I’m a teacher and I do not value education and neither should you if we
education and neither should you if we
education and neither should you if we really want to support students we need
really want to support students we need
really want to support students we need to stop educating them instead we need
to stop educating them instead we need
to stop educating them instead we need to focus on getting students connected
to focus on getting students connected
to focus on getting students connected connected to ideas communities and maybe
connected to ideas communities and maybe
connected to ideas communities and maybe most importantly themselves a community
most importantly themselves a community
most importantly themselves a community colleges like Shasta is where this is
colleges like Shasta is where this is
colleges like Shasta is where this is happening did you know there’s over
happening did you know there’s over
happening did you know there’s over 1,100 community colleges in the u.s.
1,100 community colleges in the u.s.
1,100 community colleges in the u.s. today serving close to 13 million
today serving close to 13 million
today serving close to 13 million students just for some perspective
students just for some perspective
students just for some perspective there’s only four states in the country
there’s only four states in the country
there’s only four states in the country with a population larger than that
with a population larger than that
with a population larger than that talk about a voting bloc in fact I’m
talk about a voting bloc in fact I’m
talk about a voting bloc in fact I’m kind of curious raise your hand if you
kind of curious raise your hand if you
kind of curious raise your hand if you went to a community college
went to a community college
went to a community college okay keep them up now raise your hand if
okay keep them up now raise your hand if
okay keep them up now raise your hand if you know someone that went to a
you know someone that went to a
you know someone that went to a community college look around these are
community college look around these are
community college look around these are huge numbers of people whose lives have
huge numbers of people whose lives have
huge numbers of people whose lives have in some way been shaped by a system of
in some way been shaped by a system of
in some way been shaped by a system of higher education that let’s be honest
higher education that let’s be honest
higher education that let’s be honest gets a pretty bad rap community colleges
gets a pretty bad rap community colleges
gets a pretty bad rap community colleges are often thought of as places of last
are often thought of as places of last
are often thought of as places of last resort places to hang out for any lack
resort places to hang out for any lack
resort places to hang out for any lack of anything better to do for those high
of anything better to do for those high
of anything better to do for those high school screw-ups I’ve even heard people
school screw-ups I’ve even heard people
school screw-ups I’ve even heard people say that they’re not real colleges that
say that they’re not real colleges that
say that they’re not real colleges that somehow it’s not a real degree in fact
somehow it’s not a real degree in fact
somehow it’s not a real degree in fact getting ready for today I looked up and
getting ready for today I looked up and
getting ready for today I looked up and to call it talks on community colleges
to call it talks on community colleges
to call it talks on community colleges and guess how many I found yeah zero
and guess how many I found yeah zero
and guess how many I found yeah zero we’re not even important enough to talk
we’re not even important enough to talk
we’re not even important enough to talk about that’s ridiculous
about that’s ridiculous
about that’s ridiculous Community College is the largest system
Community College is the largest system
Community College is the largest system of higher education on the planet
of higher education on the planet
of higher education on the planet connect to and serve our most important
connect to and serve our most important
connect to and serve our most important and I would argue most undervalue asset
and I would argue most undervalue asset
and I would argue most undervalue asset you and you and you colleges like Shasta
you and you and you colleges like Shasta
you and you and you colleges like Shasta are today creating spaces that allow
are today creating spaces that allow
are today creating spaces that allow students to contribute in ways that
students to contribute in ways that
students to contribute in ways that benefit all of us seriously
benefit all of us seriously
benefit all of us seriously imagine a world without Mickey Mouse
imagine a world without Mickey Mouse
imagine a world without Mickey Mouse Luke Skywalker iPhones or women in outer
Luke Skywalker iPhones or women in outer
Luke Skywalker iPhones or women in outer space
space
space yeah all the people responsible for
yeah all the people responsible for
yeah all the people responsible for these community college graduates our
these community college graduates our
these community college graduates our very own judge Tamra wood a recently
very own judge Tamra wood a recently
very own judge Tamra wood a recently appointed Shasta County Superior Court
appointed Shasta County Superior Court
appointed Shasta County Superior Court judge a Shasta College graduate I’ve had
judge a Shasta College graduate I’ve had
judge a Shasta College graduate I’ve had the absolute privilege for over a decade
the absolute privilege for over a decade
the absolute privilege for over a decade of being the sociology professor at
of being the sociology professor at
of being the sociology professor at Shasta College and during that time my
Shasta College and during that time my
Shasta College and during that time my students not me have served the role a
students not me have served the role a
students not me have served the role a teacher from them I’ve learned that what
teacher from them I’ve learned that what
teacher from them I’ve learned that what really matters in their lives didn’t
really matters in their lives didn’t
really matters in their lives didn’t come from education it came from wahoo
come from education it came from wahoo
come from education it came from wahoo and what they were connected to while
and what they were connected to while
and what they were connected to while students students like Cristina who
students students like Cristina who
students students like Cristina who connected to a concept in my class that
connected to a concept in my class that
connected to a concept in my class that changed her life or my student Mike a
changed her life or my student Mike a
changed her life or my student Mike a man thrown off the rails by our
man thrown off the rails by our
man thrown off the rails by our recession in 2008 connected to probably
recession in 2008 connected to probably
recession in 2008 connected to probably the most important thing while at Shasta
the most important thing while at Shasta
the most important thing while at Shasta himself and in reflecting on students
himself and in reflecting on students
himself and in reflecting on students like them in so many others it occurred
like them in so many others it occurred
like them in so many others it occurred to me that that’s what saved me a
to me that that’s what saved me a
to me that that’s what saved me a first-generation college student from a
first-generation college student from a
first-generation college student from a single-wide trailer just a few miles up
single-wide trailer just a few miles up
single-wide trailer just a few miles up the road to the college professor
the road to the college professor
the road to the college professor standing here today wasn’t my education
standing here today wasn’t my education
standing here today wasn’t my education it was my connection to my education
it was my connection to my education
it was my connection to my education that got me here so my goal today is to
that got me here so my goal today is to
that got me here so my goal today is to convince you of the transformative power
convince you of the transformative power
convince you of the transformative power of community colleges from places of
of community colleges from places of
of community colleges from places of last resort to institutions at the
last resort to institutions at the
last resort to institutions at the forefront of innovation inspiration and
forefront of innovation inspiration and
forefront of innovation inspiration and social change by the end of my talk
social change by the end of my talk
social change by the end of my talk today you’ll be convinced that community
today you’ll be convinced that community
today you’ll be convinced that community colleges aren’t places to end up but the
colleges aren’t places to end up but the
colleges aren’t places to end up but the places to be consider Cristina a former
places to be consider Cristina a former
places to be consider Cristina a former student of mine a young flight woman
student of mine a young flight woman
student of mine a young flight woman from a working-class immigrant family in
from a working-class immigrant family in
from a working-class immigrant family in a town that even by our rural standards
a town that even by our rural standards
a town that even by our rural standards was pretty much in the boonies christina
was pretty much in the boonies christina
was pretty much in the boonies christina was the first person in her family to go
was the first person in her family to go
was the first person in her family to go to college the fact that she was
to college the fact that she was
to college the fact that she was enrolled in my interjection to sociology
enrolled in my interjection to sociology
enrolled in my interjection to sociology class was kind of a statistical miracle
class was kind of a statistical miracle
class was kind of a statistical miracle unfortunately for her however she ended
unfortunately for her however she ended
unfortunately for her however she ended up in my very first class as a new
up in my very first class as a new
up in my very first class as a new teacher
teacher
teacher yeah there I was this fresh-faced
yeah there I was this fresh-faced
yeah there I was this fresh-faced obnoxiously optimistic professor who
obnoxiously optimistic professor who
obnoxiously optimistic professor who only the week before was
only the week before was
only the week before was quite some ceremony I’d retired my
quite some ceremony I’d retired my
quite some ceremony I’d retired my grungy grad school backpack and bought
grungy grad school backpack and bought
grungy grad school backpack and bought an adult briefcase now it was a purple
an adult briefcase now it was a purple
an adult briefcase now it was a purple briefcase but it was still a briefcase
briefcase but it was still a briefcase
briefcase but it was still a briefcase and I remember I worked so hard I read
and I remember I worked so hard I read
and I remember I worked so hard I read articles and books on the art of
articles and books on the art of
articles and books on the art of educating and I’m pretty sure I haven’t
educating and I’m pretty sure I haven’t
educating and I’m pretty sure I haven’t worked that hard on anything since kind
worked that hard on anything since kind
worked that hard on anything since kind of think about it and she didn’t get it
of think about it and she didn’t get it
of think about it and she didn’t get it right i ed g i lectured i quizzed i
right i ed g i lectured i quizzed i
right i ed g i lectured i quizzed i power pointed not even sure that’s a
power pointed not even sure that’s a
power pointed not even sure that’s a verb and they didn’t get it mercifully
verb and they didn’t get it mercifully
verb and they didn’t get it mercifully the semester finally ended and both my
the semester finally ended and both my
the semester finally ended and both my students and my submit myself for a bit
students and my submit myself for a bit
students and my submit myself for a bit disenchanted to say the least
disenchanted to say the least
disenchanted to say the least thankfully a winter break some rainy
thankfully a winter break some rainy
thankfully a winter break some rainy hikes and I will admit a glass of wine
hikes and I will admit a glass of wine
hikes and I will admit a glass of wine or two later it hit me these students
or two later it hit me these students
or two later it hit me these students had been educated their entire lives but
had been educated their entire lives but
had been educated their entire lives but because of force is so much bigger than
because of force is so much bigger than
because of force is so much bigger than that racism sexism poverty politics they
that racism sexism poverty politics they
that racism sexism poverty politics they came to me they came to college
came to me they came to college
came to me they came to college disconnected and teaching him in this
disconnected and teaching him in this
disconnected and teaching him in this traditional educational way was actually
traditional educational way was actually
traditional educational way was actually making things worse I could educate
making things worse I could educate
making things worse I could educate until the cows come home and where I
until the cows come home and where I
until the cows come home and where I live you can actually watch the cows
live you can actually watch the cows
live you can actually watch the cows come home and and these students weren’t
come home and and these students weren’t
come home and and these students weren’t gonna get it not because they weren’t
gonna get it not because they weren’t
gonna get it not because they weren’t smart but because through this process
smart but because through this process
smart but because through this process of educating they were being reminded
of educating they were being reminded
of educating they were being reminded yet again that they were lacking in some
yet again that they were lacking in some
yet again that they were lacking in some way that they weren’t agents of their
way that they weren’t agents of their
way that they weren’t agents of their own futures something had to change so
own futures something had to change so
own futures something had to change so let’s look at this verb to educate what
let’s look at this verb to educate what
let’s look at this verb to educate what does it mean to give intellectual moral
does it mean to give intellectual moral
does it mean to give intellectual moral or social instruction what’s wrong with
or social instruction what’s wrong with
or social instruction what’s wrong with educating well two things one when
educating well two things one when
educating well two things one when you’re being educated you are by
you’re being educated you are by
you’re being educated you are by definition a passive learner devoid of
definition a passive learner devoid of
definition a passive learner devoid of knowledge in your own right what you
knowledge in your own right what you
knowledge in your own right what you bring to the table your experience your
bring to the table your experience your
bring to the table your experience your expertise isn’t valued to educating
expertise isn’t valued to educating
expertise isn’t valued to educating creates a hierarchy with teachers on the
creates a hierarchy with teachers on the
creates a hierarchy with teachers on the top and students on the bottom the verb
top and students on the bottom the verb
top and students on the bottom the verb demands that the student lacking in some
demands that the student lacking in some
demands that the student lacking in some way I mean how open are you to new ideas
way I mean how open are you to new ideas
way I mean how open are you to new ideas new information when you’re made to feel
new information when you’re made to feel
new information when you’re made to feel less than me not so much
less than me not so much
less than me not so much and there’s persistent focus on
and there’s persistent focus on
and there’s persistent focus on educating is especially dangerous at
educating is especially dangerous at
educating is especially dangerous at community colleges
community colleges
community colleges because we only accept the top 100
because we only accept the top 100
because we only accept the top 100 percent of applicants our students can
percent of applicants our students can
percent of applicants our students can come from communities that have been
come from communities that have been
come from communities that have been structurally disconnected from society’s
structurally disconnected from society’s
structurally disconnected from society’s resources like education politics and
resources like education politics and
resources like education politics and social change and this is not only their
social change and this is not only their
social change and this is not only their problem it’s our problem we society
problem it’s our problem we society
problem it’s our problem we society suffer when they’re not given an
suffer when they’re not given an
suffer when they’re not given an opportunity to contribute imagine a
opportunity to contribute imagine a
opportunity to contribute imagine a world I don’t want to live in a world
world I don’t want to live in a world
world I don’t want to live in a world without female astronauts female judges
without female astronauts female judges
without female astronauts female judges Princess Leia
Princess Leia
Princess Leia Chewbacca seriously so back to Cristina
Chewbacca seriously so back to Cristina
Chewbacca seriously so back to Cristina probably against her own better judgment
probably against her own better judgment
probably against her own better judgment she signed up for my sociology of gender
she signed up for my sociology of gender
she signed up for my sociology of gender class a few semesters later but this
class a few semesters later but this
class a few semesters later but this time instead of lectures and quizzes I
time instead of lectures and quizzes I
time instead of lectures and quizzes I had my students participate in
had my students participate in
had my students participate in service-learning projects where I asked
service-learning projects where I asked
service-learning projects where I asked them to connect class material to work
them to connect class material to work
them to connect class material to work in and law on a non-profit here in the
in and law on a non-profit here in the
in and law on a non-profit here in the community many of you probably in fact
community many of you probably in fact
community many of you probably in fact and I remember in my office talking with
and I remember in my office talking with
and I remember in my office talking with Cristina about possible service sites
Cristina about possible service sites
Cristina about possible service sites and she mentioned who was interested in
and she mentioned who was interested in
and she mentioned who was interested in working with survivors of sexual assault
working with survivors of sexual assault
working with survivors of sexual assault later from her story I learned that
later from her story I learned that
later from her story I learned that Cristina not only had to overcome
Cristina not only had to overcome
Cristina not only had to overcome economic and racial barriers to becoming
economic and racial barriers to becoming
economic and racial barriers to becoming a college student Cristina was a rape
a college student Cristina was a rape
a college student Cristina was a rape survivor I distinctly remember her
survivor I distinctly remember her
survivor I distinctly remember her sitting there clutching her cold latte
sitting there clutching her cold latte
sitting there clutching her cold latte sharing the violence and the trauma done
sharing the violence and the trauma done
sharing the violence and the trauma done to her as a young child handing our
to her as a young child handing our
to her as a young child handing our tissue after tissue I was struck not
tissue after tissue I was struck not
tissue after tissue I was struck not only by the violence that she was
only by the violence that she was
only by the violence that she was sharing but by the how she kept focusing
sharing but by the how she kept focusing
sharing but by the how she kept focusing on the things that she should have done
on the things that she should have done
on the things that she should have done to keep this from happening and how
to keep this from happening and how
to keep this from happening and how alone she felt as a survivor here was
alone she felt as a survivor here was
alone she felt as a survivor here was this young woman sitting across from me
this young woman sitting across from me
this young woman sitting across from me that was in so many ways disconnected
that was in so many ways disconnected
that was in so many ways disconnected this gave me an idea remember that
this gave me an idea remember that
this gave me an idea remember that concept I was struggling with trying to
concept I was struggling with trying to
concept I was struggling with trying to get our students to think about
get our students to think about
get our students to think about sociological imagination I encouraged
sociological imagination I encouraged
sociological imagination I encouraged her to revisit in it in her work with
her to revisit in it in her work with
her to revisit in it in her work with the local women’s nonprofit a few weeks
the local women’s nonprofit a few weeks
the local women’s nonprofit a few weeks later I’m in my office grading their
later I’m in my office grading their
later I’m in my office grading their reflection assignments and I came across
reflection assignments and I came across
reflection assignments and I came across Cristina’s and I wanted to share it with
Cristina’s and I wanted to share it with
Cristina’s and I wanted to share it with you she wrote it was powerful to talk to
you she wrote it was powerful to talk to
you she wrote it was powerful to talk to these women to explain
these women to explain
these women to explain how this whole thing sexism
how this whole thing sexism
how this whole thing sexism discrimination is so much bigger than me
discrimination is so much bigger than me
discrimination is so much bigger than me that it’s a system that’s broken not
that it’s a system that’s broken not
that it’s a system that’s broken not them nothing they did or do will ever
them nothing they did or do will ever
them nothing they did or do will ever justify being treated unequally that
justify being treated unequally that
justify being treated unequally that really if we want to deal with domestic
really if we want to deal with domestic
really if we want to deal with domestic violence and sexual assault we’ve got to
violence and sexual assault we’ve got to
violence and sexual assault we’ve got to deal with gender discrimination that was
deal with gender discrimination that was
deal with gender discrimination that was it that’s what I’ve been trying so long
it that’s what I’ve been trying so long
it that’s what I’ve been trying so long to educate her about this idea that
to educate her about this idea that
to educate her about this idea that individuals in society are
individuals in society are
individuals in society are interconnected that these forces
interconnected that these forces
interconnected that these forces together shape our experiences but
together shape our experiences but
together shape our experiences but Christina didn’t get it from being
Christina didn’t get it from being
Christina didn’t get it from being educated she got it because she was
educated she got it because she was
educated she got it because she was provided a space to connect with this
provided a space to connect with this
provided a space to connect with this concept and to connect with it on her
concept and to connect with it on her
concept and to connect with it on her own terms so what does this word connect
own terms so what does this word connect
own terms so what does this word connect me to join together so as to provide
me to join together so as to provide
me to join together so as to provide access and communication wire colleges
access and communication wire colleges
access and communication wire colleges like Shasta shifting from educating to
like Shasta shifting from educating to
like Shasta shifting from educating to connecting well one connection allows
connecting well one connection allows
connecting well one connection allows agency in the learning process
agency in the learning process
agency in the learning process Christina played an active role in
Christina played an active role in
Christina played an active role in connecting to this concept to connection
connecting to this concept to connection
connecting to this concept to connection recognizes and respects a diversity of
recognizes and respects a diversity of
recognizes and respects a diversity of knowledge it values the experiences
knowledge it values the experiences
knowledge it values the experiences students bring with them and three
students bring with them and three
students bring with them and three connection erases this hierarchy between
connection erases this hierarchy between
connection erases this hierarchy between students and teachers Christina got this
students and teachers Christina got this
students and teachers Christina got this concept because she connected with
concept because she connected with
concept because she connected with people not from a professor that gave
people not from a professor that gave
people not from a professor that gave her something she was assumed not to
her something she was assumed not to
her something she was assumed not to have and here’s an example of caught
have and here’s an example of caught
have and here’s an example of caught community colleges doing exactly what
community colleges doing exactly what
community colleges doing exactly what they should create space and support for
they should create space and support for
they should create space and support for students to connect to ideas that
students to connect to ideas that
students to connect to ideas that benefit all of us or take my student
benefit all of us or take my student
benefit all of us or take my student Mike it’s like so many others this young
Mike it’s like so many others this young
Mike it’s like so many others this young 30 year old man felt the ground shift
30 year old man felt the ground shift
30 year old man felt the ground shift underneath him during the recession in
underneath him during the recession in
underneath him during the recession in 2008 with construction jobs drying up he
2008 with construction jobs drying up he
2008 with construction jobs drying up he decided to go back to college and I can
decided to go back to college and I can
decided to go back to college and I can still remember him awkwardly trying to
still remember him awkwardly trying to
still remember him awkwardly trying to fold his long legs under our tiny little
fold his long legs under our tiny little
fold his long legs under our tiny little desks Mike was not only physically
desks Mike was not only physically
desks Mike was not only physically uncomfortable at school he was
uncomfortable at school he was
uncomfortable at school he was uncomfortable with the idea of college
uncomfortable with the idea of college
uncomfortable with the idea of college he would come by and confidently express
he would come by and confidently express
he would come by and confidently express his lack of confidence in writing and
his lack of confidence in writing and
his lack of confidence in writing and test taking and being a student in
test taking and being a student in
test taking and being a student in general he shared a story of growing up
general he shared a story of growing up
general he shared a story of growing up a fit in a family with drug abuse
a fit in a family with drug abuse
a fit in a family with drug abuse domestic violence
domestic violence
domestic violence and these experiences not only
and these experiences not only
and these experiences not only undermined his skills as a student they
undermined his skills as a student they
undermined his skills as a student they were keeping him from seeing himself as
were keeping him from seeing himself as
were keeping him from seeing himself as a student mike was struggling trying to
a student mike was struggling trying to
a student mike was struggling trying to connect these seemingly disconnected
connect these seemingly disconnected
connect these seemingly disconnected identities and this was a problem
identities and this was a problem
identities and this was a problem because of my success with Christina I
because of my success with Christina I
because of my success with Christina I decided to have Mike’s class explore
decided to have Mike’s class explore
decided to have Mike’s class explore this other concept social inequality by
this other concept social inequality by
this other concept social inequality by observing the work of social service
observing the work of social service
observing the work of social service programs in our community and Mike chose
programs in our community and Mike chose
programs in our community and Mike chose to work with young men on probation near
to work with young men on probation near
to work with young men on probation near the end of the semester he made a point
the end of the semester he made a point
the end of the semester he made a point I’ve asked me to look over his essay to
I’ve asked me to look over his essay to
I’ve asked me to look over his essay to see if he was on the right track here’s
see if he was on the right track here’s
see if he was on the right track here’s part of what he wrote I struggled for
part of what he wrote I struggled for
part of what he wrote I struggled for the first year or two at college trying
the first year or two at college trying
the first year or two at college trying to figure out how to fit in I didn’t
to figure out how to fit in I didn’t
to figure out how to fit in I didn’t belong here people talked differently
belong here people talked differently
belong here people talked differently acted different I didn’t seem to fit
acted different I didn’t seem to fit
acted different I didn’t seem to fit working with these kids though helped me
working with these kids though helped me
working with these kids though helped me see the connection between Who I am and
see the connection between Who I am and
see the connection between Who I am and who I want to be the class project
who I want to be the class project
who I want to be the class project helped me see how my education connects
helped me see how my education connects
helped me see how my education connects to something real what do you think was
to something real what do you think was
to something real what do you think was he on the right track yeah students like
he on the right track yeah students like
he on the right track yeah students like Christina and Mike succeeded in my class
Christina and Mike succeeded in my class
Christina and Mike succeeded in my class not because they were being educated but
not because they were being educated but
not because they were being educated but because they were both provided spaces
because they were both provided spaces
because they were both provided spaces to connect to material and in Mike’s
to connect to material and in Mike’s
to connect to material and in Mike’s case to connect to his identity as a
case to connect to his identity as a
case to connect to his identity as a student
student
student Mike succeeded not in spite of but
Mike succeeded not in spite of but
Mike succeeded not in spite of but because of who he was he went on to
because of who he was he went on to
because of who he was he went on to graduate with honors and was recently
graduate with honors and was recently
graduate with honors and was recently hired as a social worker right here in
hired as a social worker right here in
hired as a social worker right here in Shasta County his success is our success
Shasta County his success is our success
Shasta County his success is our success our community is a better place because
our community is a better place because
our community is a better place because of him ok so what why does all this
of him ok so what why does all this
of him ok so what why does all this feel-good stuff matter why should we
feel-good stuff matter why should we
feel-good stuff matter why should we stop educating and start connecting
stop educating and start connecting
stop educating and start connecting because we risk failing to do our job as
because we risk failing to do our job as
because we risk failing to do our job as an institution of higher education which
an institution of higher education which
an institution of higher education which is to support student civic and economic
is to support student civic and economic
is to support student civic and economic engagement in society we all risk losing
engagement in society we all risk losing
engagement in society we all risk losing out on those ideas those things those
out on those ideas those things those
out on those ideas those things those people that are gonna make our lives
people that are gonna make our lives
people that are gonna make our lives better Christina and Mike and students
better Christina and Mike and students
better Christina and Mike and students like them inspired us at Shasta College
like them inspired us at Shasta College
like them inspired us at Shasta College conversations in classrooms office hours
conversations in classrooms office hours
conversations in classrooms office hours crowded hallways led to committee
crowded hallways led to committee
crowded hallways led to committee meetings and board discussions which led
meetings and board discussions which led
meetings and board discussions which led to real changes in how we support
to real changes in how we support
to real changes in how we support students today
students today
students today your Community College is absolutely
your Community College is absolutely
your Community College is absolutely committed to creating spaces that allow
committed to creating spaces that allow
committed to creating spaces that allow students to connect we’ve been busy
students to connect we’ve been busy
students to connect we’ve been busy programs like step up that connect
programs like step up that connect
programs like step up that connect people in prison to college classrooms
people in prison to college classrooms
people in prison to college classrooms leadership high school where we take
leadership high school where we take
leadership high school where we take today’s teams and mold them to be
today’s teams and mold them to be
today’s teams and mold them to be tomorrow’s movers and shakers or gateway
tomorrow’s movers and shakers or gateway
tomorrow’s movers and shakers or gateway to college where we have students at
to college where we have students at
to college where we have students at risk of failing high school instead go
risk of failing high school instead go
risk of failing high school instead go to college or new non-traditional
to college or new non-traditional
to college or new non-traditional employment for women a program designed
employment for women a program designed
employment for women a program designed to encourage women to consider those man
to encourage women to consider those man
to encourage women to consider those man jobs like welding and heavy equipment
jobs like welding and heavy equipment
jobs like welding and heavy equipment because there’s real money in those jobs
because there’s real money in those jobs
because there’s real money in those jobs in our community or my program civic and
in our community or my program civic and
in our community or my program civic and community engagement we’ve connected
community engagement we’ve connected
community engagement we’ve connected almost 200 students with over 30
almost 200 students with over 30
almost 200 students with over 30 businesses and nonprofits through
businesses and nonprofits through
businesses and nonprofits through internships and service learning
internships and service learning
internships and service learning projects so that’s what we’ve been up to
projects so that’s what we’ve been up to
projects so that’s what we’ve been up to what about you what are you doing to
what about you what are you doing to
what about you what are you doing to nurture connections that inspire our
nurture connections that inspire our
nurture connections that inspire our community well if you’re a business
community well if you’re a business
community well if you’re a business owner or a service provider connect to
owner or a service provider connect to
owner or a service provider connect to students not only for their futures but
students not only for their futures but
students not only for their futures but yours if you’re a student connect with
yours if you’re a student connect with
yours if you’re a student connect with those people that are gonna connect you
those people that are gonna connect you
those people that are gonna connect you with those people to grow your networks
with those people to grow your networks
with those people to grow your networks and if you’re a teacher stop educating
and if you’re a teacher stop educating
and if you’re a teacher stop educating instead think about Christina Mike think
instead think about Christina Mike think
instead think about Christina Mike think about those people those ideas that
about those people those ideas that
about those people those ideas that you’re connected to that made you the
you’re connected to that made you the
you’re connected to that made you the asset that you are today and all of you
asset that you are today and all of you
asset that you are today and all of you we need all of you to help us change the
we need all of you to help us change the
we need all of you to help us change the conversation from community colleges as
conversation from community colleges as
conversation from community colleges as places of last resort to institutions of
places of last resort to institutions of
places of last resort to institutions of innovation inspiration and social change
innovation inspiration and social change
innovation inspiration and social change places that connect and thus inspire and
places that connect and thus inspire and
places that connect and thus inspire and nurture our community’s most important
nurture our community’s most important
nurture our community’s most important asset all of you thank you
you
you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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