Laney Eagle’s Nest and Food Distribution – Fall 2023
As part of Laney’s continuing efforts to meet Student Basic Needs, the College has established a hub providing access to resources designed to keep them enrolled and successful in their academic pursuits. Named the Laney College Eagles Nest, this unique on-campus center fosters a culture of holistic well-being by helping to eliminate life barriers, such as food, housing, and economic injustice, that may jeopardize students’ academic and personal success. The initiative is part of the work that has taken place under the leadership of new Basic Needs Coordinator Katrina Santos and Dean Gary Albury.
The Laney College Eagles Nest is designed as a one-stop-shop to receive information and access on and off-campus basic needs resources, but the public is welcome to stop by for information about this unique source of assistance for students!
Contact Information:
Katrina Santos, Basic Needs Coordinator (510) 464-3572 Ksantos@peralta.edu
Location: Student Center 3rd Floor (SC-357) https://laney.edu/eaglesnest/
Laney CTE Division to Offer Work-Based Learning Opportunities at the Kaiser Convention Center
Laney’s Career and Technical Education departments are in talks with Orton Development regarding the development of work-based learning and employment opportunities for electrical, HVAC, and carpentry students. One particularly fruitful part of those discussions took place on July 6th, 2023, when Vice President of Instruction Dr. Rebecca Opsata, Career Technical Education Dean Ally Tomas, and Workforce Development Manager Raya Zion had a special tour of the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center. The tour was organized and led by Laney architecture alumnus (now renovation assistant project manager), Jabari Jourdan Ali, as the group took special note of the renovation and restoration of Center’s Calvin Simmons Theater.
In addition, Orton Development, the Laney Theater, and the Stage Workers’ Union are exploring the development of apprenticeships for Laney’s theater students that will take place prior to the re-opening of the Center, scheduled for Winter or early Spring 2024.
University of California, Berkeley’s Visit to Laney LatinX Transfer and Thriving Initiatives
Discussions with UC Berkeley and Mills College around improving Latinx transfer numbers took place at Laney on July 19, 2023. College staff, faculty, and administrators met with Mills staff and the especially large contingent from Cal Berkeley’s Center for Educational Equity, Transfer Admissions, and the Multi-Cultural Centers. The meeting was highlighted by a rich discussion of ways to strengthen collaboration between the three institutions and address the need to increase the number of successful transfers of Laney LatinX students. Joining the discussion was leadership from the statewide Puente office, and the marked increase in the number of Puentista students in 2022-23 was noted. The meeting produced a productive list of the next steps to be taken by all parties to strengthen our connections and improve transfer pathways for students
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, July 25, 2023. To view it as a pdf, click here.
