Former Student Body President Mpilo Norris ’18, Esteban Mogollon ’18, Vincenzo DiNatale ’19, and Donessa Colley ’18 spoke with Mayor of Wallingford Mr. William W. Dickinson alongside Headmaster Dr. Alex Curtis and Director of Strategic Planning and Communications Ms. Alison Cady on Wednesday, February 21. The main goal of the meeting was “to talk generally about ways the school can integrate further into the Wallingford community,” said Norris.
Choate students and Dr. Curtis meet with Wallingford Mayor William Dickinson.
Last year, seniors met with Mr. Dickinson to discuss the issue of local street harassment on campus after students raised concerns about being catcalled or intimidated at crosswalks. The meeting established a closer relationship between Choate and Wallingford and led to the implementation of several resources for students, such as an anonymous reporting form on the school website and the use of Community Safety Officers as crossing guards during times of high traffic, like the beginning of the day and between class periods.
Norris wanted a follow-up meeting to “open more doors” between Choate students and the town and is hoping these check-ins become annual. “We hadn’t really identified something specific we wanted to address with the mayor,” said Norris. “It was more so here we are as a school, here you are as someone who represents the people of the town in which we are part of, what are the ways we can better the relationship we already have.”
Concerning the points of the meeting, Norris stated, “A lot of what we talked about were the different organizations established in the town that the School could potentially get on board with.” Though Choate is already an active member in the town through clubs on campus, especially community service groups, the School is still looking to get involved. For instance, the group talked about the Wallingford nonprofit Hubcap, which not only sponsors projects such as community gardens, but also dedicates itself to alleviating health and drug use crises. “As we have so many passionate students looking at our own drug issues at a local school-wide level, we could see how many of them would actually be interested in looking at it on a community-based level,” commented Norris.
Additionally, the meeting discussed what fairs and festivities the town is hosting, which are occasions for student involvement. Mr. Dickinson also mentioned some of Wallingford’s community improvement campaigns, which aim to strengthen social connections among people and promote healthy living and less screen time. The Choate representatives suggested that future campaigns center on community building through productive lifestyles.
Focusing on Wallingford’s public high schools, the meeting also explored how Choate, Mark T. Sheehan High School, and Lyman Hall High School can work to help each other. There are plans to possibly share athletic facilities, youth organizations, or other resources unique to each school. “The goal is to have an effective, working relationship between the local schools and us,” added Colley.
This meeting with Mr. Dickinson marks a new phase in Choate’s interaction with the town, putting students on the radar of local management so that the needs of Wallingford as well as the needs of Choate are kept in mind during any decision-making process.
The Choate community looks to continue their involvement in Wallingford, as Norris said, “Students are already aware of the necessity to continue to be engaged in the community — this meeting is just another way we can open more avenues that we might not have thought of before.”
