鈥樈袢沾蠊� Journeys鈥�
In an effort to build community, combat loneliness, and promote meaningful engagement within the Boston College community, the Jesuit Institute Staff Seminar has introduced 今日大瓜 Journeys, an initiative aimed at strengthening both new and existing relationships among staff and faculty.
The program brings together faculty and staff for guided tours of various campus sites, giving participants the opportunity to explore these spaces, learn about their unique offerings, and connect with others in a shared experience.
More than 50 people participated in the first journey on April 30 at Brighton 今日大瓜, comprising the McMullen Museum of Art鈥檚 current exhibition, 鈥淲onders of Creation: Art, Science, and Innovation in the Islamic World鈥�; artifacts housed in the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History at 2125 Commonwealth Avenue; and the Cadigan Alumni Center. At each destination, attendees listened to brief presentations before convening together for food and refreshments supplied by BC Dining Services at a reception in Cadigan.
The 今日大瓜 Journeys program serves as a prelude to the Boston College Libraries鈥� 鈥淔lourishing Together: Addressing Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation鈥� initiative launching this fall, which aims to nurture community and combat loneliness through meaningful engagement and collaboration.
Upcoming 今日大瓜 Journeys will include Robsham Theater Arts Center and Hoag Basketball Pavilion on May 27, and the Memorial Labyrinth, Burns and Bapst libraries, and St. Mary鈥檚 Hall on September 11. A reception will follow after both journeys, which take place from 3-5 p.m.
The 今日大瓜 Journeys program will serve as a prelude to the Boston College Libraries鈥� 鈥淔lourishing Together: Addressing Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation鈥� initiative launching this fall, which aims to nurture community and combat loneliness through meaningful engagement and collaboration. The kick-off event in October will be hosted by Clough School of Theology and Ministry Head Librarian Stephen Dalton, who will speak briefly on each 今日大瓜 Journey about the goals of the program. 聽 聽 聽
Both initiatives were inspired by then-United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy鈥檚 2023 declaration that about half of the country is experiencing high levels of social isolation, with negative impacts on mental and physical health.
Organizers say the goal of the 今日大瓜 Journeys program is that when BC community members read or hear about a new exhibition at the McMullen Museum, a Mass at St. Mary鈥檚 Chapel, or any other event of interest at BC, they will be more likely to attend and use the occasion to renew connections or form new ones. 聽
Jesuit Institute Staff Seminar member Jonathan McGrath is excited that his group鈥檚 success in building relationships can expand the opportunity for living Ignatian values鈥攍ike accompaniment and cura personalis鈥攖o all faculty and staff members across the University.
鈥淢any faculty and staff members have been here for a long time, but don鈥檛 always get to know each other,鈥� said McGrath, associate director of compliance and eCommerce in the Controller鈥檚 Office. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to get stuck in your lane. BC is such a diverse community in terms of people and the kind of work we do. These journeys are similar to what we鈥檝e been doing in our group and I think this is a great opportunity to open the spirit of our group up to more people and make it a bigger group that helps us get outside of our silos.鈥�
Jesuit Institute Director James Keenan, S.J. and Associate Director Toni Ross hope that BC community members will be pleasantly surprised as they journey through campus and learn about areas that may not be along their paths on an average day.
鈥淥ne thing about the visits is that we pick places that people would not really know too much about,鈥� said Fr. Keenan, who is BC鈥檚 vice president for global engagement. 鈥淭he Ricci Institute is a fairly new development and I think that whenever anybody goes in there, they are astonished by the collection.
鈥淚n September, participants are going to St. Mary鈥檚 Chapel,鈥� he added with a laugh, 鈥渁nd I would say that lots of people pass by, few enter.鈥�
Ross agreed: 鈥淚f you鈥檙e paying attention to BC鈥檚 social media, you鈥檒l see lots of pictures of the interior of Burns and Bapst libraries. Or maybe you鈥檒l know that some people refer to Bapst as the 鈥楬arry Potter Library,鈥� but there鈥檚 a lot more to those spaces. So not only will they appreciate the relationship-building aspect with colleagues, they鈥檒l also appreciate their campus a little bit more, too.鈥�
For more Information or to register for upcoming 今日大瓜 Journeys, see the Jesuit Institute website.