Chargers, Local Students Come Together to Support Individuals Facing Homelessness

Gabriela Garcia-Perez ’24 is passionate about serving her local community. That’s why, as a high school student in Guilford, Conn., she founded the Community Integration Mentoring Program (CIMP) to enable students of different communities, ages, cultures, and backgrounds to learn from each other while cultivating a sense of community.

Now the organization’s director, Garcia-Perez and her fellow members of CIMP recently hosted an event in New Haven to offer support to students and other individuals facing homelessness. Nearly four dozen volunteers, including some Chargers, assembled care bags to donate.

“My main goal with this event was to create awareness,” said Garcia-Perez, a business management major. “We also brought in a person who was knowledgeable about homelessness in Connecticut. I am very proud of what we accomplished.”

‘I was in awe of all the hard work’

Volunteers included students of all ages, from elementary school to college. The nearly 100 care bags they assembled included items such as hats and gloves, notebooks, hygiene products, and notes with messages of kindness. The bags were donated to the New Haven Public Schools' Office of Youth, Family, and Community and to Columbus House, which serves individuals facing homelessness in New Haven.

“It was great to know we were doing something for the community that was greater than ourselves,” said Emily Bogdanowicz ’23, a sport management major. “It was nice to meet all the mentors and mentees and to get to hear about their experiences in CIMP.”

Last semester, Garcia-Perez captured second place in the University’s Alvine New Venture Pitch Competition, an event in which students pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. Garcia-Perez, who presented CIMP, used the grant award to further CIMP’s mission and to host the event.

“I am grateful for the Alvine Pitch Competition grant from the University of New Haven,” said Garcia-Perez. “This award helped make this event possible.”

Focused on fostering relationships among students, CIMP endeavors to unite students – including those who are learning English – from communities across Connecticut. The organization empowers students to become active members of society.

“The ability to actively make a difference in the community is something that the members of CIMP are consistently achieving,” said Rocio Mejia ’24, a sport management major. “While participating in this event, I was in awe of all the hard work and the pride they had in their mission.”