‘Get to Know the Area in Which You Go to School’.
Bonita Andrade Administrative Assistant, SPH Finance and Administration
Age: 56
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts (“I grew up here in the South End.”)
Breakfast: Oatmeal with shredded almonds and brown sugar.
How did you start organizing volunteer opportunities for the SPH community?
It was always a passion: I used to go to Tufts University Medical Center to the pediatric unit and read books to children, and things like that. One day I was sitting here, and I said to [Director of Graduate Student Life] Mary Murphy-Phillips, “Mary, what can I do for you? Give me something.” And she said, “Why don’t you see what you can find out on volunteering for our students.” A light bulb went off: bing!
We used to have an employee named Betty Ollen, and she had set up [a volunteer arrangement] with Rosie’s Place—it was more geared to staff and faculty, and twice quarterly a group of us would meet in the Talbot lobby and go over. It was something that we did consistently, year after year, and when she left it stopped. So I already had that insight into how to reach out and get involved.
What brought you to SPH?
I [started in the] Department of Maternal and Child Health. After 10 years it merged with the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences to become the Department of Community Health Sciences, and they already had administrative people. [Former Operations Manager] Sally Dwyer said, “Well, the person here [at the front desk] is going to retire, we’d love to have you at the front.” After a short time I went on to take another position here in the Health and Disability Working Group [now the Center for Advancing Health Policy and Practice], and later I came out here [to the front desk] full time.
I had absolutely no familiarity with public health, none, but what I appreciate, and how I learned about it, was that when I worked in the maternal and child health department and did all the administration there, it was student-based. All the faculty were teaching, so my interactions day-to-day were with the students. Students would call and I would set them up with their advisors, things of that nature, and it just grew on me.
Why do you think it’s important for public health students to volunteer here in Boston?
Instead of just moving about in this little area, get to know the area in which you go to school. Don’t just limit yourself to that campus, that street. Walk around. Get involved.
I’m from the South End, and there’s so much history here. I’ve watched this place transform. I may not have the best feelings about that transformation, because people don’t really know each other—unless you own a dog—and so I think it’s important get to know your environment.
What are some of the sites you’ve organized with?
Last year I sent students to Pine Street Inn twice, and then I sent another group over to the Greater Boston Food Bank. I had other projects set up as we got closer to May, and then students were doing their presentations, they were getting ready to graduate, and we decided to stop doing it in the spring and the summer. Then we started back up in September.
Just the other Saturday, November 19, we had a group go to the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center on Dudley Street to help with the Thanksgiving event.
We actually have another group, a small group plus myself, that’s going to volunteer at the Christmas Castle event on Arlington Street starting this Sunday, December 4 to 8. Each day two or more will participate.
What has been most rewarding?
For me personally, it was having these opportunities to go to Rosie’s Place. Because I grew up here, when I go into Rosie’s Place a lot of the faces are people I personally know, people I had connections with throughout my childhood. They walk in there with their head down and they look at me, and I say, “Hey girl!” “Hey Bonita! How you doing?” I just feel that’s a good thing. Everybody is important no matter how down on your luck you are.
It was also really nice the first time students went to the Pine Street Inn—and there was a snowstorm. School closed. They had to arrive early in the morning, and it was our first hard snowfall last year. We had students going out to volunteer without this being a practicum or something they really felt stuck in or were obligated to do, but 9 out of 10 showed up, and they were so happy to be there, and the agency was so happy to have them. I received pictures of their happy faces. It was just a wonderful thing. The feelings that the people share are good, so I want to continue that.
Interview by Michelle Samuels
Find volunteering opportunities on the Announcements page.