Dozens of students, faculty, and staff gathered earlier today for the return of JEDI at the Park, an annual social event for members of the MGH Institute to get to know each other and learn what’s happening in the Office of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.  

JEDI at the Park began in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when most classes and community events took place online, and people were craving opportunities to meet in person. An instant hit, the JEDI Office has held the event for three summers in a row, offering food, lawn games, and a chance for face-to-face connection in the park behind the Catherine Filene Shouse Building. 

“There’s no particular agenda, it’s just an opportunity to connect with each other,” said Callie Watkins Liu, the Institute’s director of JEDI education and programs. “In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was really hard to figure out how you could hang out, so when it was warmer, we thought, ‘Let’s do something outside.’” 

First-year occupational therapy student Brenda Cuadra made a beeline for the event in between classes, grabbing a quick bite from the spread of Brazilian food and participating in a summer bingo challenge with OT classmates and Library Director Jessica Bell. 

“We have a really nice cohort, so we’re all really close together. Events like these give us a sense of community, and people really care about getting to know the students,” Cuadra said. “I definitely enjoy having a close-knit community, which I didn’t have before in undergrad.” 

Second-year student Wuttipat Iammeechai attended the event in hopes of getting to know the Institute in person, since he takes his PhD in Health Professions Education courses online.  

“This is a good opportunity for me to meet other people in our Institute,” Iammeechai said. 

More than four years since in-person learning was shuttered during the pandemic, Chief Equity Officer Kimberly Truong said events like JEDI at the Park continue to “rebuild the community” at the IHP.  

“The center of JEDI work is building relationships and community,” Watkins Liu added. “This can be a nice entry point.”