Tufts University Community Relations

Thank you to the over 25 students from & who volunteered at the 2024 August Moon Festival in Chinatown this year! Thrilled to be part of this annual neighborhood tradition! 🤝

We were honored to welcome new teachers and staff from the Medford Public Schools at Tufts University today!

Best of luck to all teachers, staff and students as they begin a new school year in the month ahead! 📚✏️

Thanks to our Tufts University neighbors and community partners for joining us last week at the Tufts Community Ice Cream🍦 Social.

We enjoyed spending a beautiful summer afternoon on our Medford/Somerville campus with you, catching up, and sharing smiles over delicious treats from Medford's own Colleens’s Ice Cream!

📷 's: Mike Ritter for Tufts University

🔈Community Partners!

Tufts FOCUS is seeking non-profit organizations based in Boston, Medford and Somerville that would benefit from a group of eight to ten students volunteering their time on-site from Saturday, August 24 through Tuesday, August 27. 🤝

Tufts FOCUS is a pre-orientation program that provides new first-year students the opportunity to meaningfully engage in community service with organizations in Tufts' host communities.

➡️If interested, please fill out the Community Partner Interest Form: https://tinyurl.com/39xyhb9n

Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life

Heading out on summer vacation?

Be sure to check out this list of book recommendations from members of the Tufts community! ☀️ 📚 ⛱️

Summer Book Recommendations 2024 The summer book recommendations for 2024 from the Tufts community—fiction and nonfiction.

Come and enjoy Tufts' Magic Circle Theater - New England’s oldest theater by and for children - in Tufts’ Balch Arena Theater this summer! 🎭

Performances of The Many Disguises of Robin Hood will run July 17 through July 19 while performances of A Year with Frog and Toad will run from August 6 through August 8. These family friendly shows will feature the work of student actors and technicians who have participated in Tufts Children's Theater summer program.

🎫 Full schedule and ticket purchase information here: tuftsdramadancetickets.universitytickets.com

Tufts University recently released an Economic and Community Impact Report detailing the institution's contributions to the state of Massachusetts and beyond.

Highlights:
💠 $2.1 billion generated in economic impact in Massachusetts.
💠 11,673 jobs supported locally, including 4,502 individuals directly employed by Tufts.
💠 $101.4 million generated in state and local taxes.
💠 $28 million in dental savings for community members and neighbors through Tufts University School of Dental Medicine clinics.

➡️ Read report and learn more: communityrelations.tufts.edu/impact

Announcement! 🔉

Undergraduate students at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University(SMFA at Tufts) will now have access to free and unlimited MTBA subway and bus passes over the next two years through a new MBTA pilot program.🚊 🚌

Funded by Tufts University, the program will give SMFA at Tufts undergraduate students free trips to and from Tufts university’s Medford campus via the Green Line and various bus routes.

More about the program here! ⬇️

Tufts to offer Fine Arts undergrads free MBTA passes this fall About 600 students enrolled in the School of the Museum of Fine Arts will qualify for a pass. Tufts chose this population because SMFA programs are largely based outside of the main campus in Medford.

Neighbors, this Thursday (June 20) you are welcome to join Tufts University's fifth annual Juneteenth Day of Remembrance and Reflection, featuring performance, discussion, and an engaging conversation with Dr. Christina Greer, Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University.

While the in-person event is at capacity, we invite all community members to join the event virtually.

➡️ More info and to register for the Livestream link, visit: https://tinyurl.com/3j7k5eb6 .

Tufts University is proud to sponsor CACHE in Medford's Circle the Square event happening this coming Saturday, June 15.

During this free, family-friendly street festival, Medford Square will be abuzz with live music, dance performances, food vendors, kids activities, and programs offered by local businesses and organizations! 🥁 🖍️ 🍦 🍔 💃

Visit Circle the Square for the full schedule and activity map!

Last week, Tufts University President Sunil Kumar met with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey at their offices on Capitol Hill. President Kumar and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey discussed ways to improve access to higher education, expand community health programs, and fund research initiatives in Massachusetts.

Tufts University is proud to sponsor the 8th annual Hoops for Hope taking place this Sunday, June 9 at Dugger Park in Medford. 🏀 🤝

Grab your basketball and head down to this fun event featuring high boys and girls tournaments, clinics led by guest coaches from the NBA & WNBA, food trucks, kids activity stations, and so much more!

➡️ Schedule and more info: hoopsandhope.org/schedule-of-events

Medford Campus Neighbors: Tufts University continues work on the Science and Technology Center located at 4 Colby Street, Medford. Updates to the HVAC equipment on the top of building will make it more energy efficient and sustainable.

As part of this work, on Saturday, June 8, there will be a crane on Colby Street. Due to the size of the crane, a portion of Colby Street will be closed from 7AM to 3PM. Portions of Bowdoin Street and Princeton Street will also be affected. Please see a map of the impacted area here: https://bit.ly/3X6uAMA

Free parking for all affected neighbors will be available at the Tufts University owned parking lot located between 4 Colby Street and 66 Colby Street. Parking will be available in this lot from 5pm on June 7 through tomorrow at 5pm on June 8.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Tufts Community Relations at communityrelations.tufts.edu/contact-us.

Congrats to the 35 local nonprofits that recently received a 2024 Tufts Community Grant!

Tufts University awarded a total $105,000 in grants to organizations in Boston, Grafton, Medford and Somerville.

Funded by donations from faculty and staff as well as a generous matching gift from Cummings Foundation, Tufts Community Grants supports organizations that address food insecurity, educational and arts programming, immigration services, homelessness resources, mental health initiatives, and other needs in Tufts’ host communities.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s recipients and thanking them for all they do!

Read about this year’s recipients:

Tufts Awards 35 Grants to Support Local Initiatives Thirty-five local organizations in Tufts’ four host communities have been awarded $105,000 in grants from the Tufts Community Grants program. The grants, which are funded by donations from Tufts University faculty and staff, are awarded each year to local nonprofits in Boston, Grafton, Medford, an...

We are pleased to provide an update on summer construction projects that are ongoing or have recently been completed on Tufts University's Medford/Somerville campus. Learn more about these projects and the plan to expand undergraduate housing by 120 beds.

If you have questions about construction on our Boston, Grafton, or Medford/Somerville campuses, please not hesitate to contact Tufts' office of Government & Community Relations: https://bit.ly/4aNw9lC

Undergraduate Housing Expands with Blakeley Hall Renovations Tufts is on track to expand undergraduate housing by 120 beds and modernize academic and research buildings this summer on the Medford/Somerville campus.The bu

Grateful for the incredible efforts of members of the Tufts University Strength and Conditioning staff and police officers from the Medford Police Department as they came together recently to assist with a medical emergency. 🤎💙More on this story here ⬇️

Community response saves Mass. man's life during heart attack Charles Devirgilio's ordinary Tuesday of running errands took a life-altering turn when he suffered a heart attack while driving.

Thank you to Teagan Mustone, a 1st year at Tufts University, who served as Community Outreach Assistant in the office of Government & Community Relations this semester.

Teagan, a Medford native and Medford High School graduate, volunteered as a Civic Semester Fellow in Peru this past fall and is a writer for The Tufts Daily. This summer, she will be interning with Shuddhaskar Free Voice.

We are grateful for her contributions to many projects and initiatives over the past few months!

Medford/Somerville Neighbors! 🔊

Tufts University's all-university Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2024 will be held this Sunday, May 19 at 9:00 a.m. on our Medford/Somerville campus.🐘 👨‍🎓 Access to Tufts Commencement is limited to Tufts students, faculty, staff, and guests of graduates. More details and the full schedule of the day's events here: https://bit.ly/3pJRJpv

➡️ While there has been significant planning by staff to minimize disruptions to neighbors during Commencement, we still anticipate a higher than usual volume of traffic in the area. If any issues arise this weekend, please call the Tufts University Police Department at 617-627-3030.

🏊‍♀️🐘 Dive right into Tufts swimming lessons this summer! Registration now open for June swim classes.

Lessons are led by members of the Tufts Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving team and will be held at Tufts' Hamilton Pool on the Medford/Somerville campus. Free parking across from the pool is available for registered families.

Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/3EQZJK3

Happening tonight: Community Meeting for Medford/Somerville Neighbors

Tufts University will be hosting a community meeting at 6pm to provide updates on the following topics:

◾ Recently completed and ongoing housing projects on the Medford/Somerville campus
◾ Ongoing academic renovation projects that are occurring this summer on the Medford/Somerville campus
◾ Recently completed athletic facilities

Our Capital Projects team looks forward to sharing upcoming plans with neighbors, answering your questions, and listening to your feedback.

➡️ All are welcome to attend this meeting which will be held on Zoom. Please register in advance at bit.ly/3UQL1Ls.

Medford/Somerville Neighbors: 🔊 Next Wednesday, May 15 at 6 p.m., Tufts University
will host a community meeting to provide updates on the following topics:

◾ Recently completed and ongoing housing projects on the Medford/Somerville campus
◾ Ongoing academic renovation projects that are occurring this summer on the Medford/Somerville campus
◾ Recently completed athletic facilities

Our Capital Projects team looks forward to sharing upcoming plans with neighbors, answering your questions, and listening to your feedback.

➡️ All are welcome to attend this meeting which will be held on Zoom. Please register in advance at https://bit.ly/3UQL1Ls.
➡️ Learn more about a variety of construction projects on the Medford/Somerville campus: https://bit.ly/3wwPgm3.

Come cheer on the softball teams from Medford High School and Somerville High School at the first-ever Tufts Softball Classic! 🥎

The two teams will take to the diamond at Tufts University's Spicer Field on Monday, May 13! Admission to the game is free as is parking with a permit that will be available upon arrival.

We invite all local families to join us this Saturday and Sunday for Tufts Jumbos Athletics's Community Sports Weekend on our Medford/Somerville campus! 🥎 🏈 🥍 🥅

On Saturday, there will be a full slate of home competitions with teams offering family-friendly activities after their competitions.

On Sunday, Tufts student-athletes will host an Activity Day from 11am-1p.m. on Field F (behind Bello and Spicer Field). Come for an afternoon of sports, lawn games, contests, prizes, & more with Tufts student-athletes, Tufts student-groups, and community organizations!

More info: https://bit.ly/3Udffa8

Medford/Somerville Neighbors: On Saturday, April 20, the annual outdoor Tufts University Spring Fling concert will be held from 12pm-5pm on the Academic Quad in Medford.

Event set-up will begin Friday, April 19. No amplified sound will be produced until 10am on Saturday. Packard Avenue between Professors Row and Capen Street East will be closed on Saturday. This is a ticketed event for Tufts students only.

Tufts Police will be on site to help manage traffic flow and maintain a safe and secure environment. If you have any concerns during the event, please contact the Tufts University Police Department at 617-627-3030.

Medford/Somerville neighbors! In honor of the anniversary of the signing of the Tufts charter, the annual Tuftonia’s Day celebration will be held on Fletcher Field in Somerville from 5pm to 9pm this Saturday, April 12. This event is for Tufts students only.

This year, Professors Row will remain open for the duration of the event. Tufts Police will be on site to help maintain a safe and secure environment. If you have any concerns during the event, please contact Tufts University Police Department at 617-627-3030.

Local familes! Kick off April school vacation with the Jumbos! 🐘

Join the Tufts Softball team for their annual Community Day taking place this Saturday, April 13 at Spicer Field! 🥎

After their 2pm game, players will invite the community to join them on the field to run the bases, take photos and get autographs, and share some pizza! Info ⬇️!🤎🩵

The TEDxTufts conference is taking place this Saturday on Tufts University's Medford/Somerville campus!

All are invited to attend this annual event which will feature an exciting line-up of ten speakers. 🎫 Tickets are $5 per session and are now available: tedxtufts.com.

Admission includes lunch from several Medford and Somerville restaurants and participation in on-site experiential activities.

In case you missed it! 📣

Our April Neighbor Newsletter is now live and is filled with free and fun activities for our campus neighbors to enjoy including this weekend's TEDxTufts conference, the upcoming Community Sports Weekend, and a free basketball clinic this Sunday.

➡️Check out the newsletter and subscribe here: communityrelations.tufts.edu/newsletter

On Monday, April 8, the Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College (TUPIT) will host their MyTERN 2024 Symposium, Reentry and Community: Life During & After Incarceration. All campus neighbors are invited to attend.

The three-panel symposium will feature formerly incarcerated MyTERN students and fellows, along with TUPIT organizational partners. Panelists will explore how individuals coming home after prison navigate housing, employment, and social and emotional well-being.

➡️ Details and registration: https://bit.ly/43Ih5Eb
➡️ Learn more about TUPIT: https://bit.ly/49hd4aY

Summer job applications are now open for Boston high school youth!

This summer, Tufts University will host 14 paid student interns in partnership with the City of Boston. The program is part of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's Summer Youth Employment Program. Participants must be City of Boston residents and between the ages of 15 to 18.

More information and to apply: go.tufts.edu/SYEP