Cambridge programs

A Stitch in Time uses knitting to help fulfill community needs of warm clothing and caring outreach through three unique branches. The Outbound Branch aims to empower women in local shelters by teaching them how to knit. The Inbound program strives to teach and foster knitting among undergraduates on campus so that items knitted can be donated. The Inbound-Outbound Connection serves as an intermediary between these two programs.

The Abigail Adams Society was originally formed—albeit under a different name—by a group of conservative-leaning women at Harvard who felt that they had no forum in which to freely discuss their views on work, family, and the ever-precarious balance that professional women must strike between the two. They further hoped that the Forum would serve as a voice for women who felt alienated by modern mainstream feminism.

Adelante! aims to foster personal development of high school freshmen girls, motivating them to set high goals and helping them to build the academic skills and virtues of character that they will need to excel in their academic, social, and professional lives. Working with students from North Cambridge Catholic High School, participants of Adelante! form friendships with the girls through one-on-one tutoring. Academic growth extends beyond homework help through skill-building projects in reading, writing, and math.

Named for the first Black woman to graduate from Radcliffe College, the Alberta V. Scott (AVS) Leadership Academy gives participating 9th, 10th and 11th grade girls the opportunity to cultivate leadership skills and individual creativity through semester-long projects. Each girl, or scholar, is assigned a mentor, and mentors and scholars participate in weekly discussions on topics ranging from maintaining physical and emotional health to setting and achieving goals.

Every autumn, Harvard welcomes Allston-Brighton and Cambridge families to one of the season’s Crimson football games, providing complimentary tickets and playing host with a free pre-game lunch. It’s a great opportunity for Harvard to host its neighbors, young and old alike, while Allston-Brighton and Cambridge residents get a chance to visit campus and spend an exciting fall afternoon cheering on the local team.

PBHA’s Alternative Spring Breaks runs public service trips during Spring Break. We travel to rural and urban areas throughout the eastern United States. We work closely with community organizations to (1) renovate homes, churches, community centers, and playgrounds; and (2) learn about the social, economic, and political issues affecting the region. There is time for fun activities like bowling, skating, and visiting national parks. With a motto of “Community service, cultural exchange, and fun,” ASB provides a worthwhile experience during Spring Break.

The American Repertory Theatre (ART) is Harvard's professional theatre in residence. Harvard provides the ART with the use of the Loeb Drama Center as well as other support, and the ART, in turn, brings world class artists, directors and designers to the Cambridge-based non-profit theatre company. There are over 200 performances of seven to twelve productions each year, including the 2008-2009 productions of Chekov's The Seagull and David Mamet's Romance.

Under a long-term lease with the City of Boston, Harvard manages The Arnold Arboretum, a living museum containing over 14,000 trees collected during the past century from Asia, Europe, and North America. One of the city’s largest green spaces, the Arboretum draws approximately 250,000 visitors each year. In addition, indoor exhibits about botanical and historical themes are presented in the Arboretum’s Hunnewell building, located in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston.

The Schlesinger Library draws thousands of researchers each year to study women’s history, gender issues, and United States social history. Officially known as the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, its impressive holdings include letters and diaries, photographs, books and periodicals, ephemera, oral histories, and audiovisual materials—all of them documenting women’s lives and women's issues, primarily in the 19th and 20th centuries.

A number of programs bring artists to Harvard for varying lengths of stay and highlight these artists in programs open to the community through the Office for the Arts.

ARTS FIRST is Harvard’s annual four-day festival, sponsored by the Harvard Board of Overseers, that celebrates those students and faculty who are involved in the arts. The entire community is encouraged to check out Harvard’s art scene and its more than 200 events—most of them free and open to the public—that include a dance festival, theatrical performances, exhibitions, films, concerts, musicals, and poetry readings. Information: Office of the Arts 617-495-8699

The Askwith Education Forum acts as a galvanizing force for debate and conversation about education from its narrowest to its broadest perspectives. Each year, the forum sponsors 35-40 events, which are free and open to the public. Speakers and panelists come from many diverse fields and backgrounds to speak on topics relevant to education and learning. Issues range from immigration to mind/brain research to arts and technology. Past speakers have included Rob Reiner, Studs Terkel, Anna Deavere Smith, Steven Pinker, Henry Louis Gates, Ted Sizer, James Comer, E.D.

Harvard's Best Buddies chapter is part of the international organization that matches individuals with intellectual disabilities in one-to-one friendships with their non-disabled peers. Students who become Peer Buddies are expected to contact their Buddy weekly and participate in two activities per month. Many buddy pairs go on to be lifelong friends - and there are many fun group activities and outings for the entire chapter throughout the year.

Harvard undergraduates created Bhumi (Sanskrit for "Earth") in 1996 to raise awareness about major issues such as public health, natural resource management, human rights, education, and environmental activism. Also known as the Harvard International Development Group, Bhumi works to serve developing communities around the world through education and direct action and by engaging students in new and innovative ways to help these global problems.

This organizations matches 40 student volunteers at Harvard Law School with needy children, ages seven to fourteen, in the Cambridge and Somerville area.

With well over 100 members, the Harvard Black Law Students Association (HBLSA) truly reflects the diversity that exists within the black community of Harvard Law School (HLS). Founded in 1967 and now the largest chapter in the National Black Law Students Association, HBLSA dedicates itself to the support and guidance of Black students in academic, professional, and social endeavors.

Harvard runs quite a few community-based programs, and the University’s students are not alone in their ambition and desire to help others. BASIC, or Boston Area Students in the Community, works with other service-minded students at Boston colleges to create and run service initiatives throughout the area, including tutoring and after school programs for children, neighborhood clean-up efforts, and other daylong projects.

PBHA’s Cambridge After School Program strives for social justice in the Cambridge community. CASP focuses on providing affordable and accessible after school programming for low-income Cambridge youth. By following this mission, CASP hopes to combat socio economic disparity and empower Cambridge youth, allowing them to realize their full potential. Through the unique tutoring/workshop structure of the program, CASP not only provides academic assistance, but also engages youth to explore interests in the fields of art, technology, athletics and more.

The Cambridge Jets, a private track club, are avid runners whose young members range in age from 7 to 14. Since 1997, the Harvard Women’s Track Team has maintained a relationship with the girls on the Cambridge Jets, hosting an activity for these young runners at least every month. Brought together by their love of running, the Harvard women and their younger counterparts meet over lunches, go bowling, visit the Children’s Museum and, of course, cheer each other on at track meets.

Cambridge Microfinance Initiative is the first student group at Harvard solely dedicated toward helping local aspiring small-business owners achieve their goals. We provide public service in helping clients secure microfinance loans through our partnership with Accion USA. Our clients receive one-on-one consultation and personalized business advice from our student volunteers.

PBHA’s Cambridge 1-2-1's mission is to connect Harvard undergraduates to high school students at the Community Charter School of Cambridge (CCSC) through one-on-one mentoring. Each mentor-mentee pair meets on a schedule that they determine, and attends our monthly program-wide outings to restaurants, colleges, etc. Mentors with 1-2-1 serve as big brothers/sisters as well as personal and academic advisers for their mentees and are widely perceived as hugely valuable influences by both students and faculty at CCSC

Cambridge Partnership for Public Education is a collaborative effort of higher education, business and industry, community leaders, teachers and parents working to improve Cambridge Public Schools. Working with the Cambridge School Department, the Partnership sets priorities for improving professional development for teachers and administrators, curriculum development, early childhood education, youth employment, and post-secondary opportunities.

This series of CPS seminars with HGSE faculty and other associates focuses on effective and informed practices, national trends in educational leadership, and the power of language in leadership. Sessions are planned for Cambridge Public School Program Directors, Principals, Assistant Principals, Deans of Curriculum, Deans of Students and Curriculum Coordinators, and CRLS Curriculum Coordinators and Instructional Coaches.

Up to 30 students from Harvard’s closest neighborhoods can supplement their high school curricula each year with college-level classes offered by the Harvard Extension School. The full-tuition scholarships allow the students an incredible opportunity to explore a variety of courses, while Extension School classes benefit from the added diversity and youth perspective that talented high school students bring to the table. Information 617-998-8516

Cambridge Student Partnerships (CSP) is a student-run nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce the barriers to finding employment, housing, and various community resources for local low-income residents. With energy, enthusiasm, and open minds, our volunteers leverage their understanding of the local business sector and knowledge of available community resources to provide personalized, pro bono advisory services to each client.

PBHA’s Cambridge Youth Enrichment Program (CYEP) is a 7-week summer camp serving the North Cambridge, Central Square, and East Cambridge areas. Campers range in age from 7 to 12, are primarily African-American and Latino, and many come from low-income, single parent families. CYEP provides campers with a variety of educational and recreational summer activities that they would otherwise be unable to afford. Each morning a Junior and Senior Counselor lead a group of ten campers through lessons designed to be enjoyable while providing social and academic enrichment.

For some high school students, summer academic instruction-like that available at the Cambridge-Harvard Summer Academy-provides a huge advantage. Held at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, the Academy offers both remedial and enrichment courses in science, math, English, and social studies. Approximately 350 Cambridge students are taught by teams that include a veteran mentor teacher and two to four teaching interns from the Teacher Education Program (TEP) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE).

Those who think they might have an interest in architecture, landscape architecture, or urban planning and design would do well to check out the Career Discovery Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD). Established in 1970, this intensive, full-time summer program engages students over the course of six weeks in studio work, seminars and lectures, workshops, and field trips that enable them explore their interest and gauge their talent in these fields.

The only building in North America designed by internationally known architect Le Corbusier, the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts is a draw for film and art lovers alike. It serves as a center for the exhibition of classic film presentations as well as exciting new works by students and visual artists. Presentations and lectures are scheduled throughout the year, and screenings of classic, rare, historic, and popular films occur nearly every night of the year at the Harvard Film Archive for a modest charge.

Those who serve the public health must also hone their skills from time to time, an advantage that is passed on to community. That’s why the Center for Continuing Professional Education (CCPE) at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) provides professional development programs for a wide range of public health professionals, including physicians, firefighters, emergency planners, health care executives, and safety managers.