“What does it mean to be a neighbor?” Last October, in the wake of the mass shooting in Lewiston, Bates College opened its campus to local children for a Halloween trick-or-treat event. Organized just three days after the community emerged from lockdown, the event was more than a gesture of goodwill — it was a testament to the deep, established relationship between the college and the broader community. 

This connection is due in large part to careful cultivation by the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, and exemplifies how Bates has woven itself into the fabric of Lewiston’s life, offering a space of comfort and safety when it was needed most. As the Harward Center’s director, Darby Ray, explains, “We represent the college’s commitment to sharing and to partnering and we call on the college to ask itself: How can we do that better or in new ways?”

Offering a variety of opportunities for involvement through volunteer positions, work-study roles, and leadership programs, the Harward Center was created in 2005–06 to unify the various community engagement efforts at Bates, which were previously spread across different departments in a decentralized model. This centralized approach allows for more coordinated and systemic relationships between Bates and its community partners, removing silos and fostering a more cohesive approach to civic engagement. Inspired by Lewiston’s historical role in textile production, the Harward Center uses the metaphor of weaving to describe its mission. It seeks to intertwine the resources and concerns of both the Bates campus and the broader community, creating a dynamic and mutually enriching educational experience — or a vibrant tapestry. 

“We think of these kinds of programs as the invitation to develop the habits of living that you want to lean into for the rest of your life,” Darby emphasizes. At its core, the Harward Center encourages students to find their voice and make an impact on the world around them. Through coursework and community-engaged learning, students are invited to think critically about issues they care deeply about and to develop the habits of living that they want to carry with them for the rest of their lives. 

The Bonner Leader Program, an integral thread in the framework of Harward, provides Bates students from low-income backgrounds with invaluable opportunities to engage directly with the broader community. This program is crucial for fostering connections between these students and the local area, empowering them to address pressing issues such as food insecurity, affordable housing, and climate justice. By participating in workshops, reflective writing, and hands-on projects, Bonner Leaders not only gain transformative experiences but also become deeply integrated into the Lewiston-Auburn community. “Those are the students who have the local knowledge and insight,” Darby notes. “Their ripple effect is profound.”

The trust established with the off-campus community was instrumental in their decision to reach out to Bates for the Halloween event when neighborhood festivities had been canceled in the wake of the shooting. Because of pre-existing connections, they knew precisely whom to contact within the Bates network and approached the Harward Center directly. 

The event was “a really great example of the college’s embeddedness in the wider community,” as Darby observes. It not only facilitated meaningful reconnection but also elicited joyful enthusiasm from all involved. “It was so healing for our students to be able to participate. It was a way for them to connect with the wider community that they had been shielding themselves from while sheltered in place. It provided an opportunity to connect, reach out, and extend a warm welcome. And gosh, the exuberant joy was a beautiful thing.” 

The Bates Alumni community also rose to the occasion by establishing the Harward Center October 25th Remembrance and Resource Fund to support Harward’s community engagement programs.

Through its innovative programs and initiatives, the Harward Center for Community Partnerships continues to interlace the assorted threads of the Bates campus and the wider Lewiston community. By doing so, it ensures that both grow stronger and more resilient, further embroidering a rich tapestry of collaboration and shared growth.

Interested in learning more about students in the Harward Center? Check out their student blog.