“Winning this award has meant absolutely everything to me and my family. I do not take this award as my own; it's for all my family that is back in Haiti and it serves as a reminder to the incredible responsibility I have to them and to my community to become the change. “Similarly, MLK's legacy reminds me that the fight against injustice is mine and that taking it up is a necessity for ensuring that Black people, specifically Black mothers, are provided with the justice and resources that they deserve." - Maria "Christie" Louis ’24, the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship winner | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/ChristieLouis

“One of the amazing things about Inside-Out is the way in which a lot of the barriers dissolve as the class goes on—it really does become a group that is learning side-by-side as peers. As the instructor, I try to be attentive to whatever comes up. I hold office hours at the House of Correction, just like I do at Boston College, making sure that I'm attentive to students in the same way, whatever their needs are. Once they become a student of the course, it doesn't matter if they’re incarcerated or have never set foot in a prison before, my mission is to help them succeed.” - Matt DelSesto ’12, who coordinates and teaches the BC Inside-Out Program, run in collaboration with the Suffolk County House of Correction | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/MattDelSesto

“Our mission is to power conversation. When thinking about charcuterie, it's a centerpiece product that brings people around a table, and when you think about artists, their work speaks as well—there’s a lot of synergies between the two. When we opened our Beacon Hill store, we not only wanted to provide a product, we also wanted to be a place where artists could speak and showcase their work and be recognized and compensated properly for doing so. We give them wall space but also product space where they can help design a charcuterie box seasonally and receive royalties for each box that's sold in their name. It’s an important part of who we are.” - Gilli Rozynek ’20 (right) and Morgan Biles ’21, the founders of Kured, which now has locations in Boston and New York City | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/Kured

“I’m the co-founder of the Moon Club, BC’s coolest unofficial club. Every full moon we gather on the Gasson Quad around midnight and cheer on the moon. People bring blankets and music and hang out—it's just a silly fun thing and everyone’s welcome. I've been super happy with it because it started as a joke between me and my roommates but now a lot of people are talking about it. In December we had 32 people show up and someone brought a moon lamp. We actually have a Moon Club trophy as well that we found on one of our walks home. We give it to someone new after every meeting—whoever’s just the most joyous about the moon.” - Parker Keller ’23 Photo by Yating Wang '24

"Teaching is an active process of renewing the mind. I’ve gotten so many ideas and insights through my conversations with my students. Every time I walked into the classroom at the start of the semester, I knew I’d walk out more informed, with a whole new set of questions. That’s why it’s important for people who are doing research to teach and practice, and vice versa: it all fits together." - Mary Walsh, founder of City Connects and the Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development's executive director of BC's Mary E. Walsh Center for Thriving Children | READ MORE in Boston College Magazine: https://on.bc.edu/MaryWalsh_WIL

“It's not just about the classes, it’s about your mental health and growing as a person by being around people every day. It can be really hard for athletes after retirement because they've been in a bubble and now they have to face reality. Many of them don't know what they want to do, they don't even know what's next. But being in school, taking classes, and engaging in discussion helps you keep your mind busy and improve and be the best you can be.” - Reuben Ayarna, former Boston College Men's Soccer standout who's studying corporate systems at the Boston College - Woods College of Advancing Studies after retiring from a 14-year career as a professional player | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/GoalOriented

"Black History Month represents resiliency and resistance. When Carter G. Woodson co-created curricula with Black teachers to highlight the accomplishments of Black people in the United States, they designed their lessons to disrupt the narrative that African Americans were ahistorical and did not contribute to the creation of this country. Many educators who taught 'Negro History Week' in the 1920s put their livelihoods and lives on the line. The month of February reminds me that our work to dismantle deficit perspectives of Black people in the United States is still needed and is not always safe work—but courageous educators do it anyway." - Earl Edwards, Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development Professor READ MORE about Prof. Edwards: https://on.bc.edu/EarlEdwards

“Black history month means a lot to me, it’s a chance to celebrate Black stories, culture, and voices. It’s an awesome time to appreciate other people and find empathy in one another. Being named the first Black captain meant a lot to me; I just hope that one day someone that looks like me can be in my shoes.” - Marshall Warren '23, BC men's hockey first Black captain | READ MORE on NHL.com: https://bit.ly/BC_Warren

"My maternal grandmother's job was pressing the button on the elevator at a large office building. I have been blessed to become the Vice President of Student Affairs at Boston College. She laid the foundation from which I grew, learned, and hope to make it less challenging for those that come after me. I am my grandmother's legacy and together, we are Black History." - Shawna Cooper Whitehead

"Having a month dedicated to Black history is important because it serves as a dedicated time for the country to reflect on the contributions and experiences of Black Americans throughout history. It is a time to learn about and celebrate the achievements of Black Americans and acknowledge the systemic racism and discrimination they have faced. Additionally, it serves as an opportunity to educate future generations about Black history and culture, which is often overlooked in mainstream education. It also serves as a reminder that Black history is American history and that it should be an ongoing effort to learn about it." - Destiny Chimilio '23 Photo taken by Yating Wang '24

"I was diagnosed with cancer my freshman year and had no idea what I was walking into. After my first chemo session I struggled with side effects I’d never heard of like bone pain, dry mouth, and having everything I ate taste like metal. I learned from nurses and other patients about products that can help, and that’s what started Care for Chemo. At first I was dropping off boxes of products for patients at my local clinic, but now I have three board members and a bunch of volunteers and we’re sending out 10 boxes a week to people all over the country. I never saw it going this far but I’m so glad it has. It’s helped me accept what I went through and move forward from it." - Zarah Lakhani '24, founder of Care for Chemo [www.careforchemo.org]

“I don’t see myself as being in politics. I don’t care if my ally is a Republican or a Democrat. I don’t care about party lines in that sense. It’s really just a matter of who is willing to help us at that moment.” - Gunnar Esiason '13, cystic fibrosis and rare disease patient leader| READ MORE in Boston College Magazine: https://on.bc.edu/Breathtaking