Past Events
Academic Year 2023-24
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Join the ENACT Your Vote Day of Action on Thursday April 4th! Volunteers will be tabling from noon until 2:30 pm at multiple locations on campus to help peoiple sign up for voting and civic engagement reminders with ENACT Your Vote and to register and make a plan to vote if eligible. Come get snacks and ENACT Your Vote and VoteDeis swag – and join ENACT Your Vote to earn points for Brandeis prizes!
Sponsored by ENACT Your Vote, the VoteDeis Campus Coalition, and the Community Engagement Ambassador Program.
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
1:00 - 2:00 PM | Rapaporte Treasure Hall
Book bans are ravaging the nation as censorship seeps across school districts nationwide. Most of these book bans target identity – race, religion, gender identity, sexuality – and have been coupled with educational censorship and so-called "culture wars" on humanity.
Join famed author Julian Winters, student organizer Cameron Samuels, and Brandeis Florence Levy Kay Fellow in Racial Justice, Education, and the Carceral State, Tanishia Lavette Williams, PhD for a conversation and educational booth fair on the freedom to read and learn.
This event is organized with funding from COMPACT's Maurice J. and Fay B. Karpf and Ari Hahn Peace Awards and the ENACT Educate and Advocate Grant.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Join ENACT, MASSNow and Free Period for a Period Product Packaging & Menstrual Equity Advocacy Party Tuesday, April 2nd from 12:00 - 2:00 PM in the Shapiro Campus Center at Brandeis, cosponsored by the Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis (JFAB). Help package menstrual products for distribution!
Free Period is a non-profit organization that distributes free menstrual products to those in need.
Founded in 1968, the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women (Mass NOW) is a multi-strategy grassroots feminist organization in the Commonwealth.
Interested in policy advocacy?
The I AM Bill, which would increase access to menstrual products, is currently being considered by the Massachusetts State Legislature. With the support of MassNOW, at this event we will provide advocacy training and an opportunity to reach out to Massachusetts state representatives in support of the bill.
For more information contact Charlotte Powley, Assistant Director of ENACT: CPowley@brandeis.edu
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
7:00 PM | Senior Studios, Epstein Building
Anida Yoeu Ali, multi-disciplinary artist and immigration rights activist will perform Palimpsest for Generation 1.5, in which her body is transformed into a palimpsest where histories are inscribed, layering one moment over another. Text pulled from her family’s memories and histories related to Cambodia are inscribed in ink onto her back. As a result of the act, ink and water drip onto her back and stain the dress. When the gestures end and the body leaves the installation, detached roots, a disembodied dress, and faint traces of a performed history remain. The work examines the cultural and emotional resonance of place and memory in relationship to personal histories of violence.
Monday, April 1, 2024
6:00 - 8:00 PM | Gerstenzang Science Building, Room 122
COMPACT is hosting a screening of Hollow Tree: Growing Up at the End of the Earth. This impactful film follows three teenagers coming of age in their sinking homeland of Louisiana. For the first time, they notice the Mississippi River’s engineering, stumps of cypress trees, and billowing smokestacks. Their different perspectives — as Indigenous, white, and Angolan young women — shape their story of the climate crisis.
The screening will be in Gerstenzang Science Building 122, beginning at 6 PM. Following the film, director Kira Akerman will talk with faculty and students about her approach to filmmaking in the context of the climate crisis, about which she writes here. Professor Ann Silvio (Journalism) will begin and moderate the discussion.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Dr. Alexander Hinton, Director of the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights, UNESCO Chair on Genocide Prevention and Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at Rutgers University shared insights from decades of research about the Cambodian and other genocides. He situated his talk in relationship to both his current research on far-right extremism as discussed in his book It Can Happen Here: White Power and the Rising Threat of Genocide (NYC 2021), and issues in perpetrator research – including writing about perpetrators and the impact of confronting inhumanities on the researcher – that he discussed in his co-authored book (with Tony Robben), Perpetrators: Examining Humanity’s Dark Side (Stanford 2023).
February 5th, 2024
Interested in learning more about Hebrew SeniorLife, its mission and vision, and opportunities for volunteer involvement this Spring?
Please join us on Monday, February 5th at the Shapiro Campus Center Room 313 from 12-1 PM for a catered lunch and learn with our amazing community partners at HSL!
January 31st, 2024
Come join us at the Shapiro Campus Center from 6-8 PM to enjoy hot chocolate and cupcake decorating and learn more about COMPACT, community engagement opportunities, programs, fellowships, grants, prizes, and more!
January 18th, 2024
Make Your Vote Count! Join us for a voting rights discussion, led by policy experts from Common Cause, MassVote, and Brandeis. Bring your questions! Featuring Prof. Zachary Albert of the Brandeis University Politics Department; Marisol Santiago, Policy and Organizing Director for MassVOTE; and Aaron Scherb, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs for Common Cause.
Thursday January 18th, 4:00-5:30 PM in International Lounge in the Usdan Student Center. Refreshments will be provided.
This event is funded by the ENACT Educate & Advocate Grant and the Brenda Meehan Social Justice in Action Grant. Cosponsored by ENACT: The Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation, the VoteDeis Campus Coalition, the Brandeis University Student Union, Brandeis Democrats, and Brandeis University Young Americans for Liberty.
Contact ENACT@brandeis.edu with questions.
November 18, 2023
A concert hosted by The Right to Immigration Institute (TRII) in partnership with COMPACT, the Brandeis Music Department, and Global Community Engagement featuring L'Acalet Duo (Benilde Larios and Benjamín González) who came all the way from Mexico City to perform works by distinguished Mexican composer Julio César Oliva including the world premiere of two song cycles created specifically to "describe the soul of the people who live in Waltham today." All proceeds went to support the work of TRII, a Waltham-based nonprofit that helps immigrants navigate legal issues through consultation, workshops and legal representation.
November 18, 2023
A concert hosted by The Right to Immigration Institute (TRII) in partnership with COMPACT, the Brandeis Music Department, and Global Community Engagement featuring L'Acalet Duo (Benilde Larios and Benjamín González) who came all the way from Mexico City to perform works by distinguished Mexican composer Julio César Oliva including the world premiere of two song cycles created specifically to "describe the soul of the people who live in Waltham today." All proceeds went to support the work of TRII, a Waltham-based nonprofit that helps immigrants navigate legal issues through consultation, workshops and legal representation.
November 8, 2023
An event hosted by COMPACT in partnership with Basement Records featuring a special screening of "Wortown Rising" by the talented Kaz Supernova with a student art exhibition to commemorate and celebrate 50 years of hip hop.
November 17, 2023
The Newman Civic Fellowship program held a lunch and learn session in partnership with the Department of Student Engagement and COMPACT. Samaria Dellorso, Brandeis' current Newman Civic Fellow for 2023, shared about her experience as a fellow, personal and professional development opportunities, her social impact project, and how any student can apply to become the next Brandeis Newman Civic Fellow.
November 14, 2023
In this second part of the series, COMPACT's Community Engagement Pathways Panel featured student leaders in numerous campus organizations and programs to provide students with peer perspectives on community engagement, especially at Brandeis.
Photo Credit: https://www.jessicalander.com
November 1, 2023
An event sponsored by Brandeis Education Program and co-sponsored by COMPACT where teacher, scholar and author Jessica Lander spoke about her recent book, Making Americans: Stories of Historic Struggles, New Ideas, and Inspiration in Immigrant Education, what education looks like in a classroom primarily filled with immigrant students and more.
News
Cooper Gottfried, "Education Program hosts Jessica Lander to speak on Making Americans," The Brandeis Hoot, 3 November 2023.
October 30, 2023
In this first part of the series, COMPACT's Community Engagement Pathways Panel was hosted to help connect students to the opportunities, resources, and faculty and staff mentors they need to embrace and realize their individual community engagement goals at Brandeis.
This two-hour event was a unique look at one of the most consequential human rights violations in history. A special combination of an academic perspective and journalistic storytelling, this event will explore the history and the ongoing legacy of the Armenian genocide of 1915.
From the re-education journey of one Turkish-American, to the personal stories of Armenians of various backgrounds, the audience witnessed the weight and veracity of this historical event and its legacy, through a variety of short videos that are part of the Neighbors in Memory initiative.
Featuring presentations from Prof. Lerna Ekmekçioğlu, columnist Ohannes Kılıçdağı, and video producer/storyteller Gonca Sönmez-Poole, the event touched upon the story of TAWA (The Turkish-Armenian Women's Alliance), a grassroots alliance of women who met regularly between 2012-14 for the purpose of dialogue, and tackle how the troubled relations unfold today, leading to new waves of violence. Featured a panel consisting of the presenters with the addition of visual artist Apo Torosyan and educator Laura Bilazarian-Purutyan, subjects in the previously screened videos.
Photo Credit: Dan Holmes
October 25-27, 2023
Celebrated cultural critic, sociologist, and author Tressie McMillan Cottom is the 2023 winner of the Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize by Brandeis University. She is a professor with the Center for Information, Technology and Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill, a New York Times columnist, and 2020 MacArthur Fellow. During her award ceremony and public lecture, Tressie McMillan Cottom surveyed challenges from her positions in academic, media, and digital networks. She talked about why knowledge work should be cultural work and cultural work is profoundly important to reimaging the publics that are under threat.
The Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize was created by the late Professor Joseph B. Gittler to recognize outstanding and lasting scholarly contributions to racial, ethnic and/or religious relations. The Gittler Prize is hosted by The Vic ’63 and Bobbi Samuels ’63 Center for Community Partnerships and Civic Transformation (COMPACT) on behalf of the Office of the President and Office of the Provost.
October 17, 2023
Get to know the FCAS Fellowship Program experience from FCAS Staff, current and past fellows, and learn how YOU can make a difference! Join us for fall refreshments from Pizzi Farm and free giveaways!
A play that shares the words and experiences of Ukrainian youth as they navigate the chaos and catastrophe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. "The Clear Blue Skies" is a play based on messages sent by Ukrainian youth to their acting teacher in the days and weeks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Attendees learned how these young people experienced the chaos and catastrophe of those early days of the war through the performance by an ensemble of New York-based actors playing the young Ukrainians and a post-performance discussion with the directors and actors, and members of the local Ukrainian community.
Photo Credit: Brandeis Education Program
September 7, 2023
A presentation of the Brandeis Education Program in collaboration with the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education SCRoLL Lab and Brandeis COMPACT hosted by Ziva Hassenfeld (Brandeis University) and Tanishia Lavette Williams (Brandeis University) with panelists Katherine Frankel (Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development), Christine Leighton (Emmanuel College), Ola Ozernov-Palchik (MIT and Boston University), and respondents Natasha Sarkisian (Whittemore Elementary School) and Marianne Duffy (Waltham Public Schools).
Photo Credit: Rose Art Museum
August 20, 2023
An event sponsored by The Rose Art Museum and co-sponsored by COMPACT.
Join us for a day of family-friendly fun at the Rose Art Museum with drop-in artmaking activities, lawn games, a close-looking tour, free ice cream by The Chillwagon, and a pop-up Family Storytime with our friends from the Waltham Library inspired by the exhibition Arghavan Khosravi: Black Rain.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
7:00 PM | Senior Studios, Epstein Building
Anida Yoeu Ali, multi-disciplinary artist and immigration rights activist will perform Palimpsest for Generation 1.5, in which her body is transformed into a palimpsest where histories are inscribed, layering one moment over another. Text pulled from her family’s memories and histories related to Cambodia are inscribed in ink onto her back. As a result of the act, ink and water drip onto her back and stain the dress. When the gestures end and the body leaves the installation, detached roots, a disembodied dress, and faint traces of a performed history remain. The work examines the cultural and emotional resonance of place and memory in relationship to personal histories of violence.
Monday, April 1, 2024
6:00 - 8:00 PM | Gerstenzang Science Building, Room 122
COMPACT is hosting a screening of Hollow Tree: Growing Up at the End of the Earth. This impactful film follows three teenagers coming of age in their sinking homeland of Louisiana. For the first time, they notice the Mississippi River’s engineering, stumps of cypress trees, and billowing smokestacks. Their different perspectives — as Indigenous, white, and Angolan young women — shape their story of the climate crisis.
The screening will be in Gerstenzang Science Building 122, beginning at 6 PM. Following the film, director Kira Akerman will talk with faculty and students about her approach to filmmaking in the context of the climate crisis, about which she writes here. Professor Ann Silvio (Journalism) will begin and moderate the discussion.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Dr. Alexander Hinton, Director of the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights, UNESCO Chair on Genocide Prevention and Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at Rutgers University shared insights from decades of research about the Cambodian and other genocides. He situated his talk in relationship to both his current research on far-right extremism as discussed in his book It Can Happen Here: White Power and the Rising Threat of Genocide (NYC 2021), and issues in perpetrator research – including writing about perpetrators and the impact of confronting inhumanities on the researcher – that he discussed in his co-authored book (with Tony Robben), Perpetrators: Examining Humanity’s Dark Side (Stanford 2023).
February 5th, 2024
Interested in learning more about Hebrew SeniorLife, its mission and vision, and opportunities for volunteer involvement this Spring?
Please join us on Monday, February 5th at the Shapiro Campus Center Room 313 from 12-1 PM for a catered lunch and learn with our amazing community partners at HSL!
January 31st, 2024
Come join us at the Shapiro Campus Center from 6-8 PM to enjoy hot chocolate and cupcake decorating and learn more about COMPACT, community engagement opportunities, programs, fellowships, grants, prizes, and more!
January 18th, 2024
Make Your Vote Count! Join us for a voting rights discussion, led by policy experts from Common Cause, MassVote, and Brandeis. Bring your questions! Featuring Prof. Zachary Albert of the Brandeis University Politics Department; Marisol Santiago, Policy and Organizing Director for MassVOTE; and Aaron Scherb, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs for Common Cause.
Thursday January 18th, 4:00-5:30 PM in International Lounge in the Usdan Student Center. Refreshments will be provided.
This event is funded by the ENACT Educate & Advocate Grant and the Brenda Meehan Social Justice in Action Grant. Cosponsored by ENACT: The Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation, the VoteDeis Campus Coalition, the Brandeis University Student Union, Brandeis Democrats, and Brandeis University Young Americans for Liberty.
Contact ENACT@brandeis.edu with questions.
November 18, 2023
A concert hosted by The Right to Immigration Institute (TRII) in partnership with COMPACT, the Brandeis Music Department, and Global Community Engagement featuring L'Acalet Duo (Benilde Larios and Benjamín González) who came all the way from Mexico City to perform works by distinguished Mexican composer Julio César Oliva including the world premiere of two song cycles created specifically to "describe the soul of the people who live in Waltham today." All proceeds went to support the work of TRII, a Waltham-based nonprofit that helps immigrants navigate legal issues through consultation, workshops and legal representation.
November 18, 2023
A concert hosted by The Right to Immigration Institute (TRII) in partnership with COMPACT, the Brandeis Music Department, and Global Community Engagement featuring L'Acalet Duo (Benilde Larios and Benjamín González) who came all the way from Mexico City to perform works by distinguished Mexican composer Julio César Oliva including the world premiere of two song cycles created specifically to "describe the soul of the people who live in Waltham today." All proceeds went to support the work of TRII, a Waltham-based nonprofit that helps immigrants navigate legal issues through consultation, workshops and legal representation.
November 8, 2023
An event hosted by COMPACT in partnership with Basement Records featuring a special screening of "Wortown Rising" by the talented Kaz Supernova with a student art exhibition to commemorate and celebrate 50 years of hip hop.
November 17, 2023
The Newman Civic Fellowship program held a lunch and learn session in partnership with the Department of Student Engagement and COMPACT. Samaria Dellorso, Brandeis' current Newman Civic Fellow for 2023, shared about her experience as a fellow, personal and professional development opportunities, her social impact project, and how any student can apply to become the next Brandeis Newman Civic Fellow.
November 14, 2023
In this second part of the series, COMPACT's Community Engagement Pathways Panel featured student leaders in numerous campus organizations and programs to provide students with peer perspectives on community engagement, especially at Brandeis.
Photo Credit: https://www.jessicalander.com
November 1, 2023
An event sponsored by Brandeis Education Program and co-sponsored by COMPACT where teacher, scholar and author Jessica Lander spoke about her recent book, Making Americans: Stories of Historic Struggles, New Ideas, and Inspiration in Immigrant Education, what education looks like in a classroom primarily filled with immigrant students and more.
News
Cooper Gottfried, "Education Program hosts Jessica Lander to speak on Making Americans," The Brandeis Hoot, 3 November 2023.
October 30, 2023
In this first part of the series, COMPACT's Community Engagement Pathways Panel was hosted to help connect students to the opportunities, resources, and faculty and staff mentors they need to embrace and realize their individual community engagement goals at Brandeis.
This two-hour event was a unique look at one of the most consequential human rights violations in history. A special combination of an academic perspective and journalistic storytelling, this event will explore the history and the ongoing legacy of the Armenian genocide of 1915.
From the re-education journey of one Turkish-American, to the personal stories of Armenians of various backgrounds, the audience witnessed the weight and veracity of this historical event and its legacy, through a variety of short videos that are part of the Neighbors in Memory initiative.
Featuring presentations from Prof. Lerna Ekmekçioğlu, columnist Ohannes Kılıçdağı, and video producer/storyteller Gonca Sönmez-Poole, the event touched upon the story of TAWA (The Turkish-Armenian Women's Alliance), a grassroots alliance of women who met regularly between 2012-14 for the purpose of dialogue, and tackle how the troubled relations unfold today, leading to new waves of violence. Featured a panel consisting of the presenters with the addition of visual artist Apo Torosyan and educator Laura Bilazarian-Purutyan, subjects in the previously screened videos.
Photo Credit: Dan Holmes
October 25-27, 2023
Celebrated cultural critic, sociologist, and author Tressie McMillan Cottom is the 2023 winner of the Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize by Brandeis University. She is a professor with the Center for Information, Technology and Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill, a New York Times columnist, and 2020 MacArthur Fellow. During her award ceremony and public lecture, Tressie McMillan Cottom surveyed challenges from her positions in academic, media, and digital networks. She talked about why knowledge work should be cultural work and cultural work is profoundly important to reimaging the publics that are under threat.
The Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize was created by the late Professor Joseph B. Gittler to recognize outstanding and lasting scholarly contributions to racial, ethnic and/or religious relations. The Gittler Prize is hosted by The Vic ’63 and Bobbi Samuels ’63 Center for Community Partnerships and Civic Transformation (COMPACT) on behalf of the Office of the President and Office of the Provost.
October 17, 2023
Get to know the FCAS Fellowship Program experience from FCAS Staff, current and past fellows, and learn how YOU can make a difference! Join us for fall refreshments from Pizzi Farm and free giveaways!
A play that shares the words and experiences of Ukrainian youth as they navigate the chaos and catastrophe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. "The Clear Blue Skies" is a play based on messages sent by Ukrainian youth to their acting teacher in the days and weeks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Attendees learned how these young people experienced the chaos and catastrophe of those early days of the war through the performance by an ensemble of New York-based actors playing the young Ukrainians and a post-performance discussion with the directors and actors, and members of the local Ukrainian community.
Photo Credit: Brandeis Education Program
September 7, 2023
A presentation of the Brandeis Education Program in collaboration with the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education SCRoLL Lab and Brandeis COMPACT hosted by Ziva Hassenfeld (Brandeis University) and Tanishia Lavette Williams (Brandeis University) with panelists Katherine Frankel (Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development), Christine Leighton (Emmanuel College), Ola Ozernov-Palchik (MIT and Boston University), and respondents Natasha Sarkisian (Whittemore Elementary School) and Marianne Duffy (Waltham Public Schools).
Photo Credit: Rose Art Museum
August 20, 2023
An event sponsored by The Rose Art Museum and co-sponsored by COMPACT.
Join us for a day of family-friendly fun at the Rose Art Museum with drop-in artmaking activities, lawn games, a close-looking tour, free ice cream by The Chillwagon, and a pop-up Family Storytime with our friends from the Waltham Library inspired by the exhibition Arghavan Khosravi: Black Rain.
Academic Year 2022-23
AY 23
COMPACT's monthly coffee hour to gather community partners together to learn more about priorities, events, news, and opportunities for partnership and ongoing support.
May 15th, 2023
Hosted by the Brandeis Education Program and co-sponsored by COMPACT.
Photo Credit: Megan Ross
April 23rd, 2023
Supported by a grant from the Waltham Cultural Council.
In partnership with Brandeis Arts Engagement and the Rose Art Museum.
Spring 2023
The Common Good Careers Cohort program is an innovative 6-week long Spring cohort experience sponsored by COMPACT, in collaboration with the Hiatt Career Center, that offers undergraduate students a collective opportunity to do career development activities.
March 25, 2023 — Liz Sandoval '25 (Melody Mentors Program - Samuels Scholars, COMPACT)
Sponsored by Basement Records, SIMS, and COMPACT
News
Grace Doh, "Industry expert Jimmy Kang leads audio engineering workshop: The hip hop producer and manager showcased his expertise in the proccess of mixing, mastering, and networking for Brandeis musicians," The Justice, March 28, 2023.
March 24, 2023 — Isabel Lin '26 (Samuels Scholars, COMPACT), Waltham Group - Community Connections, The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy
Community Partner: SHINE (Stoneham High School)
Feb. 10, 2023 — Mandel Center for the Humanities
Sponsored by COMPACT and Department of Anthropology
Jan. 28, 2023 — Gender and Sexuality Center
Community Partner: Trans Community of New England
News
Mia Plante, "Brandeis GSC to present at 'First Event,'" The Brandeis Hoot, Jan. 27, 2023.
Oct. 28, 2022 — Taylor Ackley, Department of Music
Community Partner: Music Worcester
Oct. 14, 2022 — Department of English
Community Partners: North American Indian Center of Boston, American Indian Studies Association and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association
(Massachusetts Field & Education Manager for Our Climate and Administrator for the Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition)
Oct. 13; Nov. 1, 15, 30 — Office of Sustainability
Community Partner: Our Climate
News
Hedy Yag, "Brandeis hosts second Climate Action Dinner," The Justice, Nov. 8, 2022.
Photo Credit: Jazz Dottin
Sept. 23, 2022 — Environmental Studies Program (ENVS) and Office of Sustainability
Community Partner: MA Youth for Climate Justice
