SquashBusters Alum and incoming MCLA freshman Yamiles Urena reflects on meeting Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Governor Michael Dukakis
To be completely honest, I don’t know much about politics and how exactly it works. But what I do know is that there is a lot of controversy and criticism around it. Meeting and listening to both the former and past Governors of my state, Massachusetts, Mr. Deval Patrick and Michael Dukakis, was an honor and a great experience. Continue reading
Today the Citizenship Tour began with an exciting visit from Governor Deval Patrick and Governor Michael Dukakis. The tour, along with SquashBusters’ students, staff, and alumni, came together to play the game we all love and then participate in a question and answer session. The students asked an array of questions about the Governors’ passions, inspirations, and experiences in public service.
DORIS AMOAKO
CITY SQUASH ALUM (BRONX, NY)
BERKELEY COLLEGE C/O 2016
WHAT’S ONE INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOU, DORIS?
I WAS BORN IN GHANA, AFRICA. I MOVED TO AMERICA WITH MY MOM AND BROTHER TO JOIN MY FATHER WHEN I WAS 8.
WHAT PART OF THE TOUR ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?
I’M EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DISPLAYS.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GET OUT OF THIS TOUR?
I HOPE THAT THIS TOUR WILL GIVE ME A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF POLITICS AND HOW MUCH OF A VOICE I DO HAVE IN THE GOVERNMENT. I ALSO HOPE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS AND OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR MYSELF.
Students have traveled from across the country to join us for the first NUSEA Citizenship Tour. They have come from as close as down the street at the SquashBusters building in Boston to as far as San Diego. We spent the beginning of our first day getting to know each other, playing a little squash, and doing some fun team building activities.
Next stop – Harvard University for dinner with Greg Zaff, the CEO and Founder of SquashBusters. We enjoyed a pasta and salad dinner full of great conversation and lots of laughs! Greg shared the story of how he began the urban squash movement with a lot of passion and help from his diverse network. He urged everyone to use the Tour to explore their own passions and begin making networks of their own.
We then turned to a local favorite – ice cream at JP Licks and some down time on the Harvard Yard!
Finally, we ended the night by taking some time to prepare for our big day with the Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick and former Governor of Massachusetts Michael Dukakis. The students came up with some insightful questions about their careers, future plans, and more.
Good morning from the NUSEA Citizenship Tour. Getting ready to meet the students for the first day of an action packed 9 days!
We are officially one day away from kicking off the National Urban Squash and Education Association’s (NUSEA) first ever Citizenship Tour. While the students won’t be arriving till tomorrow, the staff made up of NUSEA and member program staff and alumni will be spending the day preparing for the 9-day tour. We will be going over everything to make sure the tour is educational, safe and of course lots of fun!
There’s a lot to go over, from safety protocol to planning group activities and discussions to doing some staff bonding! We are super excited to get started!
Let’s get to it!
What does it mean to be an engaged citizen? What are the different ways that each of us can make a difference in our respective communities? The Urban Squash Citizenship Tour will give 22 civically minded and academically-accomplished high school and college students from across the country the opportunity to explore these questions during a 9-day trip that will begin in Boston and end in Washington, DC. Stops will include New Haven, Greenwich, CT, New York City, and Philadelphia.
During the trip students will spend time with leaders in government, journalism, education and the nonprofit community; visit sites that have played a role in American history; volunteer with local urban squash programs; exercise and practice at university and urban squash facilities; and promote NUSEA’s local member programs and urban squash generally. Notable meetings on the tour include Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick, UN Ambassador Samantha Power, Representative John Lewis of Georgia, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.
For more information on NUSEA visit http://www.nationalurbansquash.org/
SEA Citizenship Tour 