A benefit of attending a college in a small town is the opportunity to get involved with the local community. Though a few college events are open to the members of the Amherst town, all events hosted by the Amherst community are open to the students. This includes the weekly farmer’s market during early fall and late spring when the weather is good enough for vendors to set up their tents in the town square. Tons of people show up at the farmer’s market, and though college students don’t typically get groceries at the farmer’s market, other vendors sell plants, jewelry, clothing, and snacks, which are great options. Seeing local vendors and small businesses showcasing all the incredible things they offer is amazing. Although the farmer’s market is the most common way Amherst students connect with the local community, there are plenty of other ways students can get involved.
One way that I’m involved in the local community is by volunteering at the Jones Public Library. The Poetry Club has a program called Words Together, and I’m a volunteer assistant coordinator for this program. As part of this program, my fellow volunteers and I go to the Jones Public Library every Saturday afternoon to teach local middle school and high school students about influential poets and to workshop their poetry. Not only is this helpful in developing my skills as a writer and an educator, but I also love working with young writers and helping them develop their skills. Through this program, I’ve also gotten to know librarians at the local library.
Another way I’m involved in the local community is through the research project I’m helping Professor Peralta conduct. Our project aims to figure out how to help Asian members of the Amherst community tell their family migration stories through handmade zines with visual elements. In the fall semester, alongside another research assistant who’s a grad student at UMass, I went around town to various restaurants to see which restaurant owners, specifically those who identified as Asian immigrants or descendants of Asian immigrants, would be willing to be interviewed about their experience. We managed to get a few businesses to sign up, but it was interesting to explore local Asian restaurants and markets and talk with local store owners. I wish more Amherst students actively engaged with the local community, but it’s important to recognize that there are plenty of opportunities to get involved!