On Wednesday, in Milstein East, Reciprocity Effect, a nonprofit focused on building relationships between students and support staff, and the Harvard Black Law Students Association (HBLSA) hosted the third annual Staff Appreciation Dinner. This tradition, launched by Reciprocity Effect founder and HLS alumnus Rehan Staton, J.D. ‘23, during his time at HLS, provides a free dinner for attendees and a chance to mingle with and celebrate beloved support staff for their efforts during the previous year. The dinner usually features a number of speakers expressing their gratitude to the staff and a presentation of awards to particular staffers who distinguished themselves amongst their peers.
Accompanying the festivities was steady flow jazz from the trio of Cosimo Fabrizio, HLS ‘26, Strong Ma, HLS ‘26, and Shaan Pandiri, HLS ‘26. Having already performed for their peers a number of times on campus in the last year, their varied setlist provided more color to an already ebullient evening,
“Nobody ever notices a clean window.” Brione Merchant opened the festivities with sobering remarks on the quiet excellence of the staff at Harvard facilities. Merchant, a veteran HLS employee of 18 years and emcee for the evening, is a perfect example, being known for his sage advice, quick wit, and warm demeanor that is regarded as an essential part of the Harvard Law experience.
Many support staff, including Mr. Merchant, are considered a part of a found family for students. “I remember when I was having my health issues here, some of you guys would take me to the hospital” said Staton, reflecting on the impact of HLS support staff on his time at the law school. “When I left this campus,” continued Staton, “I truly felt something was missing because the way that you guys treated me was not easily replaceable and I still have not replaced that, nor could anyone ever replace that.”
Bianca Corgan, HLS ‘25, added to the chorus of praise in her comprehensive and well-delivered thank you speech to custodial, dining, and security services. As a standout student herself, Corgan drew upon her many deep relationships to emphasize how each subsection of support staff brought out the best in her. “You helped me notice nuance where I once saw simplicity, you reminded me day after day, as trite as it may be, that listening…is one of the most important things any lawyer, really any person, can do.”
The specific award winners are as follows:
Heart of Harvard Award: Yaya Bajinka (Security), Jessica Crews (Dining), Luis Paneto (Custodial), Peter O’Meara (International Office)
Harvard Excellence Award: Clarah Letito (Security), Lin Tevor (Dining), Maria Jeronimo (Dining), Steven Folks (Dining)
Harvard Leadership Award: Willie Moore (Dining), Gene Van Buren (Dining), Robin Smith (Kitchen Personnel), Marnell Francois (Security)
Another alumna of the school and friend of Staton, Fatema Jaffer, J.D. 24 returned to express their appreciation of HLS support staff. “The effect that these people have on us, is an effect that lasts forever” said Jaffer about the origin of the nonprofit’s name. In her heartwarming address, she specifically identified Merchant as “what the Reciprocity Effect is” and along with Staton, presented him with an award for his contributions to the HLS community. In his acceptance speech, Merchant noted that “helping you guys helps me” and thanked everyone who allowed him to be a part of their lives.
The event was punctuated by a stellar performance from nationally ranked Boston poet Tru Kwene (@1trukwene on instagram), who drove up from Baltimore on the same day in time to provide a set of spoken word readings to close the ceremony. In a series of sophisticated works covering topics such as Blackness, womanism, creativity, and self-love, she dazzled the audience, receiving a thirty second standing ovation after her final oration.
Kwene shouted out the following poets throughout her presentation, in hopes of “bringing [her] community with” her:
“Christina” @purelypoetic617
Katia Zinn, @zinnvisibleink
Jarvis Subia, @jarvis.deangelo.subia
The event was a rousing success, with students learning several stories of how staff changed the lives of those who pass through HLS in underappreciated ways, both through their service and the wealth of kindness they feed into the Harvard ecosystem.