“'From my heart to yours' is the motto of Heartfelt Harmonies Charity, which reflects both my story and why I knew I would find a home at Boston College. "When I was 15, I was diagnosed with ACM, a rare, life-threatening form of cardiomyopathy. One moment I was a normal teenager, and the next I was learning that my heart could stop without warning. I ended up needing an implanted defibrillator (ICD) to stay alive. It was terrifying, but I was also incredibly lucky. I had health insurance, highly trained doctors, and access to the technology that gave me a second chance. So many people don’t. "That reality is what led me to create Heartfelt Harmonies, a charity dedicated to health equity through AED donations, training, and awareness. I work with organizations that serve families and youth in low-income communities, where access to lifesaving equipment is often limited. Sudden cardiac arrest doesn’t discriminate, but access to survival does. "When I came to BC, I saw the same commitment to others reflected in its mission to be 'Men and Women for Others.' It confirmed what I already believed: service, compassion, and justice should be at the center of everything we do. BC has given me a community that understands why this work matters. And now, from my heart to yours, I’m still working to make sure more people get that chance too." - Kiersten Rock-Torcivia '27, founder of Heartfelt Harmonies Charity Photo by Amanda Simpson '27

"[Mattapan residents] gave so much to me. I do this to continue their legacy. You hear about jobs where you go in, make your money, leave, and don't do anything else. That is not what this is for me. This is what I was meant to do." - Shavel'le Olivier '14, executive director of Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition | READ MORE in Carroll School of Management at BC's Carroll Capital: https://on.bc.edu/CarrollCapital_3_2025

“To me, Black History Month is about recognition, remembering, counter-storytelling, progress, faith, and social change. While working in public education, I saw so many students, teachers, and leaders committed to understanding how the history of Black folks in this country can inform our ongoing struggles for progress, freedom, and social change. At the same time, there were moments of deep frustration and sadness as others used Black History Month to share negative attitudes towards Black folks, social justice, and civil rights. I hope and pray that I can contribute to more of the positive discussions and activities and help reduce the harmful rhetoric that impacts our children.” - Cedrick-Michael Simmons Ph.D.’23, a visiting assistant professor of sociology at Nazareth University and CEO of Nerds for Justice, LLC

“My understanding of Black History Month has become a lot more timeless. As a child, I remember being in school and learning about Black historical figures like Dr. Martin King, Jr. or Ella Fitzgerald, who I wrote a report about in fifth grade, and thinking of Black history as something that was a bit removed from my life. But as I've gotten older, I've realized it’s not just a time to reflect on the past—it's a beautiful opportunity to reflect on the ongoing history that's being made by my peers, who remain committed to building these communities and fighting for justice.” - Nnenna Okorie ’26 #BlackHistoryMonth Photo by Amanda Simpson '28

"I want students to understand that housing law is central to justice, not peripheral. It is often treated as technical or secondary, but it shapes everything: opportunity, wealth, even democracy. Housing affordability is now a national crisis. Addressing it requires an expansive set of legal skills (including litigation, real estate transactions, tax, land use, and local government) and an interdisciplinary mindset. Lawyers need to work with architects, engineers, environmental scientists, and community organizers. "I also want students in general, and students of color in particular, to understand that justice is not only achieved through constitutional or criminal law. Transactional and property law can also serve as powerful tools for achieving equity and reparative justice. You can make a living as a real estate lawyer and still serve your community. Ultimately, I want future lawyers to see housing as a site of imagination: a place where law can literally build the world we want to live in." - Lisa Alexander, Boston College Law School whose work sits at the intersection of housing, equity, and imagination | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/KnockKnock

“When I was younger, Black History Month felt like a school unit focused on learning names, dates, and a few well-known figures before moving on. As I’ve gotten older, it’s become much more personal: I pay closer attention to my family’s lessons, their sacrifices, and the ways Black culture has shaped who I am. I think about ancestors, survival, creativity, and how Black people have consistently created beauty despite efforts by the outside world to restrict us. Instead of something limited to February, Black History Month has become a reminder to be intentional about understanding the past and pushing for real respect and change in the future.” - Anthony “AD” Delgado ’26 #BlackHistoryMonth Photo by Amanda Simpson '28

"Serving at the John M Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton has been such a rewarding part of my time at Boston College. By helping create a space where kids feel safe to share their talents, build confidence, and push themselves to grow, Boston College's PULSE program has shown me the real impact of service beyond the classroom. In the game room, I have the opportunity to foster community, leadership, and healthy competition through daily activities and mentorship. Each week, I continued to build meaningful relationships that promote personal growth, teamwork, and a sense of belonging in a positive and inclusive environment." - Brock Tuminello '28

“It’s a simple procedure and wasn't painful at all. I just kind of sat there, so it was crazy for me to realize, ‘Oh, wow, I am saving someone's life. This is going to be what cures cancer for someone.’ It was so easy that it really didn't set in. They say that 50 percent of people who get matched don’t go through with the donation, which is a crazy statistic to me. I hope that if I talk about my experience, people will think ‘Why wouldn’t I do that? It’s pretty easy and won’t be that much of a burden.’” - Thomas Gregory ’26 (right), the eighth Boston College student to save the life of a stranger by donating stem cells through the Project Life Movement | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/ThomasGregory

“I wish people knew how unique an opportunity and a community this is. When you come to a place like Messina, you have a family, even if you don’t know everyone. People genuinely care about you. They want to see you succeed. Messina is about people, connections, personal relationships, and joy. Everyone here has a passion for helping students, and you see that every day.” - Jaaliyah Rodriguez, a second-year Messina College student in the health sciences program | READ MORE about the Messina-Boston College Connell School of Nursing partnership: https://on.bc.edu/CSON_BridgetoOpp

“There are very different dimensions between a career in industry and a career at Boston College. Working at BC, I got a chance to do something that I loved while being a part of a very special community. There have been so many ways that I have been able to immerse myself in the BC community, ranging from retreats to teaching and, of course, tailgating. I also had an opportunity to see my kids benefit from a Jesuit education, work alongside my brother, and support the AJCU and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome with technology matters, all while enjoying our wonderful colleagues here at BC. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have served Boston College.” - Michael Bourque, Vice President for Information Technology Services who will retire in March 23 years at BC | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/MichaelBourque

“Montserrat is a very special place. In my role, I can be that face of love to say, ‘Listen, you matter. We want to succeed. We want to make sure that you truly, at the end of your day, become a Jesuit graduate who's competent, compassionate, and loving.’ It's a place where I really find joy because I come every day to a job that has been an engine to my vocation.” - Michael Davidson, S.J., the 2025 winner of the Bishop Healy Award | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/HealyAward_Davidson

“Both (my friend) Zach and I have seen how mental health can play a pretty big role in people's lives. We think it's very important, especially at an academically rigorous school like Boston College where people focus a lot on classes, studying, getting good grades, and are always sort of looking toward the future. Thinking about getting an internship or into a graduate program. We think that it's important for students to be able to have an outlet where they can feel safe and talk about things. "BC already has resources, like counseling services, but we wanted to just create a student club. We wanted to create an outlet for people who also feel passionate about mental health and have the end goal of eliminating the stigma around campus of reaching out for help. Students should be able to say, ‘Yes, I do get stressed out. This does happen. I'm not just some perfect student who got into this school who studies all the time and does all these extracurriculars.’ We're hoping to find people who feel similarly and are looking to invest time into initiatives like that.” - Luke Mangano '28, who co-founded the "Be Seen @ BC" student group