Town-Gown Visioning Session planned to discuss synergy between the City of Westfield and Westfield State University.

WESTFIELD - Mayor Mike McCabe and Westfield State University President Linda Thompson will hold a visioning session entitled “Town-Gown Talkabout.” The meeting will take place 9:00-11:00 AM on Thursday, August 18, 2022 at the Westfield on Weekends Creative Arts Center, 105 Elm Street. The event is open to the public and no registration is required, but space is limited.

Hosted by Westfield on Weekends, topics will include educational collaborations at the secondary and university level, enhancing the cultural and social relationship between the two entities, and developing stronger communication between the WSU community and the City’s businesses and residents.

The average student body of Westfield State is approximately 5,000 students; 60 percent of which live on campus. President Thompson looks forward to working with Mayor McCabe to create areas within the city that students can use to develop cultural venues and workspaces to better share educational experiences.

“As a public university we intend to build stronger ties with our neighbors. Westfield State is eager to share ideas and work to build an active partnership with the city, its business owners and residents. As we begin to recover from two years of restrictions and insolation, having these conversations will set the tone for stronger, productive future relationships.” said Thompson.

Mayor McCabe shares President Thompson’s drive to strengthen relations, citing, “Westfield has so much to offer the students, faculty and staff that comprise the WSU community. Our ongoing downtown revitalization is drawing students to local businesses, our community partners such as Westfield on Weekends, Artworks Westfield, and the Athenaeum provide interactive cultural events and entertainment, and there are many companies with employment opportunities for both undergraduates and graduates. To have WSU as another community partner that would welcome our residents to campus and provide enriching life experiences only strengthens the quality of life for those who choose to participate,” McCabe said. “I look forward to hearing ideas from our residents and the representatives from the university on how to accomplish a stronger, mutually beneficial relationship.”

Community input is welcome and encouraged by attendance to the session and by completing the survey by visiting WOW’s Community Talk About Series in collaboration with Westfield State University about Town/Gown Partnerships and Collaboration (westfieldonweekends.com)

Questions can be sent to Kathi Bradford, Director of Westfield on Weekends Creative Arts Center at 413) 579-5967 or email WOW.CreativeArtsCenter@gmail.com