Bronx Community College (BCC) partnered with Active Minds to bring Send Silence Packing® to campus on April 21, transforming the Quad into a moving space for reflection, awareness, and connection.

The nationally recognized exhibit featured hundreds of backpacks, each representing a life lost to suicide and accompanied by personal stories shared by families and loved ones. Students, faculty, and staff were invited to walk through the installation, reflect on the impact of mental health challenges, and engage in conversations aimed at reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking.

The idea to bring the exhibit to campus came from Saumya Goel-Preis, Student Psychological Counselor in the Office of Personal Counseling, who first experienced the exhibit more than a decade ago on another college campus.

“I remember it being one of the most impactful events I had ever seen – I thought about it long after,” she said. “Bringing it to BCC felt like a no-brainer. But we also wanted to make it more than just an exhibition – to surround it with resources, support, and opportunities for students to take a moment, reflect, and care for themselves.”

In addition to the exhibit, community-based organizations and BCC staff hosted resource tables featuring coping tools, information on mental health conditions, and mindfulness activities – including dedicated spaces for students who needed a quiet moment during the experience.

“By hosting this powerful experience, Bronx Community College continues to foster a campus culture where mental health is prioritized, conversations are encouraged, and no one feels alone,” said Dawn Daniels, BCC’s Director of Counseling and Resources for Emergency Support (CARES).