Students

Whether you have just arrived in Worcester or have lived in the city for several years, it is never too late to learn more about and get involved with the Worcester community. Worcester, a post-industrial city, has a history of being a destination for immigrants from around the world, something that is still clearly visible in the city’s diverse cultural makeup today. Upon visiting Worcester you can see cultural evidence of the older Irish population in the city, along with more recent influences from Ghanaian, Dominican, Vietnamese, and Brazilian Immigrants. As you travel around the city you hear languages from around the world and see Worcester’s triple decker houses, originally built as multi-generational homes. This presentation provides a snapshot of the history and diversity of Worcester to help you understand the community as it exists today. Students can also use this directory, created by Holy Cross students Sienna Ablorh and Dorean Asuako to find Black-owned businesses in the city.

Worcester is composed of numerous neighborhoods, such as Main South, Downtown, Canal District, Kelley Square, Bell Hill, Columbus Park, Shrewsbury St, and Elm Park to name a few. Each neighborhood contributes something slightly different to the Worcester community and makes Worcester the unique city that many Clark students learn to call home. Within these neighborhoods and in the Greater Worcester area there are also 12 colleges and universities comprising the Worcester Consortium. Belonging to the Worcester Consortium allows Clark University students to take advantage of academic and social opportunities at other schools.

If you are residing in Worcester and calling the city home you should make the effort to participate in municipal elections, if applicable to you. Participating in municipal government entails registering to vote in Worcester, knowing who your elected officials are, voting in local elections, and being aware of issues the community is facing. Staying active in local government is an important part of staying engaged with the Worcester and Main South communities!

The Main South community can be roughly defined as the neighborhood surrounding Clark University and University Park between the railroad tracks to the south and Park Ave to the North. Clark University acts as an institutional anchor in the Main South neighborhood and is part of the University Park Partnership, a nationally recognized program between Clark, community partners, and local residents focusing on urban redevelopment. If you are looking for something to do close to campus, take a walk around University Park or go to one of the events the Main South puts on in the park throughout the year.

As members of the Main South community, it is your responsibility as Clark University students to be stewards of your neighborhood. As a student, you may only reside in the Main South community for a few years, but it is still your responsibility to treat your neighbors and neighborhood with the proper respect.

Worcester is the second largest city in New England, meaning there is always something going on in the community. You should take the time to get off Clark’s campus and explore the city while you are here! Throughout the year there are numerous city-wide events such as stART on the Street, POW! WOW! Worcester, Worcester Pride, and numerous other cultural celebrations. If you do not know what to do, you can look at Worcester Magazine’s event calendar, Discover Central Massachusetts, and Eventbrite. There are also numerous concert venues, art galleries, museums, and minor league sporting events to explore. If you want to escape to a green space, there are numerous parks across the city, in addition to the Clark Arboretum, which is a short walk from campus.

In addition to knowing what events are going on in the city, as members of the Worcester community, you should stay up-to-date on what is going on in the city through following local news outlets. 

There are many ways for you to get around Worcester and experience what the city has to offer.

The public transit system in Worcester is accessible and affordable; bus lines 7, 19, 27, and 33 run on either side of Clark and cost $1.75 per ride. To help students navigate the WRTA we have created a video explaining how to navigate the bus system in Worcester to make stepping onto the bus for the first time a little bit easier. We also have physical pocket guides explaining how to use the WRTA that you can pick up during our drop-in hours. You can find more information about Worcester public transportation by visiting the WRTA’s website where there is more information on how the bus system works, including an interactive map.

ClarkRIDE will also take you anywhere within a quarter mile radius of Clark between 4:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. All you have to do is call 508-793-7777 and provide them with the requested details.

If you are looking to do some shopping or visit Boston, Clark’s Undergraduate Student Council provides free buses to the Solomon Pond Mall and Boston on alternating weekends. You can find the schedules and signup sheets for these buses on the Clark Buses Facebook page.

Worcester is a vibrant and diverse community filled with restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. Food is one of many ways in which people connect to, express, remember, and share their cultures. This presentation can act as a resource for students who want to learn more about food as it relates to culture, immigrant communities, and the city of Worcester.

For those who have the ability to eat out, the culturally diverse restaurants in Worcester provide an opportunity for students to connect with and support the local community in Main South and the greater city of Worcester. Additionally, students who participate in clubs on campus can encourage their peers to cater from local restaurants when catering events.  If you want to further explore what restaurants exist in Worcester, check out Taste Worcester.

Throughout the year, make sure to keep an eye out for the food related events taking place in Worcester, such as VegFest, Shrewsbury College Shuffle, and Restaurant Week.