The First Laney Student Storytellers Event
On November 29th, the Fall Laney Student Storytellers Event was held in the College Library. Twenty-five Laney students shared personal stories of how their lived experiences have influenced them and how Laney College fits into their lives. Students’ narratives described challenges faced and overcome, people who have helped them in their journeys, and plans they have for their futures.
Storytelling is one of the oldest and most universal forms of communication. The goal of the Laney Student Storytellers Events is to promote inclusion and equity through communication, reflection, and connection among students and other members of the Laney Community. The next Event is scheduled for Spring 2024. Laney Student Storytellers Events are organized by Dr. Daniel DeVere, Communications Instructor at Laney College.
Mongolian Student Bridge to Laney Event
Laney College APASS organized the Mongolian Bridge to Laney event at the Bistro on Saturday December 2. Over 85 people attended. 50 new Mongolian prospective students and their families joined the gathering which featured presentations from APASS Director David Lee, counselor Sharon Quach and student ambassadors Battuya Nergui, Narmandakh Suurinburneebaatar and others. Special thanks to Diana Davaasuren Laney College Staff Specialist for her help in making the event a success. Vice President of Student Services Marlon Hall gave a rousing speech and welcome which was warmly received by the students and their families. Dr. Hall was followed by Mongolian Counsel General Munkhbaatar Begzjav thanked Laney College APASS for organizing the event and encouraged more Mongolian Americans to come to Laney College. He reported that Oakland is a major population center for Mongolians in the United States. In fact, over 25 new Mongolian students enrolled at Laney College this Fall.
Laney College Coffee and Speech Club Event at the Quad
December 4 was a bustling day on the Laney College Quad, with the Speech and Communications Club holding their end-of-semester event, featuring a variety of interpretations and oratories from students. The event was built around the theme of a “Christmas Choir and Impromptu Marathon. In total 13 club members contributed with speech and song.
Complementing the event was participation and attendance from student leaders in Laney’s ASLC (student government), along with the last convening of Coffee on the Quad with President Besikof. Many thanks to Lori Ann Raji, Chantal Martin, Laurence Jackson, and the entire Culinary Arts faculty, staff, and students, who prepared holiday gingerbread cookies to go with the first-class java from Laney’s Food Services. As a bonus, the event raised $100 in President’s Emergency Fund Scholarships, which to date, thanks in great part to employee giving, has raised its annual base to over $50,000 per year!
This article is taken from the President’s Report, written by Dr. Rudy Besikof, Laney College President, that was presented to the PCCD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. To view it as a PDF, click here.