As Cornell employees and students work together in lifelong learning partnerships with the Community Learning and Service Partnership (CLASP), a wealth of accomplishments and comradery builds up over the semester. Traditionally, this treasure trove of learning and collegiality is toasted with a closing celebration. After a year of being unable to hold the event for public health reasons, CLASP celebrated once again on December 8, 2021.
Although masks obscured faces, delighted laughter and animated speech expressed the smiles and energy in the room. Modifications to the format, such as a smaller guest list, masking and forgoing a festive meal, did little to dampen spirits of those connected with CLASP, a participatory adult learning program designed to create and support one-on-one mutual learning partnerships of Cornell employees and students.
The celebration featured a public recognition of achievements, visual snapshots and short presentations of three self-directed learning projects. Cornell employees, students and instructors in CLASP-affiliated courses all took part, including Building Care associate directors Hazel Hall and Cynthia Lockwood, Cornell Dining senior manager of training and development Brandon Fortenberry, and lifelong learners and co-educators from the Open Doors English program.
Kicking things off, Cornell Dining employee Garry Gale and student Sharon Hsu ‘23 (Engineering) shared Mandarin phrases Garry learned in CLASP. The pair described their strategy for inviting diners who speak the language to exchange a greeting with Garry as they enter the Risley Dining Hall.
Student and employee pairs shared features of their learning partnerships, and many credited their meetings together as weekly highpoints amidst the challenges and stresses of the fall semester.
