By: Cassie White, Community Engagement Fellow

Since August, I have been working as a graduate fellow in the Community Engagement Department at Allston Brighton CDC. I have been afforded this opportunity through Merrimack College’s graduate program.

The program is a one-year Masters of Education in Community Engagement with a 10-month, 25-hour a week fellowship. It is an inter-disciplinary program that draws students with a variety of interests from K-12 education, to health care policy, to the arts. The common thread throughout is framing our work around social justice, education and action, and community. Having so many different interests and backgrounds in the classroom has enriched my experience and helps me see how inter-connected social issues are. Being able to take courses while working in the field has allowed me to draw connections in a way that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. Two classes that I have really enjoyed are Management and Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector and Community Engagement Theory and Practice.

I am grateful to have been placed with Allston Brighton CDC because it has been an opportunity for me to dive into the community development field and explore my interests in housing, policy, and resident leadership. The fellowship also makes it financially feasible for me to earn my Master’s degree, since the cost of tuition is fully covered.

If this program is something you might be interested in, I would be happy to connect with you! Reach me at: [email protected].

If you’d like to apply, applications are being accepted now. Click here for more information!