The Mount Ida Mural Project was made possible in part by the Rubin Fellowship Grant, which was awarded to Community Engagement and Social Impact Coordinator Gemma Halfi this year. The grant helps any faculty member from Emma Willard School, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hudson Valley Community College, or Russell Sage College to apply for funds that may be used in combination with the faculty member's expertise, connections, and institutional knowledge to leverage resources in support of a local non-profit.

 

 

Gemma’s proposal, Nourishing Mount Ida, is a plan to raise $30,000 for the food pantry to complete some much-needed construction work in the church basement, which will allow an expansion of non-perishable storage units and make the whole operation much more sustainable and increase the number of households served every week with supplemental groceries.

For over five years, students at Emma Willard School have spent Saturday mornings volunteering at the Mount Ida Food Pantry as part of the Community Engagement Opportunity (CEO) program. The pantry is located just down the road from the school, and students are able to sign up to volunteer as often as they like. These are hands-on opportunities to help meet immediate needs while examining the larger structures that perpetuate inequity.

 

 

 

“The students who sign up to participate in weekend CEOs experience first-hand the importance of giving of one's time, energy, and resources to care for our own communities,” says Gemma. Many students volunteer regularly throughout their time at Emma Willard School, as the program offers flexibility and choice so that each student can choose the breadth and depth of their participation.

“What I love about volunteering at the food pantry is getting to be able to get an inside look into how the systems in place to support our communities work,” says Sofia Preda ’25, who frequently attended CEOs at the pantry during her time at Emma Willard. “Having the opportunity to take a small part in making that support happen is a very special feeling.”

The mural project provided a chance for students to experience a new aspect of community engagement: working alongside local muralist Eugene O’Neill, students learned how to plan and create a mural and how to develop a real-world, community-engaged fundraising strategy in support of the project. 

 

For many students, the mural program was their first foray into large-scale painting and collaborative design, a sometimes challenging activity! Abbe A-N. ’27 reflected: “My favorite part was interacting with people I wouldn’t otherwise talk to, and learning painting skills [...] I felt a little challenged painting collaboratively with other people, but it’s nice to see others’ ideas and ways of creating art.”

The experience of working alongside peers on a large-scale artistic project is one echoed by other students. “I enjoyed getting to know people that I didn’t before,” says Alex B. ’28. “I loved spending time with each other, listening to music, and painting.”

Siena C. ’27 appreciated learning to apply her artistic skills in a professional and community-based setting. “It inspired me even further to pursue a major in the design field,” she shared. “When [Eugene] mentioned the balance of art and business, it made me think about minoring in something like business.”

 

Through their artwork, students have contributed not only to beautifying the space but also to the pantry’s future capacity to serve even more families. The project helped students see mural painting and art as a new passion and method through which community members can give back in varied ways that have a multitude of impacts. 

“It got me thinking about how there are many different ways to contribute to our community,” Iris C. ’27 noted. “Not just through volunteering or donating money, but through creativity and collaboration.”

“What I love about the pantry is the fact that you are helping a community and connecting with a community in both direct and indirect ways,” said Helena De La Carcova ’25. “Because, yes, you’re directly giving someone groceries that will help them feel secure this week, but you’re also saying good morning, and learning about their day, and memorizing their name, and getting to know them and their family."

 

The Mount Ida Mural is a lasting symbol of what can happen when students are encouraged to blend creativity with community action, providing an opportunity for students to make meaningful connections between classroom learning, personal beliefs, and the needs of local and global communities.