BUCS program inspired alumna to pay it forward
Inspired by her time in the community schools’ program, Mackenzie St. John ’22 set her sights on helping others.
Mackenzie St. John grew up in a multigenerational household in a tight-knit community, with values deeply rooted in work ethic — tradition, loyalty and integrity. While her family respected academic achievement, what was most important was that an endeavor demonstrated hard work and heartfelt effort.
The summer before her first year of high school, St. John was introduced to Whitney Point’s Community School (CS) program, administered through the College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA), which would prove to be a turning point in her life and inspire her passion for education and helping others.
“My background motivated me to work hard, but my heart pushed me to further my education, unlike others in my family, who went on to lead hard-working, blue-collar lives,” says St. John, a first-generation college student.
The Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS) program uses University resources to deliver broad, comprehensive and sustained support to schools in the community. For instance, social work volunteers and interns are embedded in local school districts, counseling student participants and providing academic, emotional and social support. St. John would participate in the BUCS program every academic year and summer following that first summer session, eventually taking on leadership roles, including youth mentor and team leader, throughout her time with the program.
St. John credits the school’s drop-in center, at the heart of the program, with providing a safe place and opportunity for students to explore their authentic selves. “‘Jocks’ connected with the ‘theatre kids’ in ways that a regular classroom didn’t allow,” she explains. “In many ways, it was a real-life ‘Breakfast Club.’”
St. John recounts how the program introduced her to opportunities and resources that she would not have otherwise known about, and the welcoming environment facilitated by the center’s coordinators and interns was critical in helping students navigate the challenging adolescent years.
“The center’s staff were some of the most warm-hearted and insightful people I’ve ever met,” she says. “Every student who walked in knew they would be welcomed and listened to.”
St. John credits then-community school coordinators David Puglisi and Colleen Rozelle (currently associate director of case management services for Binghamton’s Dean of Students Office) with not only encouraging her to pursue her current academic and career path but also inspiring her desire to help create positive change in the lives of others.
“I would not be the person and social worker I am now without the influence of both Colleen and David during my high school years,” St. John says.
After graduating high school, St. John saw a clear path to a social work degree at CCPA. She found inspiration in her classes and credits her experiences and the instructors she met with informing her professional practice. As a CCPA student, St. John came full circle in the Community Schools program, this time serving as a social work intern at the program’s Johnson City High School location.
“At Binghamton University’s Community Schools (BUCS), we mobilize University resources to help make a lasting impact on youth and families,” says Luann Kida, BUCS executive director. “We believe community schools are the key to breaking predictable intergenerational patterns that leave some of the most vulnerable youth and families behind. Mackenzie is living proof of what can happen when we invest in our youth and ensure they have the support and connections needed to navigate whatever life may bring.”
The BUCS program and the impact of social workers and instructors affiliated with CCPA inspired St. John to continue her education at Syracuse University, where she is pursuing her Master of Social Work degree.
“I will forever carry the knowledge and values gathered through my time with Community Schools and CCPA,” she says. “And I strive to exemplify the message and heart of the Binghamton University social work program in everything I do.”