This summer, amid the vibrant rhythms of the collegiate off-season, Bates students Gwendolyn Anderson ’27 and Sam Skinner ’26 immersed themselves in the work of the Trinity Jubilee Center in downtown Lewiston through a Community Work-Study fellowship—a program rooted in the Harward Center’s ethos of civic engagement and community partnerships. Notably, Sam was also recognized this past May with the Harward Center’s 2025 Civic Leadership Award for his extraordinary commitment to community engagement. 

Located just minutes from campus, the Trinity Jubilee Center offers multifaceted support to Lewiston Auburn residents, from a soup kitchen and food pantry to a day shelter, medical clinic, job assistance program, and refugee integration programs. For Gwendolyn and Sam, Trinity became a place to turn empathy into action.

Gwendolyn, a thoughtful and curious Bates junior from Boone, North Carolina, found meaning in the rhythm of daily routines: “For many people in Lewiston, the Trinity Jubilee Center is a hub for the community. Since the center covers a variety of services, people can easily come together while getting assistance and information. Throughout the day, I worked with refugees and asylum seekers, helping them draft a resume and apply to jobs in Lewiston. Although there was routine, every meeting was vastly different, posing new challenges and problems to solve.”

For her, the experience sparked deeper reflection: “I found great value in not only helping individuals and providing a friendly face, but also supporting the Lewiston community. This position showed me how resilient and supportive the city is—something that has impacted my outlook on the world and has emphasized the importance of community involvement to me.”

For Sam, whose first three years at Bates were thoroughly infused with community engagement, inspiration at Trinity came from practically every interaction: “My favorite thing about working at the Center is that everyday is different. On any given day, I might be translating immigration documents, preparing lunches, helping people apply for jobs, distributing diapers to families, getting mail to folks who don’t have a permanent address, or whatever new challenge comes through the door. The needs of the community are constantly changing, so the Center’s mission changes to match it.” 

His passion wasn’t just felt—it was also recognized. This past May, Sam was honored with the Harward Center’s Civic Leadership Award, underlining his meaningful impact across the L-A community. His highly valued community partner, the Trinity Jubilee Center, was among the local organizations supported this year by grants from the James W. Carignan ’61 and Sally Larson Carignan ’62 Fund, which Bates students help administer. Read more here.

Both students were shaped not just by the work they did, but also by the people they met. Gwendolyn was struck by the dedication of volunteers who came day after day, often juggling personal challenges of their own, just to ensure the center ran smoothly. “The volunteers completely shape Trinity into what it is. Each day they come in with a smiling face, eager to support the center. I’ve learned a lot from them, and they inspire me to bring a joyful and hardworking spirit to everything I do,” she said.

In his work, Sam discovered the power of cross-community collaboration. Working alongside interpreters, caseworkers, volunteers, and medical professionals, he witnessed how coordinated care can transform lives: “The Center is important to me not only because of its mission, but also because of the people who work there. I have learned so much working beside them, and they have created a workplace that is welcoming and exciting.”

As the summer draws to a close, both Gwendolyn and Sam are bringing more than memories back to campus—they’re bringing renewed visions. Inspired by her summer experience, Gwendolyn plans to continue working at Trinity Jubilee Center as an academic year Community Work-Study Fellow. Thinking about the many opportunities he has enjoyed through the college’s Community Work-Study program, Sam reflected, “My community work-study experiences in the past few years have been a highlight of my time at Bates. I could not imagine it any other way. I hope more students consider community-engaged learning and work-study fellowships as part of their Bates experience.”