A student stands in the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and speaks into a microphone.

Building a civic toolkit

Clinton fellows spent time at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.
Image credit: Joel Haskell

Sophomores are encouraged to forge new paths of collaboration during Civic Action Lab

Author  Photos by Joel Haskell
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The Clinton Fellows sophomore experience—with 110 participants—kicked off with the multi-day Civic Action Lab in August prior to the start of the fall semester. Students took part in community-building programming, practiced constructive dialogue, discussed styles of leadership and social impact ecosystems, packed 27,000 meals for local food banks, and heard from civic innovators and thought leaders including large-scale fiber artist and educator Janet Echelman.

The Clinton Fellows program is part of the Hillary Rodham Clinton Center for Citizenship, Leadership, and Democracy, which is part of the Wagner Centers for Wellesley in the World.

A view from above looking down on the students seated in senate seating.
Leadership coach Dr. Max Klau oversaw a workshop on exploring inner and outer transformation to help lead with purpose.
Students stand in the senate and raise their right hands.
At the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, Clinton Fellows were randomly assigned to serve as republican, democrat and independent senators to develop and negotiate bills that address major policy issues facing the nation. This year they tackled election reform and AI, and data privacy and social media.
  • Three students sit at a table focused on writing.
    While on Cathleen Stone Boston Harbor Island, students explored characteristics of a civic impact ecosystem, their role in civic action, and participated in constructive dialogue.
  • A student balances on a rope that her teammates are pulling taught.
    Outward Bound led students in experiential self-discovery and community building programming. Photo by Anne Buckley
  • Students sit on the grass i pairs and talk
    During the week, Clinton Fellows had time for small group and partner conversations about constructive dialog, their “whys” for civic engagement, ways to build community, and reflection.
  • A musician dressed in white and wearing a hat shows students the balafon, a type of xylophone.
    Balla Kouyaté (left) shows students the underside of a balafon, a type of xylophone with centuries-old roots in West Africa. He performed during the Civic Action Lab, along with Shaw Pong Liu. Both are members of the Silkroad Ensemble founded by world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
A room full of seated students listen to a presenter at a lectern.
On the first evening, students created a mental health toolkit after hearing from Megan Burke, founder of Cuerd@s—a company that creates embroidered clothing that helps with calming anxiety.
Students wrap colorful knitted squares around a tree on the quad.
Students transformed the academic quad from a public space into a civic place by wrapping trees with crocheted squares as a gift to the Wellesley community. They answered the question, “Before I leave Wellesley, I want to…” and attached their answers to the squares.
  • Three young women stand together talking and laughing inside a gallery.
  • Tables are filled with students and community leaders as they eat a meal and chat.
    The Clinton Fellows traveled to Artists for Humanity headquarters and gallery for dinner with 25 greater Boston civic innovators from a wide range of professions including an infectious disease doctor, the first African American woman superintendent of the Boston Police department, the founder of City Year, as well as urban designers and architects.
Students wear hair caps while standing in two rows facing each other, scooping grains.
On the last day, students packed 27,000 meals for greater Boston area food banks bringing the total number of meals packed by Wellesley students this year through the HRCC and civic engagement programs to 40,000.