Coming Soon – Pilot Semester Fall 2022!
In Fall of 2021, the REEF Support Center debuted on the Simmons University campus. The mission of the REEF Support Center is to provide more accessible pathways to holistic resources, as well as connection to already existing resources in the greater Boston community. The REEF provides resources specific to food access, off-campus living and commuter student experience, the SOS Emergency Fund, as well as violence prevention and survivor support.
As we head into our second semester back on campus and the 2022 year, the REEF Support Center, in partnership with students, staff, and faculty, is taking steps to establish the Community Resource Room, the first dedicated space on campus to provide basic needs items to all Simmons students.
What is the Community Resource Room at Simmons?
The Community Resource Room is a community-based program within the REEF Support Center that collects and safely stores food and household products for free distribution. For the purpose of our pilot semester, we will solely offer nonperishable food and household items, with plans to expand to both perishable items in the future. The Community Resource Room will be available to undergraduate and graduate students, with the hope of expanding to our greater Simmons community over time.
Location: The REEF Support Center is located in A- 075, also known as the Commuter Student/Dix Scholar Lounge. The CRR and all items will be stored in Conference Room C.
Who is the Community Resource Room Committee?
- Matoaka Kipp, REEF Support Center
- EriKa Monfort, Multicultural Center
- Stephen Pusateri, Military & Veteran Services
- Abi Bloom, Student, Simmons Hillel
- Kadijah McClean, Student, SGA Chair
- Ela Kijowska, Center for Global Education
- Julia Barron, Simmons Hillel
- Val Leiter, Interim Dean, College of Social Sciences
- Brooke Barnard, Residence Life
Get involved!
As we move towards building our vision, we need the feedback of our community members, especially our students. Please take a moment to share your thoughts and feedback for what you would like a Community Resource Room to look like on our campus and what would feel most accessible and supportive to our students.
We invite our community to plug in in 3 ways:
1. Complete the Share Your Vision
Our survey is now closed. The results of the survey will be presented at our Food and Feedback Sessions!
2. Join a Food and Feedback Session!
The CRR Committee will be hosting 2 meetings in the Spring semester when we return from the Spring Break in March. This will be an opportunity for the CRR Committee to share survey findings, continue to collect community responses, and provide a space to dream together. These meetings are open to all community members, though will center our current students.
- Food and Feedback Session #1, March 30, 2022 5-6:00pm, Location MCB A-151
- Food and Feedback Session #2, March 31, 2022 11:30-12:30pm, Location Management Building C-301
3. Join our Student Committee
We will be forming a CRR Student Committee to support this work. If you are interested in joining our student CRR committee please apply by completing the final question in the CCR Survey or email [email protected] with the following information:
- Name, email, current class year, and a brief paragraph about why you are interested in supporting the organizing of the CRR.
- Students will sit on the committee from April 2022-May 2023. Students will be required to attend 1 Student Committee meeting in April 2022 and will meet 1x each month during the academic year. You can also email your interest to [email protected]!
You can keep updated by visiting the REEF Support Center website and selecting the “Community Resource Room” webpage on the left of your screen.
We welcome your questions at [email protected]!