Salem State University's Humanities Brigade: A Year of Transformation and Impact in Community Engagement

From the Classroom to the Community: A Year with Salem State University's Humanities Brigade

In fall 2025, Salem State University made a significant leap in advancing humanities education through the launch of its Humanities Brigade. This initiative aimed to explore a critical question: how can students use their knowledge of the humanities to address real-world challenges? Fast forward a year, and the inaugural cohort of this program has not only found answers but has also made impactful contributions to their communities.

Supported by a generous $480,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, the Humanities Brigade is designed for first-year students, combining integrated coursework with community engagement and paid professional experiences centered on social justice. Throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, nine enthusiastic students from this initial cohort teamed up with notable local organizations such as The House of the Seven Gables and the North Shore Community Development Coalition (CDC).

Under the guidance of a dedicated faculty member, Professor Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello, students learned to apply lessons from disciplines like American studies and art history to tackle projects that matter. These endeavors ranged from improving museum accessibility and preserving historic sites to conducting neighborhood research and community storytelling. Their hard work culminated in productive summer internships, where they were able to continue their contributions alongside experienced professionals, applying their classroom insights to help shape community projects.

The culmination of their efforts was marked by a 120-hour paid internship—an opportunity that allowed students to enhance their learning beyond traditional classroom walls while addressing pressing community needs. This practical application of the humanities empowered students to clearly see the relevance of their academic pathways, showing them that humanities education extends far beyond textbooks and lectures.

Students participated in significant projects like the Faces and Places of The Point initiative through North Shore CDC. They engaged in interviews and community research, which served as a foundation for future initiatives to spotlight the stories and identities that characterize the vibrant Latino community in Salem's The Point neighborhood. This research will in turn help shape how the community sees itself and how outsiders can better understand its heritage.

During the summer, internships provided hands-on experience that included developing content for historic programs and expanding outreach efforts, such as the Punto Urban Art Museum’s storytelling initiatives. Lisl Hacker, chief program officer for North Shore CDC, highlights the importance of the students’ contributions: “Their genuine commitment and creativity not only strengthen the work we do but also underscore the impactful application of humanities in real-world settings.”

At The House of the Seven Gables, students worked on critical projects that aligned not just with their learning but also with institutional priorities. They helped evaluate the museum's audio tours for accessibility, documented oral histories, and contributed significantly to long-term preservation strategies for the historic site. Dakota Russell, executive director at the museum, mentioned that the students' previous year of focused training in practical humanities applications enabled them to approach real-world issues with maturity and insight.

The success story of Mia Polanco reflects the program's transformative power. Initially unsure about her academic direction, Mia discovered a new sense of purpose through her participation in the Humanities Brigade. “I saw this program as a bridge; it got me off my hopeless island and gave me direction,” she shared passionately, now pursuing a liberal studies major with focuses in history and philosophy. Her work during the internship involved evaluating the museum's audio tour to enhance historical interpretation and accessibility.

Throughout the year, it became clear that the Humanities Brigade was more than just a program; it was a movement. It helped students recognize the value of their education and its practical applications in community engagement. As Professor Duclos-Orsello noted, the initiative was designed to help students see their humanities studies as essential not only for personal growth but also for community empowerment and civic responsibility.

The Humanities Brigade also covers costs associated with coursework materials and out-of-classroom learning opportunities, ensuring all students can participate regardless of financial constraints. This commitment to accessibility reflects the program's broader mission to integrate academics with community service effectively.

As Salem State University prepares to welcome its second cohort of the Humanities Brigade this fall, the program stands as a bold testament to the future of humanities education, illustrating how it can nurture civic-minded leaders ready to make a difference in their communities. For more information about this transformative program, visit the Humanities Brigade’s dedicated website at salemstate.edu/humanitiesbrigade.

In a world where the very fabric of community engagement is evolving, Salem State University's Humanities Brigade emerges as a beacon of hope, promising to cultivate a generation of socially conscious leaders equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern world with humanistic insight and practical skills.