SHAPE: Students Heightening Actionable Political Engagement
SHAPE is a Pre-Orientation opportunity to step into your role as a civically engaged person and to learn and practice these essential skills.
About
The institutions of our democracy and the ideas that underpin them are being challenged across our society. Now more than ever, our world needs people with the skills, habits, and inclinations to strengthen inclusive democracy and contribute to solving the most important problems in their communities together. You will be part of a real-world ‘think tank’ working with local government and our neighbors to shape policy and grassroots program implementation in our host community on a real problem the community faces. We invite all civically minded, politically curious, and creative incoming students to this truly unique experience, where you will interact with elected officials, neighbors, and Tufts alumni doing related work.
What to Expect
As a participant in SHAPE, you’ll be part of a welcoming, supportive, fun community that facilitates social connections and learning about Tufts. At the same time, you’ll get first-hand experience with civic, advocacy, and governmental organizations and you’ll make a difference in our local communities by participating in a hands-on civic project.
Community
SHAPE is a bonding experience that launches you into Tufts. Thanks to our small group format, highly-rated social activities, shared meals, and the intensive schedule, participants find that their SHAPE peers quickly become friends and remain close throughout their journey at Tufts, long after pre-o has ended. In addition to being surrounded by impressive peers, you’ll be connected to SHAPE coordinators and leaders who mentor participants and serve as resources and lasting connections, offering advice and cheering you on as you navigate your Tufts experience. SHAPErs also report that SHAPE helped them acclimate to campus before orientation started and made lasting friendships to ease their way into orientation week and the school year.
Make a Difference
Civic engagement is part of our DNA at Tufts, and SHAPE launches you into your civic engagement journey at Tufts. SHAPE is a hands-on experience where you will learn about our local communities, meet elected officials and other leaders, and make a direct, meaningful difference for your new neighbors. The signature SHAPE experience is a project where we partner with a government agency, non-profit organization, or other civic group to make a positive difference in our society. While projects often have a direct action component, the project is focused on policy-level work and the political system, rather than individual volunteerism. Projects are often intensive and rewarding. While the project is completed during SHAPE, students may choose to stay involved with the same issue moving forward or use the skills from SHAPE in other activities in the future. In many cases, students find that SHAPE has activated their interest in democracy, civic engagement, politics, and making a difference.
SHAPE is for Everyone
SHAPE is open to every incoming Tufts student! No prior experience with civic engagement, politics, activism, or volunteerism is required. Students of all identities, philosophies, citizenships, and political persuasions are welcome.
Past Years Highlights Included:
- $28,440 in annual funding was distributed to Bostonians for internet access through the Affordable Connectivity Program. Each grant directly pays for monthly internet service and related technology so that people without internet access can be connected.
- Over 35 laptops were distributed to low-income residents with no computer or tablet. The free laptops were distributed at community health centers so that patients could, among other uses, improve their health by attending virtual doctors’ appointments and corresponding with healthcare providers.
- In a comprehensive canvassing operation, hundreds of Somerville residents were surveyed to inform the City’s Digital Equity Plan which aims to make Somerville one of the first US cities 100% connected to the internet.
- Partnered with amazing community organizations in Chelsea, Boston, Medford, and Somerville working on civic issues, including environmental justice, housing, and voting.
- SHAPE participants remained friends all year. Many went on spring break together in March 2024.
- Several participants stayed connected to community organizations they met during the program, taking internships or working on research projects.
- 2023 SHAPErs became involved in several on-campus activities and organizations related to civic engagement, including a first-year student who was elected to the Tufts Community Union!
SHAPE in the News
Student Coordinators
Manu Narasimhan
Manu Narasimhan '27 (he/him) is from Farmington, CT studying Mathematics in the School of Arts and Sciences. He is a member of the Chess Club, TASA, and Tufts Dems. In his free time, Manu likes to play basketball, play the violin and go into Boston with his friends.
Isabela Silvares
Isabela '27 (she/hers) was born in Vitoria, Espírito Santo, Brazil, but grew up from the age of nine onwards in Zaragoza (Spain), Johannesburg (South Africa), and Monterrey (Mexico). Isabela is a Double Major in International Relations and History, and a Minor in Entrepreneurship. Isabela is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, and is passionate about continuing to perfect her German, French and Italian. Around campus, she's a witness and an attorney for the Tufts Mock Trial Team where she has competed since her freshman year and where she has recently served as the Director of External Affairs for the 24-25 season. Up until last semester, Isabela served her constituents as a Class of 2027 Senator for the TCU Senate body, a role she'll continue this coming Fall. Isabela is also the Outreach Director for the Brazilian Student Association, and is a Portuguese TA for the Romance Studies Department. She is exited to come back to her SHAPE roots, from being part of the first SHAPE cohort to a SHAPE Peer-Leader, and now as a SHAPE Coordinator.
Staff
Kevin Kraft
Associate Dean of Students
Kevin Kraft is Associate Dean of Students. As a Student Life senior leader, Kevin is responsible for supervising departments and leading programs and initiatives designed to help students develop into engaged, ethical, and community-oriented leaders. From his 15 years’ experience working with students at all points in their personal development journey, Kevin has developed a philosophy of holistic student development and an appreciation for the transformative role that mentorship can have in someone’s life. Kevin has researched college student civic engagement and college student activism. Kevin co-authored a book chapter on the application of free speech to the college environment and has presented at national meetings on related topics. Kevin is thrilled to be advising SHAPE and looking forward to welcoming incoming students!
Christina Behr-Kranefeld
Bush, Tilton, Lewis Residential Life Coordinator
Christina is from Long Beach Island, NJ and has her undergraduate degree in Psychology and masters degree in Mental Health Counseling. While receiving her education, she worked within the universities counseling department and was an active contributor to any wellness and student life program and outreach. After graduating, she supported individuals in housing transition and life changes as a mental health counselor. While at Tufts, she has worked alongside OEO, Student Support, and the Wellness department to learn more about ways to support students in the residential communities. In her free time, she enjoys taking long walks, baking oatmeal cookies, reading thriller books, and exploring new restaurants. Her favorite thing about Tufts is how close you are to everything; the city, beach, mountains–you are able to get a little bit of everything. Christina has two dogs, Chaplin and Teddy who live on campus and love meeting new people. Some other fun facts about Christina are that she was an ocean lifeguard for 8 years, an NCAA champion swimmer, she attended a National Sumo Wrestler Competition in Japan, and she really loves cats but they do not reciprocate the same love to her.
Contact Us
SHAPE
shape@tufts.edu | 617-627-3158 | @tuftsshape
As an international student that had never experienced US culture, nor did I understand US politics and civic engagement to its full extent, I was able to broaden my scope of the community I would be living with and the people around it. Thanks to SHAPE I have come to participate in various organizations, clubs, and activities on campus that I would not have known otherwise. My college experience would not have been as amazing as it has been without the support of the SHAPE coordinators, peer-leaders, and some fellow shapers I now call my best friends.
Bela Silvares, Class of 2027
SHAPE helped me find friends I continue to have today and learn about the communities that host our university. SHAPE allowed me to jump head-first into community service and activism in Medford/Somerville while also helping smooth the transition between home and college. I think it is extremely important to learn about and engage with the host communities we will spend the next four years of our lives in.
Isaac Ulloa Antonio, Class of 2027
SHAPE impacted my first year at Tufts by introducing to a variety of students that were as civically passionate as I was. Through camp-like games, rewarding activities, and mealtime discussions, my SHAPE peers quickly became my SHAPE friends.
Manu Narasimhan, Class of 2027
SHAPE was such a fantastic introduction to Tufts for me. Not only did it expose all the amazing opportunities that you have as a Tufts political science student, but also gave me a community and a group of friends to make the transition into college way less terrifying. In SHAPE, we got to participate in a project focusing on increasing digital equity, and I felt like we actually made a different in people's lives. My favorite part was all the time we got to spend hearing from different political speakers, activists, and others, all of whom who gave us an idea of opportunities that lay ahead in our future.