'Helping People Find Themselves'
Cohen said he watches reports of immigration trends to serve growing ethnic groups in the area. "It's all part of helping people find themselves," he said.
In 1955 Cohen's involvement in civic affairs began with his membership on the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He is now director of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, works with a teenage employment service and the Office of Economic Opportunity.
In 1965 Cohen received two community service awards. "I had something to offer the people in the city and I've always believed in helping kids," he said.
I Can Only Do So Much, But...
Although Cohen said "there's only so many things you can do with yourself as a person," he plans to add other activities to his present collection.
He said that he hopes to apply "what I've learned from students" to future work in book or magazine publishing. Cohen lectured to the Harvard Publishing Procedures Course last summer on the interplay between magazine publishing and public response.
Looking back on his rise from hawker to Harvard lecturer and self-made success, Cohen said. "I believe in hard work and in helping people. It's part of life. This is a beautiful country.