Haley Smith, chief belonging and community engagement officer

Dear Vikings,

Welcome back to Berry. Each year is a chance to grow, connect and help make this campus feel like home for everyone. At Berry we talk about being Good Neighbors. That means showing care for onanother, building real connections and helping create a community where people belong.

There are many ways to live this out and our office is here to help you find your path. The Good Neighbor Center on the first floor of Krannert is a place to gather, find support and connect. It is also home to Berry Impact where you can get involved in service with the local community through one-time projects or ongoing commitments. For those looking for something deeper, Year of Service connects students in the service cottages with community partners for the full academic year, building strong relationships and making a lasting difference while living and learning with peers.

Community engagement at Berry also shows up through Academic Community Engagement courses and community engaged jobs and internships. These opportunities allow you to take what you are learning in the classroom and put it into practice while serving alongside others. Whether through a paid position, a class project or a long-term partnership, our office can connect you to the right opportunity.

We also support student organizations like BSA, LISTEN and the Brotherhood. These groups are student-led spaces focused on culture, shared experiences and leadership, and all students are welcome to participate. Another way to connect is through Berry Circles where students gather in small groups for conversation and reflection. Circles are about listening, sharing stories and building community across differences.

This fall during Solidarity Week we will focus on the theme It Begins with Me: A Good Neighbor’s Path to Peace. The week invites us to think about peace not as something distant but as a daily practice in how we listen, engage and show up for one another. Trent Shelton, a former NFL player turned motivational speaker, will help set that tone with his story of perseverance and purpose. In January during Be Love Week Lecrae, a Grammy Award winning artist, will join us with a message about hope, creativity and community.

As we step into this year I encourage you to connect with the Office of Belonging and Community Engagement, take part in the opportunities that interest you and discover how you can make a difference here. You can visit the Good Neighbor Center any weekday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or reach out to us anytime at Belonging@Berry.edu. Each of us has a role in shaping Berry into a place where everyone can thrive.