Congratulations to Regina Morrison, Director of Financial Aid, on being selected as Skyline College’s Classified Employee of the Year. Regina’s selection at Skyline College placed her as a nominee to the SMCCCD Board as they considered the representative for the District to the State board of Governors.

Regina Morrison has dedicated 17 years of service to Skyline College working her way up from student assistant to Director of Financial Aid. As a former student of Skyline College, she knows firsthand, the importance of making resources available to students who have financial need.  Her passion and talent is in serving students from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Regina is respected for her expertise in the financial aid community.  She serves as the Region Three Representative for the California community Colleges Financial Aid Administrators Association which allows her to keep abreast of student services, financial aid and legislative news.   Regina is a key leader in various committees at both the college and district level including such committees as the Benefits Access to College Completion Committee and the College Internal Audit Group.

Regina is well respected by faculty, staff and students.  The nominating team wrote, “Regina’s commitment to equality, equity, her ability to help all students realize their potential, and her understanding of he needs of different cultures and economic backgrounds makes her a compassionate, intelligent and conscientious educator.  She is a perfect example of why Skyline College shines!” Congratulations to Regina!

Article by Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud

Each year, Skyline College honors Classified Staff who have served the College and District for 10, 20, 25, 30 and 40+ years. Please join us in honoring these Classified Staff Employees: Maria Norris for 25 years, Theresa Tentes for 20 years, Linda Bertelotti, Adolfo Leiva and Emmanuel Tablan for 10 years of service.

If you would like to join the Awards Luncheon on Friday, March 7th in room 6202-6206, please contact the President’s Office at (650) 738-4111 or tentes@smccd.edu by Friday, February 28th for guaranteed seating.

Article by Theresa Tentes

On Saturday, February 22, 2014, Skyline College hosted this year’s National TRiO Day in partnership with Cañada College’s TRiO SSS program and Upward Bound program.  The event was a success hosting close to 200 students, staff, and faculty in Building 6.  This student led event was comprised of student selected workshops, guest speakers, keynote speaker, and activities throughout the day.  The theme of this year’s event was A Day of Service and students contributed to a can food drive that went to support the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Workshops consisted of two alumni panels covering Transition to College and Study Abroad.  In addition, workshops focusing on Financial Literacy, Financial Aid, Leadership & Service, and Taking the “Pro” out of Procrastination were facilitated by Melanie Espinueva, Jose Milan, Anthony Heimuli, and Nate Nevado respectively.

The day was kicked off by a short history of TRiO programs, which were created in the 1960’s in response to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty and an encouraging welcome by President Regina Stanback Stroud.  Following Dr. Stroud was a general session on Internships and Volunteer work facilitated by Alex Jones, Job Developer with Workability III and Career Counselor.

TRiO students benefited from the lunch-time College and Program Showcase.  We had a number of universities table during this lunch hour, including San Francisco State University, University of San Francisco, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, Sonoma State University, and Notre Dame de Namur.  We also had programs such as Financial Aid, Sparkpoint at Skyline College, A2B, CIPHER, and the Transfer Articulation Bridge present.

This year’s keynote speaker was Leopoldo Rosales, a TRiO alum and former member of the Warner Bros. group, Malo that toured and appeared on shows such as American Bandstand.  With hit songs such as Suavecito, Leo recounted his path from upbringing and stardom to the lowest of lows, and finally graduating Skyline College with honorsand now being an elite marathon runner. You can see a video of Leo performing Suavecito at the age of 18 as the lead singer and drummer on this clip filmed in Vancouver Canada in 1972: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwmtbLJdKvI

Leo was appreciative of the opportunity to speak to our high school and college TRiO students. “I can’t stop thinking about the conference. I feel like I’m still there talking to the students. I’m finding so much more depth in my story. My mind and spirit keep recalling events that were so tough and I’m finding meaning in them like an equation that I am finally understanding. Believe me when I tell you that when I talk to the students, one more piece of my broken heart gets healed and mended back into the whole.  Thank you again for trusting me with your students.”

Leo’s note is an indicator of how genuine and transparent he is and was at the conference to our students. There was a line of students waiting to speak with him about how he touched on things that the students themselves are going through and how they too can find meaning and success in their path to graduation and transfer.

We’d like to thank the Financial Aid Office, the Skyline College Bookstore, and the Office of the Vice President for their support in this event.  Additionally, this event would not have been possible without the help of our TRiO student leaders who helped plan and facilitated the event, and the TRiO staff and faculty that helped organize and provide leadership for our students.

Article by Nohel Corral | Photos by Raul Guerra and Felix Perez

Deepening the National Conversation on Race with Dr. Shakti Butler : Cracking the Codes We need to talk:  Devastating racial inequity persists in the U.S.

Race, more than any other demographic factor, determines levels of individual educational achievement, health and life expectancy, possibility of incarceration, and wealth in the U.S.

The conversation on race is shallow  and remains focused on individuals.  It stops us from talking. It freezes our capacity to connect and act across crucial racial divides. If not interrupted, it is a system that is endlessly self-perpetuating.

What if we deepen the conversation?
A Cracking the Codes film/dialogue event sets the stage for transformation in classrooms, conference rooms and communities by unpacking the system of racial inequity and enabling people to—finally—talk about it.

Talking about race opens the way for institutional change. Authentic dialogue is a critical component of any equity effort.

Thousands are talking with Cracking the Codes. This year over 10,000 people in communities and on campuses nationwide have participated in a live Cracking the Codes event with World Trust facilitators.

Shakti Butler, PhD., is Founder and President of World Trust Educational Services.  She is also the producer/director of World Trust films. Dr. Butler shares her holistic framework for conveying the interconnection between internal and external/structural components of racial inequity, and revealing how self-perpetuating systems reinforce disparities in institutions. This framing, along with the use of Butler’s films, set the context for constructive conversation.

Special All-Campus Event
Date: Flex Day, Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Time: 1:00 pm -3:30 pm
Location: Building 6, Fireside Dining Room
Contact: Nina L. Floro, 650-738-4414 / floro@smccd.edu

Article by Nina Floro

It’s Spring, and that means it’s time for the new issue of Talisman, Skyline College’s Literary Magazine. Believe it or not this year’s issue is the 45th! But the publication doesn’t look a day over 38 (good genes). Instructors, please let your students know. There are writers and artists in all of your classes– from history to chemistry, to environmental science, to cosmetology, please encourage them to submit their work. Talisman publishes student poetry, prose (fiction, nonfiction, and drama—short scene or monologue) and art as well as offering cash prizes in contests.

The Talisman has a talented team of student editors and submissions are coming in but its down to the last push (the official deadline is March 7th, though we can extend this up to 5 days). Certainly let all of your students know but if you know of particular students who have shown promise in writing or art (you know the ones who spend the class period doodling those amazing pictures of dragons), give them that extra encouragement! Also, if you have the time please offer to take a look at theirpiece before they submit to Talisman, to catch any errors.

For more information please contact Faculty Advisor Rob Williams (Language Arts Division), williamsrob@smccd.edu. Students can turn in work directly to Rob Williams in Building 8, Room 8218; in addition, there is a drop-off box in the Language Arts Division office in Room 8112. Thank you! Hope to see you at the Talisman Release Party and Reading in the Gallery in May.

Article by Rob Williams

Women on Writing
A Morning of Readings and Refreshments

 Saturday, March 15, 2014
9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Student & Community Center
Building 6, Room 6202

You are cordially invited to a festive morning of readings, conversation and conviviality. This year WOW! is scaling back from a day-long conference, and we’re delighted to host a lively morning event to celebrate the WOW! community and creative spirit. Acclaimed authors Caroline Goodwin and Kirstin Valdez Quade kick off the program by reading their work, and then we’ll enjoy an Open Reading. Please join us!

Featured Readings:

Kirstin Valdez Quade

Stanford University Creative Writing Program

Author of fiction in The New Yorker, Narrative, Guernica, The Best American Short Stories 2013, and elsewhere

Caroline Goodwin

Poet Laureate of San Mateo County California College of the Arts MFA Program Stanford University Writer’s Studio

Author of Trapline and Kodiak Herbal

For more information, contact Kathleen McClung at mcclungk@smccd.edu.

Give a Skyline College welcome to Dr. Raj Lathigara, the new Director for the Center for Workforce Development. Raj brings with him a rich background of expertise and experience in workforce program monitoring and development around the Bay area . Most recently from the Cañada College Workforce program, Raj has developed partnerships with local business and industry, universities, the San Mateo Workforce Investment Board and not-for-profit organizations. He has been a leader in many sustainability initiatives and has held positions in Sacramento County and the City of San Jose as an environmental services specialist. Raj was also a facilities coordinator at San Jose State University leading their “Think Clean & Green” campaign.

Having grown up in India, Raj also brings a vibrant international perspective to the work he does. His community contributions include being a co-founder of Performing Arts International, promoting performing arts of south Asian origin. He is a member of the Democratized Computing Lab here in Silicon Valley and is on several board promoting entrepreneurship among youth. He has an interest in photojournalism and has contributed work to several ethnic media organizations. Raj’s office is in the Center for Workforce Development on the third floor of Building 1.

Article by Dr. Sarah Perkins  | Photo by Keisha Ford

Winona LaDuke Indigenous Sustainability Expert, Environmental and Human Rights Activist, Economist & Acclaimed Author

Tuesday, March 4 at 11:00AM,
Student and Community Center,
Building 6, Room 6202

Winona LaDuke (Anishinaabe) is an internationally acclaimed author, orator and activist. She is a graduate of Harvard and Antioch Universities with advanced degrees in rural economic development.

Outspoken, engaging, and unflaggingly dedicated to matters of ecological sustainability, Winona LaDuke is a powerful speaker who inspires her audiences to action and engagement.

LaDuke is a leader on issues of culturally based sustainable development, renewable energy, food systems, climate change and environmental justice. She is the founder and Co-Director of Honor the Earth, a national advocacy group encouraging public support and funding for native environmental groups.  In her own community in northern Minnesota, she is the founder of the White Earth Land Recovery Project, one of the largest reservation based non-profit organizations in the country. This organization works to protect Indigenous plants and heritage foods from patenting and genetic engineering.

In 1994, Time magazine named her one of America’s fifty most promising leaders under forty years of age, and in 1997 LaDuke was named Ms. Magazine Woman of the Year. Other honors include the Reebok Human Rights Award, the Thomas Merton Award, the Ann Bancroft Award, the Global Green Award, and the prestigious International Slow Food Award for working to protect wild rice and local biodiversity. In 2007, LaDuke was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

LaDuke also served as Ralph Nader’s vice-presidential running mate on the Green Party ticket in the 1996 and 2000 presidential elections.

In addition to numerous articles, LaDuke is the author of a number of non-fiction titles including All Our Relations, The Winona LaDuke Reader, Recovering the Sacred: the Power of Naming and Claiming, Food is Medicine: Recovering Traditional Foods to Heal the People and her latest, The Militarization of Indian Country. She has also penned a work of fiction, Last Standing Woman, and a children’s book, In the Sugarbush.

Addition information about Winona LaDuke and her work can be found at

http://www.speakoutnow.org/article.php?id=409

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v6_1DLth9U

http://www.nativeharvest.com/winona_laduke

http://www.honorearth.org/node/57

Winona LaDuke’s biography provided by SpeakOut, www.speakoutnow.org

On Tuesday February 18, 2014, Skyline College Student Health Center hosted a workshop on human trafficking, presented by the human trafficking task force of San Jose, California. The taskforce included a panel of three; Sargent Kyle Oki, community advocate Perla Glores and attorney Lynnete Parker. The event was well attended with over 70 participants. According to the task force; trafficking in persons is a modern day form of slavery. The United States Department of Justice estimates 18,000 to 20,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year. Men, women, and children can fall victim to human trafficking. They are forced to work in the sex industry or in labor situations such as domestic servitude, manufacturing, construction or migrant agricultural work. Victims are found throughout the United States and more specifically in Santa Clara County. If you suspect a person is a victim of human trafficking, contact the SJPD Human Trafficking Task Force national hot-line at 1-888-373-7888, email: StopSlavery@sanjoseca.gov
or website: http://www.sjpd.org/BOI/Sexual_Assaults/stopHT/

For more information, visit the Skyline College Student Health Center, in Building 2, Room 2209.

Article by Terri Sofarelli, PA-C