Reppucci '09 Featured on NBC for Service
Alumnus Jeffrey Reppucci ‘09 was recently featured on NBC for his humanitarian aid and his project Working for Worcester, which brings together College of Holy Cross and other college students in creating recreational spaces like playgrounds, basketball courts and dance studios.
Reppucci first came up with the project when traveling with Holy Cross his sophomore year; he visited Suzdal, Russia, where he was struck by the town’s poverty and lack of recreational spaces.
He was even further shocked by the different sense of community in Russia. “The Russia experience really changed my perspective on the idea of community,” Reppucci said. “The experience of coming into a community as a complete outsider really made me very attentive to observing the way of life in a very rural and underdeveloped part of the world.”
While in Russia, Reppucci witnessed how rampant alcoholism was among teens and kids, and how little recreation and programming there was for youth. “Reflecting on these observations led to starting the first project in Russia and founding the organization,” he said.
When he returned home, he raised funds for his first project in Russia—to return to Suzdal and build a playground. The process was not an easy one. His project started in a dorm room with “zero of everything.”
First, Reppucci needed to build a support network of people who believed in his ideas. Then began the long planning process that would eventually lead to a playground for children in Suzdal, Russia, and an organization devoted to building recreational spaces and creating a sense of community.
“The process was incredible. It was true entrepreneurship. A real rush and great experience for me and my collaborators,” Reppucci said.
Reppucci continued saying that this experience has really shown him the importance of community, especially in underdeveloped areas. “Community is a two-way street. To get out, people must put in. Our projects are designed to try and ‘put in’ as stakeholders and friends of the people that we are trying to help,” he said.
Reppucci’s classmates remembered him as being a special character on campus. Class of 2009 President and a close friend of Reppucci, Noelle Braddock, commented, “He was friends with everyone. He was kind and connected. He was also always full of laughs. His gestures are really big, and he has this really big and loud crazy voice that everyone recognizes. He was really a figure on campus.”
Class of 2009 Secretary, Ariana Marnicio, agreed. “Now that we’ve graduated, he’s really embodied ‘non sibi’ in the work that he does. At Exeter, he was very connected, very popular and very involved in a lot of different things. He’s made ‘non sibi’ his life, and we’re all really excited about the work that he’s doing,” she said.
Reppucci first started thinking about the importance of community presence when he attended Exeter. “‘Non sibi’ really inspired me, and I first explored community service work through student organizations at Phillips Exeter,” he said.
For Reppucci, Exeter emphasized community service, but the school also fostered an environment where he received a great deal of exposure and insight into the greater world. Courses and events at Exeter expanded his perspective to think about foreign communities such as Suzdal, Russia.
“Exeter is a bubble, a beautiful bubble that helps us all grow, but the real world is much less stable and consistent,” Reppucci said. He continued, “Cherish Exeter. You will never find a place of such wonderful camaraderie, diversity and growth opportunity. Always remeber the opportunity the Exeter has given you. WIth it comes a responsibility to pursue your dreams, but with humility and a consistent awareness of the people around, their needs and your contribution.
During the summer, Reppucci plans on working for the NGO Save the Children. Afterwards, he will head off to Argentina for a Fulbright grant where he will be teaching and developing a service project.