For the 2024-2025 school year, Bella was involved in a diverse range of service opportunities. Bella engaged with the Ithaca community by working with issues regarding food insecurity, ecological safety, and urban planning. They participated in food packaging with the ecoreps for the Friendship Donations Network. The intention of this collaborative service is to reduce food waste produced from the dining halls by packaging meals to be sent out to folks in the Tompkins area who may be experiencing food insecurity. Bella finds this work essential to sustaining and uplifting members of a community. Food is a basic necessity in life, it fuels the mind and body, and it should be accessible for all. Small steps taken locally contribute to the big steps that need to be taken systemically. They were also involved in the Tompkins county amphibian patrol, who work to preserve the wildlife in the area. Bella specifically worked with peers to monitor traffic frequency and aid salamanders in making a safe journey during their migration period. As a biologist, they have an interest in conservation bio and learning more about human impact on existing ecosystems. Collecting data on human movement patterns is important in understanding how to best support and preserve the critters that are navigating risky territory. The last service opportunity Bella participated in for the school year was building benches for Stewart Park. Contributing to the development of a public park is a task they enjoyed because they believe a place to sit in nature can encourage people to find peace in the present.
Being an MLK scholar means community. I immediately have a space on campus where experiences, thoughts, and voices of color (and allies) can coexist.