Senior Prom.
The Barkley Senior Prom, held in the Hiebert Lounge on August 23, was the culmination of an Activist Bucks project by MPH students Sarah Brewer and Sabrina Zerzouri to address elder isolation at the nearby Barkley Housing Development.
Brewer and Zerzouri’s goal was to reduce elder isolation among Barkley residents by providing social opportunities—and cultivating connections between residents and MPH students, building a relationship that could serve as a foundation for future public health work with this community.
Together with community leaders at Barkley; the Partnership in Health and Housing manager, Marylyn Creer; Activist Lab staff; and student volunteers, Brewer and Zerzouri hosted events throughout the summer for the senior residents of Barkley. Bingo was quickly identified as the preferred activity for the senior residents and younger volunteers alike.
At the end of the project, Barkley residents enjoyed an evening in Hiebert Lounge on the BU Medical Campus, watching the sun set over the Boston skyline. They danced the night away thanks to the musical stylings of MPH student, Rafik Wahbi, who was the DJ for the event. The eldest couple in attendance, Mr. and Mrs. Fordham, were voted and crowned Prom King and Queen.
The Activist Lab provides a micro-grant program, called Activist Bucks, to support student projects that create change through action. Apply here.
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