HFA Community Meal Builds Connection During HFA Week of Wellbeing
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As part of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts’ Week of Wellbeing, the HFA Community Meal invites students, faculty, and staff to come together around something simple but powerful: a shared meal.
The initiative was inspired in part by conversations with generous alumni who asked the college how it was addressing community access to food. Their support comes at a time when food insecurity remains a significant concern for college students nationwide and on campus.
“We have some generous and thoughtful alumni who asked us to address community access to food,” said Cara Takakjian, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. “This aligned with recent data from our campus indicating that over 30% of our campus population report experiencing food insecurity.”
For many students, meeting basic needs is an essential foundation for academic and personal success. It is difficult for students to achieve their best version of success if their basic needs aren’t met,” Takakjian said. “It is critical that we do what we can to support them.”
UMass Amherst continues to address this challenge through a variety of Basic Needs Initiatives, including the Campus Pantry. The HFA Community Meal complements these efforts at the college level, made possible through the generosity of alumni and the collaboration of faculty and staff.
Beyond providing food, the event highlights the role shared meals play in fostering community and belonging. “In so many cultures, food is what brings people together,” Takakjian said. “Sitting around a table and enjoying a meal together provides a common experience, hopefully an enjoyable, delicious one, through which people can connect.”
Faculty and staff participation is also an important part of the event’s spirit. Their presence alongside students reinforces the sense of a shared community and a collective commitment to wellbeing.
“I hope that it reminds students that the faculty and staff hold student success and wellbeing at the center of the work they do each day,” Takakjian said. “I also hope that it reiterates the idea that we are all an integral part of the HFA community.”
For students who attend—even just once—the goal is simple but meaningful: enjoy good food, connect with someone new, and feel welcomed.
“I hope that they’ll have a conversation with someone new and get to eat some delicious food from a local business,” Takakjian said. “I hope they’ll walk away feeling that the College sees them and cares for them. And, of course, I hope they’ll come back to the next HFA Community Meal.
The next Community Meal will take place on Wednesday, May 6.