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Date: 2/8/2023
HILLTOWNS — Five Gateway Regional Middle School eighth-graders, one each from Blandford, Huntington, Montgomery, Middlefield and Russell, began the year as Project 351 Ambassadors on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Faneuil Hall in Boston.
Vendelli “Vendi” Keier of Blandford, Amelia Steward-Frey of Huntington, Cailin McKellick of Montgomer, Anna “Anya” Niles of Middlefield and Roan Boeri of Russell were selected by their teachers for their “quiet leadership and potential,” said eighth grade teacher Hannah Sullivan, who has been the Gateway Project 351 advisor since 2014.
Project 351 is a program started by former Gov. Deval Patrick in 2011 as a movement of hope-in-action, bringing together eighth graders from every city and town in Massachusetts to unite as one “community in service” for causes greater than themselves.
Gov. Maura Healey spoke at the Project 351 launch on Jan. 16, the first in-person gathering since 2020, as did Embrace Boston Executive Director Imari Paris Jeffries, the group behind “The Embrace” sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King that had been publicly unveiled the day before. The panel of three also included a Project 351 alumnus.
The theme of the day, in honor of King, was “Embrace Hope, Embrace Unity, Embrace Love.”
For the majority of the Gateway ambassadors, who had said yes when asked to join, the kickoff was their introduction to the Project 351 movement. At first, the Gateway students were a little nervous.
“I didn’t know what it was. I thought the best way to find out was to participate in it,” said McKellick.
Steward-Frey wasn’t sure what it was either, but thought it sounded fun to do service projects for the first time, and “a great way to meet new people and make friends.”
She also said it was really interesting to hear Project 351 alumni’s experiences. Sullivan said there was a good showing of alumni at the event.
After the program, the students went on buses to different services projects throughout the city. Vendi Keier sorted clothing donations for Cradles to Crayons, a Boston nonprofit that provides clothing, school supplies and other essentials to children from birth to age 12, and partners with Project 351.
Keier said her group sorted clothes, taking out anything soiled or that had personal, religious or inappropriate references on them. They then put the good clothes into bins, sorted by size. She said the motto of Cradles to Crayons is “quality equals dignity.”
Steward-Frey’s group cut up felt fabric and tied the edges for blankets, and made cards and kits for hospitals. What surprised her was “how much of an impact we can make in one day, if we all work together.”
At the end of the day, the Hilltown students left inspired.
Niles said, “We got to meet a lot of new people. It inspired me. We can make a change and impact people’s lives.”
The kickoff in Boston was only the start of the Project 351 service year. The ambassadors are meeting virtually on weekly leadership calls, and will next plan their spring service project, all guided by the students themselves.
Sullivan said traditionally, Project 351 ambassadors have supported Cradles to Crayons for the spring service project, but last year Gateway supported the Village Closet in Huntington, which has a similar mission.
“It makes more sense to keep it in the community,” she said. The group plans to connect with the local nonprofit again this year.
The spring service project, which starts in April, involves working together as a group to collect donations of clothes and other items, whatever is needed, in community centers. Keier said she is already planning to approach Blandford Town Hall, where her father works in the Water Department, as a possible location.
Other upcoming events include a 9/11 tribute service for the military, and a fall service day, with opportunities to connect with other ambassadors throughout the year.
The Gateway ambassadors will be looking to their communities for support of all of their service projects.