Nathan Pansa

I was guided to CESL by an old advisor of mine during my sophomore year. I originally started in CESL’s 293 class, Learning Through Community Engagement. Through this class, I became heavily involved with my community partner, The Partnership for Worker Education. I picked the PWC based on a previous experience in another class. When I first met with a worker from the PWC, it was for a short story that I had to write in class. I was graced with speaking with Nick Chavez, a worker at UMass, who told me how he was once on a train in Japan unable to keep his balance without bumping into those around him. Eventually, Nick surrendered to his environment and went with the flow. Nick told me since then he’s been just moving with the flow. His lesson resonated with me, so picking the PWC as my community partner was not a hard choice. 

The PWC is a support system for the often-forgotten workers of UMass. The PWC offers classes in English and other skills for advancement in the workplace. They also work towards helping to build a social community for the workers of UMass, helping to facilitate the creation of worker-led music groups and other activities. My work for the PWC hit close to home because I come from a family of Italian immigrants, and the resources we provide would have been game-changing if they had access to them. 

I believe CESL classes should be more well-known. The fluidity the class offers allows you to make a real difference while still being a college student. I would describe CESL as a mutual relationship with your community partner where they teach you how to help better your community. My experience with CESL has caused me to contemplate a career in advocacy for students. My main takeaway from CESL is learning for yourself through your own experiences is valuable and important.