holidays!

During this time, Salve Regina gives us many opportunities to respond to God’s invitation to deepen our very own faith, hope and love. In order to respond to God, we must take a moment and see how he is calling us to do so.

Father Scott presides over Mass at Our Lady of Mercy Chapel on the Salve Regina University campus.

Claudel’s work has truly influenced my personal faith by his profoundness of thought, his enthusiasm and deep sense of joy. In one of his writings, “Présence et Prophétie,” he speaks of angels and the fulfillment of their mission – so we, too, are called to complete our mission.

What is our mission, you might ask? I am especially reminded that as Mary made her fiat – “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” – after receiving the message from the angel Gabriel. And we are called to follow in her footsteps by accepting God’s invitation to increase our faith and deepen our joy. Just as throughout the sacred scriptures angels delivered messages, so today God continues to reveal himself in our brothers and sisters.

So, the question remains, how do we respond? Are we so wrapped up in the secular things of this time like shopping, decoration and more that we are blind to the God’s invitation for us to say “yes”?

Just as Claudel says, we need to be aware that through our actions and by the way we live our lives, we should be inviting others to meet Jesus. I remember reading an article by Cardinal Dolan who tells a great story about Advent, the time in the Church when we prepare for Christmas. He writes:

“His first Advent in New York was numerous years ago. He became fumed as he processed up the aisle at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for Mass, because he saw that the crib scene already up!

After Mass he said to the rector, “What’s going on? It’s Advent. We don’t put the crib up until Christmas!”

“Well,” the rector replied, “fine, but, keep in mind that between now and Christmas over two million people will come here to St. Patrick’s. They’ll see candy canes, snowmen, reindeer, and Santa out there; shouldn’t they see the crib at least in here?”

“Besides,” he concluded. “Take a look. The crib is empty. Jesus is not there. He’ll arrive on Christmas. The manger scene waits.”

The Cardinal continues: “Advent invites us to look at the world and our lives as an empty crib awaiting a baby.” (Catholic New York, Dec. 2017)

The invitation to bring Christ into this world was made so many years ago by an angel to a young woman. Mary answered with her yes, and so the invitation for us is the same to say yes to God. Only this time, the invitation comes through our brothers and sisters.

Speaking of cribs and bringing Christ into the world, this Advent we will be displaying different nativity scenes from around the world in the chapel. You are invited to help prepare this exhibit by sharing a nativity scene that you would like to have on display. Please contact Amy Cady (amy.cady@salve.edu) at the Mercy Center.

Written by Rev. Scott J. Pontes

Please note these important upcoming events:

Monday, Nov. 9, at 6:00 p.m. in Our Lady of Mercy Chapel: Faith in Athletics
Monday, Nov. 23 at 7:00PM in Bazarsky Lecture Hall: Thanksgiving Interfaith Prayer Service
Thursdays, Dec. 3 & 10 at 4:00 p.m. in the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life: Advent Bible Study
Monday, Dec. 7 at 5:30PM in the chapel: Advent Taizé
Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. in the chapel: Advent Faculty/Staff Morning Recollection

Arts and Humanities / News / Salve Success

Salve Success: Brianna Easton ’21, social work major

salvetoday Posted On November 6, 2020

If someone walks down the wing that houses the Department of Social Work in O’Hare, they will come across a display where Brianna Easton ’21, a social work major, is selling handmade face masks. Sewing face masks during a pandemic is one small way that Easton has showcased her passionate commitment to helping others, both in her future career as a social worker and on Salve Regina’s campus.

Falling in love with Salve Regina and social work

Easton first learned about Salve Regina during her sophomore year of high school when her older sister was touring colleges. Although young, she was fascinated by the University, and she loved the fact it was close to home with a stunning campus. Easton joined Salve Regina as an education major, but she transferred into the social work department her sophomore year.

“I like being with kids, but realized I didn’t want to be a teacher, so I began looking at other options,” explained Easton. “My mom is a teacher, and one of her friends is a social worker at her school. So I talked to her about it, and it seemed really interesting.”

Easton is part of the Best Buddies Club, which helps build connections with people with disabilities.

What Easton has loved most about the social work major at Salve Regina is the extensive real-world experience she is required to undergo as a junior and senior. “I like being in my internship,” Easton described. “For both junior and senior year, you can go out to different organizations and work with different clients.”

During her junior year, Easton has found a lot of joy working with children ranging from ages three through 12 at the elementary school in East Greenwich. Easton mentored the kids, helping them with schoolwork and anything else going on in their lives. For her senior year placement, she is at Child and Family Services of Newport.

“I am working in the family stabilization unit. I work with a few different clients right now who are between the ages of 13 and 18,” said Easton. “Each family is different, and they all have their own struggles. It is tough to witness that a child is not having a good time at home. Helping them is important, and I want to make sure they feel safe.”

Serving others through advocacy and sewing

The passion brewing in Easton to help people goes beyond her work as a social work major. Easton has been involved with the Best Buddies club since her sophomore year, a club that works to build friendships with members of the community who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and that recently won an Outstanding College Chapter for the State of Rhode Island award. Easton has been developing a strong bond with her buddy Michael for three years, who she says is very talented at playing the piano.

“I like to be involved and think that inclusion is really important,” she added.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Easton’s lending hands doubled as sewing hands. “I had a sewing machine at home just sitting in the basement collecting dust,” said Easton. “When they were talking about wearing masks and how important they are, I realized I could make them. I started making them for friends and family before realizing I could sell them on campus.”

One hundred percent of the proceeds Easton earns will be donated to organizations in Newport like Lucy’s Hearth, the homeless shelter, and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. Motivated by the desire to help these organizations, Easton was able to make over 50 masks during the summer. She plans on making more this fall with autumn themed fabric. Each mask takes her around 15 minutes, and she sells them for 10 dollars. The masks are being sold through the Social Work Club, which Easton has been a part of for three years and is now on the executive board as the secretary.

After graduation, Easton plans to work full time while going to graduate school in pursuit of her master’s degree in social work. No matter where she ends up, Easton will always be a great representation of the entire Department of Social Work at Salve Regina—using her passion for helping others in ways that will reach out far beyond her time on campus.

Article by student writer Samantha Tarbox ’22