Last Friday, September 30, Choate held its first Community Service Day since 2019. The theme “Service Work is Justice Work,” highlighted student and faculty awareness for causes such as environmental injustice, housing justice, food insecurity, human rights violations, and educational access with participation in various activities aimed at uplifting our communities across Connecticut and beyond.
This year’s Community Service Day was kickstarted with a showing of the film “Truth Tellers,” which featured Mr. Robert Shetterly’s activism through his portrait series. The movie was followed by a Q&A session with the artist himself.
The film highlighted Mr. Shetterly’s artwork and the ways in which he directed his frustration and anger at social and environmental injustice towards something productive. His portraits showcase influential figures for civil disobedience and human rights.
“I have been destroying myself in my own anger, with my own grief, and my own sense of alienation from this country … But there is also a very strong denunciation through the courage for people to stand up against injustice that are being made or rewarded,” said Mr. Shetterly. With over 260 works to his name, Mr. Shetterly continues to advocate for justice and connect with those who share his goal.
After the showing, Simone Johnson ’23 and Noah Molina ’23 conducted a Q&A session with Mr. Shetterly where he expanded on the inspiration behind his artwork and his views on civil disobedience. Mr. Shetterly shared advice with the Choate community on simple ways they can combat injustices and advocate for issues they believe in. “There are so many great projects and organizations that need bodies and people who are willing to be engaged. Unless we’re willing to take certain kinds of risks, to get outside of our conformity, that can constrain and contain us, we won’t be able to find out who we are really capable of being,” he said.
The theme for the day, “Service Work is Justice Work,” was inspired by the growing awareness and call to action against social injustices in recent years. “I want people making these kinds of connections and incorporating issues around human rights and social justice into community service work,” said Ms. Melissa Koomson, the Director of Community Service at Choate.
Students participating in service activities were divided into groups to work on various assignments that ranged from volunteering at the animal shelter, senior homes, public areas, etc., with each service act reflecting the theme of justice. Jimena Acosta ’23, alongside the rest of the Bernhard dorm, volunteered at Seymour Land Trust, helping to restore a public park’s terrains and to prepare it for winter. “I helped make the environment a more usable space, and this can hopefully be enjoyed by Connecticut residents,” she said.
During their time engaging in service work, students were exposed to a wide range of institutional issues that perpetuate injustices that exist nationally and even globally. Vice President of Community Service Club, Racquel Welcome ’24, added, “It was really nice to go out and help the community because, at Choate, we are in such a place of privilege. It was very eye-opening to go out and recognize our privilege.” Thandiwe Taylor ’26, an attendee, shared, “I learned that it’s important to be really intentional and make sure you learn everything. Even if you don’t learn it in school, you can go outside and do your own research.” Following her experiences on Friday, Taylor was inspired to sign up for more opportunities for community service in the area. “I enrolled in the winter community service seminar, so I’m excited to learn about this community and partner with the organizations.”
Among the activities offered was a civil disobedience workshop with Mr. Shetterly, where he discussed the importance of spreading advocacy on social injustices, or an Entangled and Ingested Workshop with Kat Owens, a local artist, teacher, and researcher who focuses on the environment.
As the first Community Service Day in over two years, many students experienced the Choate tradition for the first time. Community Service Day is an event where students are able to learn beyond the classroom and develop a perspective on global, social, and environmental issues. Ms. Koomson shared, “My hope is that students will learn and unlearn the value and importance and real critical need of community service and that students will make connections with what community service is, and how it’s an integral part of Choate education.”
