FIRST Community Senator (1 Seat)

Elisa Niyomwungeri

I am running for BLOOM Community Senator because I believe that building community starts with creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued.

One thing I have learned at Tufts is that everyone has a story, but not everyone gets the chance to tell it. We pass people in class, study beside them in the library, or eat in the same dining hall without always knowing what brought them here or what they have experienced along the way. I want to help create a BLOOM community where those stories do not remain unseen.

If elected, I hope to build on this through a monthly storytelling program called Pieces of Us. Each event would center around a different theme, such as “Finding Home,” “A Moment That Changed Me,” or “What I Wish People Knew About Me.” Students could share through spoken word, music, poetry, photography, artwork, or simply by speaking from the heart. Afterward, we could gather in small groups over food to reflect and connect with people we might not otherwise have the opportunity to know.

I want BLOOM to be more than a community that shares a space. I want it to be a community where people feel comfortable bringing their full selves. My hope is that through listening to one another, we will recognize that while our backgrounds may be different, many of our hopes, struggles, and dreams are surprisingly similar.

As Community Senator, I would listen to BLOOM students, bring their ideas and concerns to TCU, and work to turn those ideas into meaningful community experiences. I am running because I want to contribute to a community where people do not simply belong on paper, but genuinely feel that they belong.