By Emma Quirk ’26 & Genevieve Zahner ’26
News & Photos Editor | News Editor
Mount Holyoke Community-Based Learning welcomed Girls Inc. of Holyoke, Massachusetts to campus on Wednesday, Feb. 18 for a visit and panel discussion about college and the opportunities that Mount Holyoke has to offer.
Girls Inc. works with various partners to “ensure that all girls have what they need to thrive — in school, at home, and in their communities” by providing elementary, middle and high school programs to provide academic support, personal development, career exploration, and bolster physical well-being. They additionally have a program called Eureka!, where girls participate in a five year program from 8th grade through their senior year of high school working with professors at the University of Massachusetts in classrooms, labs and in the field of different professions to boost college and career preparation, building skills and confidence both academically and personally.
A cohort of girls from Girls Inc. visited campus, taking a tour of the equestrian center andthe greenhouse, before concluding the tour at the Betty Shabazz Cultural Center. There, they had lunch and reflected on what they learned and thought about any questions they might have had.
The middle and high school students then sat in on a panel discussion with current Mount Holyoke students where they were able to ask questions about the college process, Mount Holyoke and what opportunities are available to them both at Mount Holyoke and at other members of theFive Colleges. The elementary school children sat in on a separate listening circle, where they were able to have a similar conversation, more tailored towards providing early exposure to the college environment for young learners. Trinity Moore ’29 is a CBL Fellow and is partnered with Girls Inc. as an after-school intern. She was part of organizing and running this visit and was pleased with its outcome. “The visit went really smoothly!” she said in an email interview with Mount Holyoke News. “My main concern was that the visit be age-appropriate and interesting to the range of students we would have visiting (5-13-year-olds). Thankfully, we did things that intrigued all ages, like visiting the Equestrian Center and the greenhouse, and offering coloring pages for students during a Mount Holyoke student-unofficial panel.”
Additionally, she was grateful for the diversity of students part of the panel discussion. “This kind of visibility is crucial for prospective students, as it allows them to see themselves reflected in the current student body, reinforcing the conviction that they are incredibly capable of succeeding in college,” Moore said.
Akilah Williams ’26 was another of the student leaders who was part of this collaboration between CBL and Girls Inc. “Leading a segment during the visit was especially powerful for me as it made me feel trusted by CBL and affirmed that they genuinely value us tutors as individuals and leaders,” Williams said. “That trust meant a lot to me as it showed me that my voice matters not just in theory, but in practice.”
Williams found the visit to be particularly meaningful because she had been part of Girls Inc. herself as a middle schooler in New York. “Being able to now give back to a program that once poured into me felt full circle. It reminded me how impactful and empowering Girls Inc. truly is,” she said. “Seeing the girls engage with our campus and ask questions reinforced how important spaces like this are for young people. I’m also really grateful that CBL collaborated with Girls Inc. and gave us, as students, the opportunity to share our experiences about campus life.”
Reflecting beyond this event, working with CBL has pushed her to be more involved in and take action in the local Western Mass. community. “For me, CBL means refusing to turn my back when I see injustice, discrimination, or inequality,” Williams said. “Community-based learning gives me the tools and the space to respond rather than remain silent. Through CBL, I’ve learned that real change starts with presence. Showing up matters. Listening matters. Advocating matters.”
Cat McKenna ’28 contributed fact-checking.