New Community Engagement Housing in Plant

Plant House common room. Photo courtesy of Sophia Angele-Kuehn.

Plant House has a new initiative where students can become involved in the greater New London area through their residential living experience on campus. Community Engagement Housing, a pilot group comprised mostly of first-years, allows students to come up with ideas and use them to support the greater New London community off-campus.

The first-year students, led by Housefellow Hector Salazar and floor governors Gabby Veilleux, Elijah Hamilton, and Leelah Klauber, are looking for opportunities in New London where they can make significant contributions within the community. While not all of the students in Plant House are involved with the community engagement program, fifteen students have willingly opted for this initiative as part of their common interest housing, and have already held meetings and discussed ideas about various community service opportunities. Among some of the topics discussed, students have expressed interest in programs supporting the LGBTQIA+ youth, sustainability projects, tutoring students at local schools, and financial literacy.

“I’m interested in getting involved with the incarcerated community,” said Nat Diaz ‘23, one of the students already involved with the new initiative. When asked about how she can leave a lasting impact on the community, she said, “the most anyone can do is go into the community with the mindset that you are not there to assert your privilege, [but] … for there to be a good ‘give and take.’ I want to be able to walk away every single day having learned something.”

The idea to engage with the community through housing originated from the POSSE scholar retreat this past February. Students, faculty, and staff wanted to create another themed house that would foster a closer community among those living together. Dean Sara Rothenberger and REAL worked together with students to select a house where community engagement would be the main theme — similar to other alternative housing options on campus including Blackstone (Wellness Housing) and Knowlton (Language Housing).

“The idea expanded to community engagement as a focus because it is an integral part to the mission and values of the college. Students and staff shared in the visioning of the experience that would both introduce new students to the New London community and have them learn about ways to responsibly and reciprocally engage with the community,” ex- plained Dean Rothenberger in an email. “Plant House was chosen because there is a critical mass of first-year students in the house and the house is small enough to be able to expand to the full house including sophomore, juniors and seniors in subsequent years.”

As long as the pilot group of first-year students is successful, common interest Community Engagement housing will continue to grow. The general sentiment during the meetings held by members is excitement, with the expectation that students will begin their work starting second semester, although some have already started their work. The group has already met three times since the start of the school year and will continue to hold meetings every Wednesday to discuss a variety of different topics revolving around ways to leave a lasting impact in the New London community. The first year students involved with the new common interest community engagement housing are enthusiastic about the work they are about to begin. The group hopes to become the first of many that remains involved in the community through Plant House. •