Students Pitch Greater Boston Food Bank

From left are Luke Richardson, Seth Villavicencio, Rebecca Todaro, and Liana Genito.

Emerson College students recently pitched the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) with ideas to increase awareness and engagement among a certain demographic they know a lot about: college students. The pitch was part of the students’ capstone project in the Communication Studies program.

“We researched, brainstormed, discussed—it was a collaborative effort, step by step. I’m impressed with my classmates but not surprised. Emerson kids have such talent and everyone in that group brought their unique strengths to the table,” said Liana Genito ’16, a Political Communication major. “I’m glad our efforts are going toward an issue as important as food insecurity in our neighborhood.”

The group decided that it is important for the GBFB to turn its attention toward young adults looking to change the world with what little resources they have. Genito explained that their recommendations focused on how to use social media to reach this targeted demographic in an effective and meaningful way based on both academic research and best practices in the industry.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to both allow our students to apply what they’ve learned through their capstone and make a real difference in the lives of those in need,” said Owen Eagan, an executive-in-residence at Emerson and a management consultant. “Moreover, this project is aligned with the school’s strategic plan and its objective to integrate civic engagement into the curriculum. As a result, this will further differentiate our school and promote a culture of civic responsibility.”

The Emerson student team consisted of seniors Anthony Betances, Liana Genito, Sara Menendez, Miranda Quast, Luke Richardson, Samantha Silver, Rebecca Todaro, and Seth Villavicencio.