At Rollins College, student Joseph Pool is proving that higher education’s civic impact doesn’t stop at the edge of campus.
He founded Breaking Bread, a student-led initiative helping peers find common ground through shared meals and meaningful conversation. Eighty students attended the first dinner; within months, participation had doubled.
Now the effort is expanding beyond campus, serving as a bridge between students and neighbors at public events like the city’s Festival of Lights.
In a polarized moment in the country, this is higher education at its best—not just preparing students for careers, but equipping them to strengthen the communities they call home, one shared meal at a time.
Photo credit: Zach Stovall/Rollins College
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