Matt O’Connor: President/Editor-In-Chief
As prominent examples of leadership on the campus of Merrimack College, the Office of Intercultural Initiatives and the Unity House are always striving to create a welcoming and inclusive community with their monthly events and frequent collaborations. Over the past month, the Unity House Coordinators and the wider Intercultural Initiatives team have been putting on numerous events to start off the semester. This is a glimpse into what they’ve accomplished during the month of September.
Kick Off and Ice Cream Social – The year started strong with the Unity House’s annual kickoff celebration on September 3rd, with dozens of students and Merrimack staff numbers attending the event. The theme this year was Catch A Glimpse, which showed off what the team had planned and the exciting things in store for the rest of the year. Later that week on the 5th, Scoop and Social took place where students could learn more about the Unity House and their hardworking team.
Taste The World – Each month, the Unity House hosts Taste The World, a fan favorite and a recurring opportunity to sample the distinguished cuisines from various countries around the world. This month’s spotlight was shined on the dynamic flavors of Greece on September 10th.
Simple Soup – In collaboration with Campus Ministry, Simple Soup brings students and staff members together to have a meaningful conversation over a delectable bowl of soup. With this month’s flavor being Butternut Squash, attendants engaged in discussions about renewals and new beginnings on September 14th.
Communi-TEA – Another recurring event at the Unity House is Communi-TEA, which highlights a country’s culture and traditions with tea and snacks while engaging in meaningful discussions. This month, conversations were had and stories were told about the traditions of Spain on September 22nd.
LatinX Heritage Month – Starting on September 15th, the Association of Latinos Moving Ahead (A.L.M.A) kicked off their jam packed celebration of LatinX Heritage Month. Their first event was Rep Your Flag, which saw flags from all across Latin America being displayed and students were able to take photos with them and proudly represent their heritage. Later on September 23rd, A.L.M.A hosted their LatinX Heritage Carnival. As one of the organization’s biggest projects of the year, the event featured live music and performances from experienced Latin performers, all coming together for an unforgettable night.
What’s Next? – Heading into October, the Intercultural Initiatives and Unity House team have a lot more in store. In addition to their recurring events, students and staff members can expect many other fun surprises. With so many voices each telling their own stories, the Unity House is one of the most active and engaging spots on campus.
