Inaugural Year in the Books for Rivers Community Engagement Fellows

Created to support students passionate about causes that extend beyond traditional campus offerings, the CEF program centers around three key pillars: addressing and supporting a community need in partnership with a nonprofit organization, educating and engaging the Rivers community to support the cause, and developing and practicing leadership skills through hands-on experience and training. Each fellow is allotted $500 to implement their project in a nearby community.

At the beginning of the school year, fellows began with training sessions in community-building. Then they secured partner nonprofit organizations, mapped out projects and budgets, recruited and trained volunteers, and implemented their projects with real-world impact.

“I am immensely impressed with the effort, commitment, and passion the fellows invested in this program,” said Lucas Malo, director of community engagement. “As this is a new program, we knew this work would require flexibility and patience. I am incredibly proud of how the team came together as a cohort to support and learn from each other.”

Throughout their presentations at the all-school meeting, the students emphasized key takeaways, such as communicating effectively, adjusting project goals to meet community needs, and leading with empathy. “Sometimes things don’t go smoothly, and you may need to pivot,” one fellow reflected. “It’s important to lead with empathy and respect,” said another.

Among the presenters was Lily Chung ’26, who partnered with The Waltham Family School, an English language program for immigrant families. “My goal was to share my love for reading with children learning English as a second language,” said Chung. She organized a literacy-based fair, built a Little Lending Library, ran a book drive for bilingual books, and planned visits for Rivers students to The Waltham Family School.

Chloe Chitkara ’26 partnered with the Wayland Council on Aging and The Carriage House to run intergenerational activities: a game night, a conversational gathering about life experiences, and a musical performance presented by RSC and the Coffeehouse. “The activity nights allowed the seniors to feel connected to today’s youth,” said Chitkara, who received positive feedback from senior participants and community partners.

Barrie Abraham ’26 partnered with Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (JBBBS) to create an environment where children could feel comfortable expressing themselves with their “big” sibling, with a goal of building confidence and community through inclusive programming such as crafts and games in a safe space. 

Jason Minicozzi ’26 worked with his nonprofit partnership, Opportunities for Inclusion (OFI), to focus on individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities, frail elders, and their families. “My goal was to create a fun, active, healthy environment and build community within it,” said Minicozzi, who planned routes and led walks along the Charles River with OFI participants.

Henry Goldstein ’26 partnered with Housing Families, teaching weekly violin and piano lessons—instrument technique, musical literacy, and repertoire—to unhoused middle school students in Malden. Goldstein secured loaned violins and created level-appropriate lesson plans for his project. “I learned how to teach and inspire with a trauma-informed approach,” said Goldstein. “My goal was to foster a confidence and love of music.”

Noelle Lee ’26 shared her passion for visual art with students at Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center’s (BCNC) Red Oak After School & Summer Program as a way to use creative expression to promote intellectual curiosity and academic confidence. “The students could explore themselves through art,”  said Lee. “I learned not to force progress but instead to spark interest.” Over the six-week program, weekly art activities ranged from blind partner portraits to painting and collage.

Liam Keane ’26 and Karim Eljamal ’26 collaborated with the Waltham Boys and Girls Club, designing sports sessions for elementary students. Activities included camp-like games such as dodgeball, dragon tag, and kickball, as well as more structured games like soccer and basketball. “While having fun, we are aiming to teach leadership and teamwork skills and the importance of having a good attitude,” said Keane. “It isn’t just about playing the games,” said Eljamal. “It is about showing the opportunities that arise and the lessons learned through sports.” 

Leadership, empathy, and communication skills were notable lessons learned by the fellows, and all concurred in appreciating the value of overcoming obstacles along the way. “It was rewarding to see the moments of learning and reflection throughout the year,” said Malo, emphasizing each fellow’s growth not only in project execution but their willingness to look within themselves, explore their identities, and center the authentic needs of the community.