EASTON, Pa.(www.lafayette.edu), October 19, 2007 — Alan Raisman ’10 (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) is majoring in international economics and commerce. Raisman serves as president of Pards to People, a College chapter of People to People.

To their mutual benefit, Lafayette College and the city of Easton have been interconnected for over 180 years. However, many townspeople along with many Lafayette students feel as if they are two distinct entities merely sharing the same geographic location.

Pards to People was chartered on Oct. 24, 2006 with the hope of creating better interaction and understanding between our two communities. This new organization, consisting of 55 members, strives to engage the students at Lafayette in Easton’s future through an appreciation of the city’s culture, history, and politics, along with an encouragement of community service. In less than one year since its inception, Pards to People has worked with Mayor Phil Mitman, the Easton branch of the NAACP, the Easton Area Community Center, the Easton Area Senior Center, Easton Area High School, and Easton’s Main Street Initiative, among other organizations.

Pards to People has an exciting year ahead of it. While helping to bring Lafayette closer to the city, we will also help bring the city closer to Lafayette. Later this year, Pards to People will be hosting a jazz concert, featuring guitarist Frank Belinc, vocalist Carol Broughton, and pianist Patrick Poladian. (You can listen to Patrick Poladian at the Lafayette Bar on 4th Street and you can often hear Frank Belinc perform at the Cosmic Cup.)

Pards to People is also working with historian Richard Hope to enlighten Lafayette students and faculty about the great city of Easton. Later this semester, Hope will be speaking about the Treaty of Easton, its place in the French & Indian War, and the root causes of the American Revolution. We will also be working with Hope to help write a book for the youth of Easton. Many of the children and young people living in Easton are not familiar with the rich history of their city and we want to present it to them in a fun way.

We are very fortunate to be located in an area rich with diverse cultural and historical attractions. Pards to People is attempting to better integrate our students with the citizens of Easton. If you are interested in engaging in Easton, or joining our organization, please e-mail me. Each month you will receive a list of current events happening in the city. We welcome your participation.

• International Economics and Commerce