By: Margot Dragos
On Feb. 19, Brooklyn College (BC) Public Health and Medicine Club (PHaM) hosted an apron-painting event in the Student Center’s Glenwood Room.
The club provided attendees with fabric paint and brushes, letting attendees choose between painting an apron or a tote bag.
There was an array of colors to choose from, along with a selection of fabric, metallic, and glitter paints. Members of PHaM served pizza and played a variety of pop music throughout the event, including songs by artists such as Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande.
“We have had apron painting in mind since last semester,” said Natalie Wu, president of PHaM. “We wanted to foster a fun environment where volunteers and other club members can come, connect together, and paint.”
Students sat at round tables, chatting as they painted. Despite PHaM being a public health club, the event allowed students to connect through art.
“Meeting new people, hanging out with the people I already know,” said Chandly Jean-Baptiste, a psychology major, when asked what her favorite part of the event was.
“I struggle with talking to people and socializing if I don’t already know someone, so this is a good way to open up [and] meet some people.”
“I really wanna meet more artist friends, and there’s a lot of artists here,” said Onyekachi Duru, an early childhood education major. “So that’s a cute thing.”
PHaM is also known for its NourishBC Community Fridge, located outside the Health and Nutrition Science Food Lab in 5129 Ingersoll Hall. The fridge provides BC students with free, nutritious meals to combat food insecurity on campus.
As stated on their website, PHaM aims to “foster a supportive environment where no student has to choose between their education and their next meal.”
“Initially, the opening of our community fridge was a response to the closure of the Boylan cafeteria a couple years ago,” Wu told The Vanguard. “Despite its reopening, food insecurity and food access is an important ongoing issue. It’s important for students and campus community members to have resources within reach.”
“I’m really passionate about the issue of food insecurity and feeding the students,” said Grace Zhao, a psychology major and member of PHaM. “Because I actually use the Brooklyn College food vouchers […] and was using the pantry pretty frequently too. And when I was younger, I was on SNAP, so I guess food insecurity really mattered a lot more for me.”
Food for the fridge is donated by organizations around campus, such as BC’s food pantry and BC Eats Garden. Meals for the fridge are then made during the club’s meal prep events, which allow students to bond through cooking cultural foods.
“Not only do we tackle food insecurity, but we foster community through it,” said Wu. “Throughout our meal preps, we have cooked foods from different cultures, including our upcoming one for Lunar New Year. PHaM values cultivating cultural celebration, ultimately bringing people together.”
“We communicate love, culture, curiosity, and even identity through the food we make,” said Matute. “Having a community fridge allows students who wouldn’t normally meet to cross paths and provides a holistic approach to learning more about Public Health.”
PHaM’s events are open to all BC students, regardless of their interest in public health and medicine.
“‘Public health and medicine’ can sound intimidating to many, but our events and space are welcome to everyone,” said Wu. “PHaM’s speciality is gathering our BC community together– whether you’re a public health or psychology major, everyone is welcome.”
Students interested in learning more about PHaM can follow their Instagram @bc.phamclub.