Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
Issue link: http://dysoncollege.uberflip.com/i/1313899
W elc o me to the C o mm u ni t y A ction CCAR: Annual Report 2019–2020 3 Nineteen years ago, Pace experienced a great tragedy: the collapse of the World Trade Center. On 9/11, we lost alumni, family, loved ones, and access to our downtown Pace community. Amidst physical reminders of these losses, including posters of the missing and lingering smoke, the Pace community joined together in acts of patriotism and remembrance. We persevered and New York recovered, but both the country and our university were forever changed. The civic engagement and public values requirement and core curriculum were forged from the loss through our recommitment to community support. It was a response to what we wanted our students to be able to accomplish if they set their minds to it. Now, we are at another pivotal moment in our history. We are bombarded with discontent and discord as we approach the 2020 presidential election, facing a historic pandemic that has laid bare deep-seeded inequalities, and once again, witnessing the reality of racism on a national level. Yet amidst all of this, inspiring and transformational things are taking place. Because of the resilience and passion of our community, we know that our New York community will grow stronger, and we are empowered by the possibility of a more just society. This report is dedicated to the individuals who do not count on others to fix the problems around them, but step forward to face the issues head on in whatever ways they can. By participating in service projects alongside the communities we live in, cultivating leadership, developing and teaching courses that incorporate diverse perspectives and help students make connections between courses and real-world needs, and participating in community-based undergraduate research, these Pace community members have made an impact this year. These individuals are a testament to the resilience and passion of our community, and we are pleased to be able to share their stories with you. A Letter from the Center