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Spotlight on Simmons

What Really Matters?

By Daniel Cheever

There seems to be a lot of bad news these days: the war in Iraq, the seemingly endless hurricane season, business and political leaders being indicted for illegal activities, and so much more. In fact, the most recent Gallup poll reports that Americans are increasingly unhappy with the way things are going in the United States today.

I ask myself, in the midst of all this discouraging news, what really matters? What matters, is who matters. And who matters are the people who are making the world a better place. I am proud that many of these people are Simmons graduates.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast states face the rebuilding of entire communities and individual lives. The federal government has asked Simmons graduate Faye Coleman, president of Westover Consultants, to find qualified, licensed mental health professionals of color who can help victims of Katrina heal and rebuild. Faye Coleman, class of 1968, matters.

At a time when many businesses care only about increasing their bottom line, Simmons School of Management alumna Andrea Lyons takes a different approach. As the chief executive of Goddess Granola, a national women-owned business, Lyons focuses on making a positive difference in the world, while also making a profit. As a result, 10% of her net profits are donated to causes supporting women. Andrea Lyons, SOM class of 1989, matters.

Violence against women and children is a global problem, so it's reassuring to know that Simmons graduate Esta Soler, the founder and president of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, is playing a leading role in preventing violence around the world. For more than two decades, Soler and her group have launched groundbreaking initiatives aimed at ending violence against women and children - including human trafficking. Esta Soler, class of 1968, matters.

It is believed that our youth are the future, but sometimes girls have a difficult time letting their voices be heard. That's why Marie Celestin founded the G.I.R.L.S. (Growing Individuals Reacting to Life's Struggles) Project - an annual Boston conference led and run by girls that enables them to voice their concerns about and take action on a variety of social, economic, and educational issues. Marie Celestin, undergraduate class of 2000, and a 2002 graduate of the master's program in Gender/Cultural Studies, matters.

The examples of our graduates who are making a difference could go on at great length. At Simmons, we educate women and men who matter - graduates who are improving the lives of others, and helping their communities and their professions thrive. Graduates who will make tomorrow better for future generations.

Gandhi once said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." At Simmons, we help our students do just that. Even though national news may discourage us, what our graduates and students do really matters. And that's why we tell everyone, "The world needs more people from Simmons."