Friday, February 7, 2020

Greetings Peralta Community!  Welcome to issue #6 of Peralta Gems. Past issues are archived on the Peralta website here. Please send photos, events and news stories you'd like to be shared in Peralta Gems and our social media accounts to Mark Johnson markjohnson@peralta.edu  Thank you!

Peralta Celebrates Black History Month

Merritt College, home of the Panthers, kicks off the festivities around Black History Month

February is Black History Month and Peralta is celebrating with events all month long at all four college campuses. From drums and a special collection of library books at Berkeley City College, to Chancellor Stanback Stroud's stirring speech at College of Alameda, to cowboys at Merritt, and the upcoming Afrofuturism Workshop at Laney, there's a lot of exciting events going on. As always!

Things kicked off on Monday at Berkeley City College with the Hanna Boys Center, Sonoma playing traditional African drums.  Felicia Bridges reported that, "The drumming resounded throughout the building..."

Drumming at Merritt College

Brenda Lewis had this to say about the College of Alameda kick off: "Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!  The opening day for Black History Month at College of Alameda was outstanding.  Thank you, President Karas for your support, presence and participation. Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District, what a powerful message.  You encouraged us as a people to not allow mediocrity to be part of our being, we do not have that privilege but instead always strive for excellence."

Painting at Merritt College

Tauheeda Anderson, the Umoja/Sankofa Project Manager at Merritt College, shared her thoughts on the February 4th events:

"The kick off to the Black history Month was Awesome! The Students enjoyed a host of amazing events, Guest Speaker, Black Cowboy Association, Paint, Reflect, Project that made the students feel appreciated, valued, and important at our amazing institutions. We celebrate Black History Month to recognize the sacrifices, contributions, and achievements of African Americans to the United States and the world. Many of us were educated in schools in which the perspectives, experiences, and discoveries of Black Americans were not an integral part of our learning. Black History Month provides the nation with an opportunity to hear the voices and experiences of people who have historically been oppressed, ignored, marginalized and overlooked in our country. While Black History Month cannot replace the important work of making our curriculum and pedagogy culturally relevant year round, building authentic relationships with students and colleagues across difference, and ensuring that discipline policies, procedures, and practices are equitable, this month is an excellent opportunity to reflect on where we are as an organization and a nation, and can be a great catalyst for more accurately acknowledging the contributions of African Americans to the United States throughout the year."

Merritt College President David Johnson on horseback...in a suit!

Coronavirus Announcement from Chancellor Stanback Stroud

The health and safety of everyone is top priority at Peralta Community College District.   The District has been closely following the situation regarding the novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).  I would like to share this update, implications for safety, and guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For the most recent, up to date information, visit the CDC website here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. According to the Alameda County Public Health Department, the immediate health risk from novel coronavirus to the general public in California and Alameda County is low. While the threat to the Peralta community is currently considered low, outbreaks of new viruses in humans are always a public health concern.

The Peralta District Department of Health Services and Alameda County Public Health Department are working with local, state and federal partners including the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to protect the health of our community.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available. In the meantime, remember that Peralta serves a diverse community of learners and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment of belonging. Please treat each other with respect and kindness in these challenging times. You are all important members of our community.

Many students and employees are natives of China and/or have family and friends there and may be concerned for their well-being. Please know that the Peralta community supports and cares about you, and we send our best wishes for the health and wellbeing of your loved ones.

This is an excerpt of a longer message. Read the full announcement from Chancellor Stanback Stroud, which includes more details about the origins of the coronavirus, recommendations to help prevent spread of infection, and reasons for encouragement here.

Dr. Silvester Henderson to Receive A2MEND Educational Leadership Award

The African American Male Education Network & Development (A2MEND) has named Dr. Silvester Henderson as the recipient of the 2020 Educational Leadership Award.  A2MEND wrote in a letter to Dr. Henderson, "The A²MEND Educational Leadership Award recognizes your advocacy, mentorship, and support for increasing the success of African American males in both community colleges and beyond.  Your leadership and fortitude in fostering institutional change within the community college system to improve the success of students, and in particularly African American males, certainly deserves recognition and on behalf of the entire A²MEND organization, we would like to thank you for the inspiring work that you do."

Professor Henderson is a nationally recognized educator, conference motivational speaker,  community artistic organizer, musician/artist, internet radio blog personality, and conductor of the Gospel Song.  He has worked at Peralta Community College District as part-time faculty for the past five years and has served as the chair of the Art, Music, Dance, and Computer Information Systems department at College of Alameda since July 2019. "I came to College of Alameda to work with more urban students. I love Peralta - there's an enormous amount of opportunity here for the student body thanks to the professional faculty, staff, and administrators. The diversity in particular is really special."

When asked what the A2MEND award means to him, Dr. Henderson said "I'm humbled and grateful. As a man of color who has endured injustices, I appreciate the recognition that men of color can have a positive impact on young men and make life better for them."  Dr Henderson expressed gratitude for the support of President Karas and Dean Ana McClanahan at CoA. He will receive the award at the A2MEND Summit coming up March 4-6 in Los Angeles. Congratulations Dr. Henderson!

Peralta Selects AECOM for Bond Program Management Services

Representatives from AECOM at the Peralta Board of Trustees Meeting on February 4, 2020

On February 4, 2020, at its regularly scheduled Board meeting, the Board of Trustees of Peralta Community College District (PCCD) approved an agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for full program management services overseeing the completion of Measure A and the anticipated duration of Measure G. AECOM is a premier infrastructure firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for generations to come. With their Northern California headquarters here in Oakland near Lake Merritt, AECOM is local and very supportive of area small and minority owned businesses, both factors (among many others) that contributed to their selection.

AECOM will be providing program management services for numerous bond projects on behalf of the Peralta District. During the election of November 2018, Northern Alameda County voters overwhelmingly approved Measure G, the District’s $800 million bond proposal to facilitate improvements to facilities and new construction.

One bond project is the new Child Development Center at Merritt College. This is an artist rendering of the new building from AE3 Partners, the architect. AECOM will be working with AE3 on this project.

The bonds will bring much-needed improvements to Peralta colleges, allowing the District to address several priorities over the next five years and better serve our multicultural communities.  Building projects include development at each of the four Peralta Colleges:

• An additional multi-use classroom building for Berkeley City College
• New Center for Liberal Arts, Diesel and Automotive Technology replacement building, a new Science and Administration Building at College of Alameda, plus a new College of Alameda Aviation Center at Oakland Airport
• New Child Development Center and Horticultural Center at Merritt College
• Extensive development at Laney College including a Locker Room renovation, Laney Theater renovation, new Learning Resource Center and Library, and new Science Center
• Plus infrastructure improvements for health and safety, accessibility, and sustainability to existing facilities at all four campuses

AECOM will provide program management services, including program kick off services, which will allow the District to continue the activities of Measure A and the start-up and management of Measure G. 

A selection committee consisting of faculty, classified staff and administrators from across the District reviewed proposals from seven different firms.  Based on their experience and interviews with the selection committee, AECOM was deemed the most qualified vendor to perform this work. 

Read the full press release announcing our partnership with AECOM here. 

Francis Howard Wins FACCC Part-Time Faculty of the Year Award

Francis Howard, Peralta Community College District part-time faculty member and librarian at Laney  and Merritt, has been honored by the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC) as the 2020 winner of the Part-Time Faculty Member of the Year Award. He will be honored at the FACCC Awards Reception in Sacramento on March 8. Congratulations Francis on this well-deserved award!  

New on Peralta Television's YouTube Channel

Chancellors Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud and Dr. Eloy Ortiz Oakley

Last week we wrote about the Oakland Town Hall and College Fair on January 28 at McClymonds High School with a particular emphasis on the College Fair. This issue we want to share the Town Hall program with you. The event was organized by the Black and African American Advisory Panel of the California Community Colleges and featured both Peralta Chancellor Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud and California Community Colleges Chancellor Dr. Eloy Ortiz Oakley (and also radio personality and Laney College alumna Shay Diddy, the Program Director from KMEL). You can see the program with short powerful speeches by Dr. Stanback Stroud and Dr. Ortiz Oakley here (48 minutes). 

Click on the photo to the left to watch the Psychedelic Psychology Ball (27 min) at Berkeley City College on Friday, January 31, 2020. BCC Interim President Dr. Debbie Budd praised the event as a great example of how to make guided pathways come alive.

The Chancellor's Report from the Board of Trustees Meeting on February 4, 2020 is available by clicking the photo on the right (24 min).  In this report, Chancellor Stanback Stroud introduces new General Counsel and Chief of Staff Mr. Delisle Warden, provides comments on Black History Month, and discusses the accreditation of the four colleges in detail before turning the dias over to the college presidents for campus updates.

Board Policy Changes

Earlier this month, the Peralta Board of Trustees approved two updates to Board Policies that Peralta employees should be aware. The changes were to BP 6340 Bids and Contracts and BP 6330 Purchasing. You can access the updated versions here: https://web.peralta.edu/trustees/bps-aps/. Of particular consequence is the change to BP 6340 which increases the amount for a contract that the Chancellor can approve from $25,000 to $50,000.  This change will save some staff time since contracts less than $50,000 require Chancellor approval but not also Board approval. 

Laney Fresh Produce Giveaway

Vicki Ferguson, VP of Student Services, with volunteers from Oakland Rotary provide much needed fresh fruit

Every Tuesday at 1pm in the Laney College Student Center there is a fresh produce giveaway. In partnership with the Alameda County Food Bank, Oakland Rotary #3, and the Office of Student Activities and Campus Life, Laney College provides this free resource for currently enrolled students.

Peralta Health Services Schedule for Spring 2020

Here are the Health Services schedules for the four colleges this Spring 2020 semester. 

If you have any questions about Peralta Health Services, please contact Dr. Mia Kelly who is Director of Health Services at PCCD. Her email address is mkelly@peralta.edu.