College of Our Lady of the Elms ~ July 29, 2020
Congressman John Lewis' Impact on
Elms College and the Sisters of St. Joseph
Congressman John Lewis and Civil Rights icon, who recently passed of cancer, holds a strong connection to the Elms College community. His recent passing has resulted in several news stories and even a blog, drawing on that important connection to Elms College and the Sisters of St. Joseph. As the nation celebrates his life, here are some stories of Congressman John Lewis and his connection to the Elms College mission and values. Please click on the linked titles for each piece.

Springfield remembers John Lewis, civil rights hero, long-time Congressman by Dave Canton of MassLive.com. Highlighted in the article was how fortunate the class of 2015 was to have Congressman John Lewis speak at their commencement.

One People, One House: Sisters of St. Joseph lesson of ‘good neighbor’ can unite us in learning by Sister Ma xyne Schneider. An opinion piece as part of The Republican's One People, One House, a new community dialogue initiative launched to discuss issues of race and policing.

Reflections on Congressman Lewis by Dr. Harry Dumay in his own President's Blog. Dr. Dumay looks back on Elms College's commencement and his personal experiences' meeting Congressman Lewis twice in recent years.

Looking back on a life well lived
Originally published in the Wilbraham-Hampden Times on July 9, 2020, and written by staff writer Tyler S. Witkop. Barbara Kirby '53 shared this article and credited College of Our Lady of the Elms with much influence in her life's activities. Happy Birthday, Barbara!
 
Some people have a natural affinity to shape the world around them. Whether it be through one's profession or personal interests, giving back in various ways can inspire the slightest changes that can make some of the most significant impacts.
 
One such person is Wilbraham's own Barbara Kirby, who, for more than 50 years, has played a hand in bettering the lives of others both here and in the world at large. Kirby, who will turn 90 this week, sat down with The Times to share some of her fondest memories, as she prepares to celebrate her birthday during a pandemic that has made it difficult for families to gather for such occasions.
 
Kirby's passion for helping the local community stems from her career as an educator. For 30 years, she taught kindergarten in Springfield Public Schools, spending 25 of them in Sixteen Acres classrooms. "I loved school," she said, noting even as a child she enjoyed learning. As an educator, she discovered that "children changed so much from the beginning to the end [of the school year], you could see the development." 
 
Since her retirement, Kirby has continued to inspire young children. This is true most visibly here in Wilbraham, where she coordinated the annual DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Reader program at Stony Hill Elementary School through the Wilbraham Women's Club for the last four years. The program invites parents and community members to read a book to students at various time slots throughout the day. Readers have included elected officials, current and former educators, public safety officials, and librarians. 
 
Kirby also helped shape students understanding through a decade's worth of volunteering at Springfield's Action Centered Tutoring Services. Her numerous travels to Haiti and Guatemala through St. Cecilia's Church and other faith-based organizations like the Christian Foundation for Children, (now Unbound), allowed her to lend her hands in a hospital, nursery, and orphanage.
 
Through Unbound, she is currently helping a girl from Uganda. However, travel restrictions and concerns for her safety prevent her from visiting Africa and giving back in her way.
 
Kirby has also spent time in local politics, becoming the first woman to be elected to the Wilbraham School Committee. She recalls going door-to-door campaigning for votes, ultimately defeating Eric Fuller for the seat. She also served on the town's Democratic Town Committee and has been known to rally for causes she believes in, including participating in a peace vigil during the Iraq War. "Having a positive attitude and seeing that it is possible to improve life for many" is a message to take to heart., she said. 
 
She also notes there are people in town, too, who could use a hand. "Enjoy the time you are here. Do what you can to help society," she said. 
 
For her daughter, Maureen Burns, of Hampden, her mother has been an inspiration. "She sees the beauty and good in everything," she said. With the state slowly re-opening and lifting certain restrictions on gatherings, Kirby is hopeful to make it back to the Wilbraham Senior Center, where she can catch up with her friends over bridge, one of her favorite games.
Connecting with Elms
Alumni Book Club Update
Connect With Fellow Elms College Alumni And Friends:  Want another way to connect? Joining our book club will help you learn and grow with fellow alumni to help you improve your network.

Advance Your Career:  A book club can enhance your career on two fronts. First, the books you read may make you more effective in critical areas like leadership, communication, and productivity. Second, the network you'll be building may help you with career advice, introduce you to new people and find your next job.

Reading is Good for You:  Reading improves your intelligence, reasoning ability, and has been linked to reducing the chance of Alzheimer's. 

Next Selection: Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

Joining our book club lets you read more and enjoy all the benefits that come with it. Click the sign-up button to learn more about the book club and to sign-up today. Our next discussion begins on Thursday, August 6, 2020, with our Pre-Reading Question.

The timeline for Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell is as follows.
By August 20: finish reading the introduction and chapters 1 and 2
By August 27: finish reading chapters 3-5
By September 3: finish reading chapters 6 and 7
By September 17: finish reading chapters 8 and 9
By October 1: finish the book and prepare for our end-of-book discussion!
Reunion Planning: Class Meetings
We will be connecting, celebrating, and honoring all the classes ending in 0/5 and 1/6. What a Reunion this will be! We will create special opportunities for each reunion group, especially those that are waiting an extra year to celebrate due to COVID19.

We recently held kick-off meetings where we shared the reunion survey results, brainstormed ideas, and discussed the schedules. It's not to0 late to get involved, we have only just begun!

Many alumni from these classes already serve as class agents or class representatives, but we can always use more help. Want to get involved with reunion planning? Next up will be class specific meetings. Email Andrea at alumni@elms.edu no later than August 14. Meetings will be held by Zoom and phone and are open to all class members. Class meetings will begin in September.
Mass with Father Mark
Weekly Mass is celebrated with Father Mark on YouTube weekly from St. Josephs Chapel in Berchmans Hall. This has been a blessing during this unprecedented public health crisis. We have heard from alumni that live near and far how much they have enjoyed these Masses. Many feel more connected to the College of Our Lady of the Elms.

The college plans for these to continue until regular on-campus Masses can return. Masses are posted at 4 pm on Saturdays. Join us this week!
Alumni Association Happenings