The Art of Community Relations

Senior art major Scott Cahill has learned that community relationship-building is as much an art as his chosen field of study. And according to all involved with his project designing a logo for a Ward Hill business group, he earned an “A” in both areas.

That project began about two years ago, when state Sen. Steven Baddour talked with Chancellor William T. Hogan about involving the University with the greater Haverhill community. The perfect link-up soon presented itself when business leaders expressed to Baddour a need for signs in the Ward Hill business park, for which they needed a logo designed – at little or no cost.

“The senator came up with the idea of us getting involved with the University, and it mushroomed from there,” says Bud Hart, with the Ward Hill Park Association.    “It is a great example of UMass and its students cooperating with the community,” says Baddour.

Baddour’s office contacted Renae Lias Claffey, director of Government Relations, who contacted Art Department Chair Jim Coates. The two met with Hart and others to determine the Association’s needs. Coates pledged assistance, and asked Asst. Prof. Karen Roehr to handle the project. Roehr identified the best student for the job – Scott Cahill – and supervised his work. After developing several designs, Cahill presented them to Ward Hill Association leaders.

Cahill says he was initially apprehensive about the scope of the project. “Once I met with Bud Hart and other members of the Ward Hill Park Association,” he says, “this apprehension disappeared and was replaced with excitement.”

“Scott had a lot of ideas and he came up with some really great stuff,” says Hart. Adds Roehr, “Scott was willing at every juncture to listen to feedback from the client.”

Left to right, Bud Hart, Scott Cahill and Sen. Baddour.

The group chose one logo to work with, asked Cahill to tweak it, and then develop it for 12 signs to be posted throughout the park – two of which are now highly visible from Route 125, the Ward Hill Connector, in Haverhill. The group also came up with a tag line for the signs, “Unified for Progress.”

“I feel very grateful for this chance to create a cohesive branding for the Ward Hill Park and the chance to be a part of something important at this point in my career,” says Cahill, who currently works in the publications office at Middlesex Community College.

“Scott is incredibly talented. He did a wonderful job,” says Roehr.