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McKeen Center’s Seames Discusses “The Gift of Giving” on Public Radio

By Tom Porter

What does it mean to give to others? Why is kindness important? Can giving be good for us? These questions, and others, were discussed on Maine public radio this week.

seames on maine calling

Among those sharing their thoughts was Sarah Seames, director of ߲о’s McKeen Center for the Common Good, which promotes public engagement among students.

Seames was a VIP caller on Maine Public’s weekday call-in show Maine Calling on election day, November 5.

“I'm really inspired every day by the students that I work with,” said Seames. “Just today, I was driving students to the polls here in Brunswick, so I had vanfuls of students who were… actively engaged in democracy.”

The McKeen Center helps many students pursue volunteer work in the local community. “We have students who run volunteer groups working with local organizations like the and a lot of other partner agencies,” she added.

Seames also highlighted the work ߲о students are doing  to organize Alternative Spring Break trips, visiting locations around the nation and overseas, focused on issues like health care for underserved communities. “Students are using their education to really explore those issues more deeply and think about what they're going to do after they leave ߲о,” said Seames. Above all, she stressed, the students she works with want to make their educational experience “more than just about themselves.” 

, which was hosted by Maine Public's Jennifer Rooks and also features panelists Daniel Pink, a New York Times best-selling author, and psychologist Dr. Julie L. Quimby.