Last Monday in the chapel, Kent welcomed Andrew Solomon and Hass Agili for a talk organized by the Interfaith Club that felt especially meaningful coming right after Social Justice Week.

Solomon is a well-known writer, lecturer, and activist whose work focuses on mental health, identity, and human connection. He is best known for his book The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression, which won the National Book Award, and he teaches clinical psychology at Columbia University Medical Center. Mr. Agili, who spoke alongside Mr. Solomon, is a refugee from Libya, who over time has become “family” to Mr. Solomon. 

Instead of giving a formal or overly academic talk, Solomon opened the presentation more on his past, which made his talk more engaging and easier to feel connected to. He shared his experience Mr. Agili, whom he met in Libya while covering the war and subsequently fled to the United States.

Mr. Agili was originally supposed to be sent to New Nebraska, but Mr. Solomon chose to support him by helping him resettle in his house in New York. What started as a kindness quickly became something much deeper. Over time, Mr. Agili became a close part of Mr. Solomon’s life, almost like family. This part of the talk stood out because it showed how helping someone is not always a one-sided action, but something that can create real connections.

Mr. Solomon emphasized that helping others is not only important for the person receiving support but also for one’s own growth. He explained that acts of compassion can give your life a stronger sense of purpose and fulfillment. This idea connected strongly with students, especially after a week focused on social justice.

Overall, the chapel talk reinforced many of the themes discussed during Social Justice Week. It reminded the Kent community that empathy is something you practice through your actions.