Clarkies learn about nonprofit management by volunteering in Worcester
Serving meals. Shoveling snow. Hydroponic gardening. A simple chat over lunch.
Students in the Master of Public Administration program engaged in these activities and more during the inaugural offering of Seminar in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management, a course designed primarily for students in the 4+1 Accelerated Master’s Degree Program that sends Clarkies out into the community to learn what it takes to fund, run, and organize a nonprofit.
During the spring 2025 semester, Clarkies spent 12 weeks volunteering at organizations like the Worcester Senior Center, the Mustard Seed, Abby’s House, Veterans Inc., and the Francis Xavier Center. They also supported the Woo Fridge mutual aid effort. In total, the students donated 642 community service hours.
At the Senior Center, students kept folks company during lunch hour and helped with hydroponic gardening. At the Mustard Seed, students served meals, shoveled snow, and contributed to a marketing plan. They learned about nonprofit funding at each organization.
“Many of them had never done volunteer work before and found it to be a really moving experience,” says School of Professional Studies Professor Mary Piecewicz. “They appreciated the fact that we live in a land of plenty, but many people don’t have a lot. They never realized how much the community supports people who are food insecure.”
The course allows students to explore the intersections between the public and nonprofit sectors in addressing societal challenges, with emphasis on understanding the roles of public administrators and nonprofit leaders to promote social change, community development, and effective governance. Throughout the semester, students kept a journal to document insights and reflections.
“Actually going on site and seeing a nonprofit, learning about their mission, working with the program director, seeing the challenges and the opportunities, can really help a young person decide if nonprofit work is what they want to do with their life,” says Piecewicz.
Samuel Clark Bazer ’25, MPA ’26, volunteered at Abby’s House, contributing to tasks such as organizing, cleaning, and setting up the pantry.
“I enjoyed learning the theories and ethics of nonprofit management and being able to put that knowledge into practice. Applying these lessons in a real-world setting was empowering and rewarding,” says Bazer. “The most impactful part of my experience was working with the people, the managers of the food pantry and thrift store and the residents I served. Seeing firsthand how these services affect people’s daily lives reinforced how meaningful public service can be.”
After the course ended, Bazer continued volunteering.
“I have continued to volunteer at Abby’s House because I want to give back to the city that has been so loving and supportive to me. Once I realized how easily volunteering could fit into my schedule, it became an easy choice,” he says. “I do not believe I would have sought this opportunity without the course requirement, and I am very grateful for it since it has given me great perspective and a sense of pride in my community.”
