Volume 55, Number 31    April 28 , 2008         

A growing industry
Professor of Urban Studies Raquel Pinderhughes said green-collar jobs may stimulate employment opportunities in April 20 San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times and Oakland Tribune articles. "We found 122 companies, ranging from solar panel installers to bio-diesel fuel to furniture makers and bicycle repair shops that are ready to hire -- and in fact ready to consider people trained in job-readiness skills," said Pinderhughes, who advises the Oakland Green Job Corps. Noting that the community-focused green industry can't be outsourced, she said, "If you need to install solar panels on a building in Berkeley, you can't get someone in Bangalore, (India) to do it."
 
An April 22 Los Angeles Daily News article cited more of Pinderhughes' insights: "The vast majority of local green-collar jobs do not require high levels of education. The majority of workers holding green-collar jobs in these sectors (have) obtained their skills on the job or through training paid for by their employers. If we want green-collar jobs, we must support policies designed to improve environmental restoration, quality and justice," she said.
 
Chasing the torch
An April 16 San Francisco Chronicle article featured Assistant Professor of Cinema Weimin Zhang’s work filming the official Olympic documentary during the San Francisco opening ceremonies as her 10-person crew chased the torch. "The route changed!" Zhang exclaimed. "I felt like I ran for miles. I couldn't catch up." In response to protests against the ceremonies, Zhang responded, "I think it really damaged the image of San Francisco as an open city, where people feel free to express themselves. These are people who have been training for the Olympics for all of their lives."

For more media coverage of faculty, staff, students, alumni and programs, see SF State in the News.

1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132 415/338-1111
Last modified April 28, 2008 by University Communications.