Claremont Academy lies in Main South, a Worcester neighborhood that boasts tremendous diversity thanks to the large number of immigrants who have come from a variety of countries to make Worcester their home. While Main South is also the most economically disadvantaged area in the city, the dedication of schools, community members, and community organizations and partnerships to help its residents thrive has continuously amazed me.

It is worth noting that Clark University, located only a few blocks from Claremont, has been working in close partnership with the school for the past several years to help create a college-ready culture among teachers and students. Although I spent four years prior to my enrollment in this program living near many of my current students as an undergraduate at Clark, my experience living in Main South was dramatically different than theirs. Now in my fifth year in Main South, my privilege as a white graduate student still separates my experience from that of my students, but my involvement in Claremont and the community has allowed me to learn more about and newly appreciate the neighborhood.