July 2023 News Blog
News briefs from the HCC campus and beyond
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Steve Jones Soldiers On
With the June, grand reopening of the Warrior's Art Room in a new, much larger space in Easthampton's Keystone Building, alum Steve Jones '15 was finally able to realize one of his dreams: to create a public gallery where veterans can display their artwork. "This is an amazing space," said Jones, a former Marine sergeant, Iraq war veteran, and director and co-founder (with his wife Brenda '18) of the nonprofit Warrior's Art Room, a free place for veterans and their families "to heal" by making art. "Our last space was 380 square feet. This is 1,750, which enabled us to create the gallery." Jones named the gallery after Staff Sergeant James G. Wheeler, who served with Jones in Iraq before taking his own life. "From the very beginning, I was gonna name it after him," said Jones, "because, when we stop talking about them and mentioning their names" - soldiers who died by suicide - "that's when they become forgotten." Jones majored in psychology at HCC, but it was through art classes that he found a salve for his own post-traumatic stress. He opened the first Warrior's Art Room in 2016 in the basement of a Westfield church. Jones also recently started a new job in Easthampton as the city's veterans service agent. Important work, he notes, but he prefers the art room. "This is what it's all about," he said. "This is where I actually feel like I make more of a difference." For hours and info, go to warriorsartroom.org.
Duffy Drops By
State Rep. Patricia Duffy visited HCC's El Centro program on Monday, July 24, 2023. Duffy, along with her legislative aide, Holyoke City Councilor Juan C. Anderson-Burgos, met with the El Centro team and college administrators to learn more about the Latinx student support program, which started up in 2022. They discussed the mission of the program, which aspires to provide a Hispanic thriving learning community to meet the needs of Latinx and Spanish speaking students including academic advising, financial aid support, holistic wraparound support services, cultural events and celebration, and a deep commitment to building a sense of belonging for Latinx students on campus. Rep. Duffy spoke about her commitment to the people of Holyoke and her recognition that programs like El Centro can have a positive impact on the community at large. Anderson-Burgos, as a Latinx HCC alum, spoke about his experiences at the college and expressed feeling inspired and moved by what he could see the El Centro team was building at HCC. Rep. Duffy and Anderson-Burgos will be joining El Centro again in the fall semester to continue their commitment to engaging with students and staff in the HCC community. Above, Rep. Duffy with El Centro director Julissa Colón and Holyoke city councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos.
Brinny's Back
In 2020, as a culinary arts student at HCC, Brianna Couture '21 founded Brinny's Hand Pies, an online pickup and delivery service in Agawam. After graduating, she committed to it full time, until a medical emergency last year sidelined her for several months. We're happy to report that Brinny has fully recovered and recently started working as a full -time lab tech at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute. "I love being at HCC with like-minded people, and working at a culinary school just fills my heart," she said earlier this month. "It's rewarding to see people progress in a field that I feel is extremely rewarding." For those craving one of Brinny's delicious hand pies, such as a sweet banana walnut Dulce de Leche or savory mushroom and leek, don't' worry. She's still running the business part time based on requests. "After having a traumatic medical episode, I realized I wanted something more 9 to 5," she said, "and this is the perfect opportunity for me. It allows me to actually run my business from a place of joy and not, you know, panic." Check it out at brinnyshandpies.com. Her spinach artichoke hand pies are the best. "Lots of cheese," she said. "Everybody seems to like that."
Más Murales
Less than two weeks after completing a giant mural of a Bomba dancer and drummer on the outside of HCC's Marieb Building, Puerto Rican artist Betsy Casañas returned to campus to do two more murals for El Centro, the college's bilingual student support program. One is along the corridor opposite the El Centro office and features icons from Latin America. "We have about half of all Latin American countries represented, plus Puerto Rico," said Casañas. "They're different leaders, activists, authors - people from all walks of life." Among the 16 figures are names many people will recognize, such as baseball legend Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico) and writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Colombia), and many more who should be better known outside the Spanish-speaking world, such as Luisa Moreno, a Guatemalan-born labor activist, Dr. Jose Gregorio Hernandez, a Venezuelan physician who was later declared a saint, and the Mirabal sisters, who were murdered after demonstrating against the dictator Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. "When people look at the mural, I hope they feel a sense of pride when they see all of these Latino leaders who have contributed so much and that they see themselves represented on the wall, especially with El Centro really catering to the Hispanic community here at HCC," said Casañas, who last week invited HCC students, faculty, and staff to help paint while she outlined the final HCC mural on the wall inside the El Centro office, a vibrantly colorful representation of a traditional Puerto Rican vejigante mask. There's certainly an educational aspect to the murals, she said, but also something more – to celebrate – "celebrate community, celebrate culture, celebrate history." See more photos in our Facebook album ...
Loud and Proud
Two years ago, in June 2021, President Christina Royal raised the Pride flag over the HCC campus for the first time. On Friday, July 14, 2023, a large crowd of students, faculty, and staff braved the rain to watch her do it again, for the third and last time, in what turns out was her last official act as president of HCC. This time, her fiancé Karen joined her at the flag pole. "In so many ways, raising the flag is a symbolic gesture," said Royal, HCC's fourth president, the first woman, first bi-racial, and first queer person to hold that position. "That alone isn't the action that creates a welcoming and inclusive environment, but symbolism is important along with action. We need all of it to create a safe environment where people can speak up and share their experiences so that we all have a comfortable place to live and coexist together." After the flag-raising, she lingered for goodbyes. As of 11:59 p.m., she would be officially retired. "I can't wait to see all the ways that HCC continues to grow," she said. "And so I will always be excited to support the college, now as a community member and former president. I have so much love for this institution, and that love is because of all the work we've done together."
