Volume 58, Number 1    July 26, 2010         

New program looks to alter life paths
A new SF State-led program designed to divert local youth from gangs to green jobs and careers in education has received the green light from Gov. Schwarzenegger.

The "SF STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Teacher Pathway Project," targets young adults from 17 to 24 who are currently engaging in gang activity, are former gang members or are at risk of gang involvement.

SF State, City College of San Francisco (CCSF) and several San Francisco public agencies and nonprofit organizations will contribute educational, job placement, youth counseling and vocational training to the project. Program leaders aim to offer students a compelling alternative to gangs by providing concrete career paths that can lead to viable careers in teaching or green industries.

Antwi Akom, associate professor of Africana Studies, is the project's principal investigator and will manage and coordinate the programs. "The twin goals of this program are to increase the number of science and math teachers and expand the capacity of established after-school programs to include exposure to careers in teaching, clean energy, social work or community service," Akom said. "Our approach will help students acquire the skills they'll need to survive and thrive in a 21st century economy."

Participants will receive college-level coursework in math, science, technology and other fields. In addition they will be placed in after school or part- and full-time employment and training with clean energy, educational and social services organizations.

Participants who decide to pursue careers as kindergarten through eighth grade science or math teachers will take an accelerated path to degrees and certification through SF State’s College of Education. Other participants will receive vocational training in green industries or youth education and development.

Sixty-five participants will be selected for the program, which will begin in the 2010-11 academic year. Recruitment will target San Francisco communities plagued by gang violence including the Bayview Hunters Point, Tenderloin, Mission, Western Addition, Sunnydale/Visitation Valley and Ingleside districts.

OLLI expands to main campus
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) expands this fall to the main campus, offering 14 new courses on an array of arts-related subjects. Registration opens July 27 for classes that begin Sept. 13.

OLLI is a learning community for people age 50 and older who are interested in enriching their lives before and after retirement. OLLI offers small, interactive classes as well as interest and discussion groups. With an annual OLLI membership, each four- to six-week course can cost as little as $26.

Classes scheduled on the main campus include drawing and painting, concert lectures, Broadway musicals, ballet, improv, enjoying Shakespeare, history of video games, calligraphy, political thrillers and art gallery tours. An open house hosted by the College of Creative Arts takes place Sept. 2 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Knuth Hall.

OLLI also offers 21 courses at the Downtown Campus. Courses include writing, neighborhood walks, body intelligence, meditation and spiritual practices, web design, investment and more. An open house at the Downtown Campus takes place Sept. 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. For details, visit creativearts.sfsu.edu/olli or call Debra Varner at ext. 7-4243.

This week in Insiders: Professor of Cinema Bill Nichols, Associate Professor of Creative Writing Peter Orner, Associate Professor of Decision Science Ramesh Bollapragada, Assistant Professor of English Gitanjali Shahani, Associate Professor of Health Education Vivian Chavez, History Lecturer Sherry Katz, Professor of History Paul Longmore, Pasker Chair in American History Chris Waldrep, Assistant Professor of Marketing Minu Kumar, Assistant Professor of Raza Studies Jeffrey M.R. Duncan-Andrade, Professor of Recreation, Parks and Tourism James F. Murphy, Professor of Sexuality Studies Colleen Hoff, and Assistant Professor of Social Work Rashmi Gupta.

Read Insiders: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/summer10/july26insiders.htm

In this issue of Newsmakers: Assistant Professor of Biology Vance Vredenburg and Professor of Sexuality Studies Colleen Hoff.

Read Newsmakers: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/summer10/july26news.htm

Click on the link for each event to view full listing in the University Calendar.

Coming Up
Aug. 23: Faculty development/department meetings

For more upcoming events, see the University Calendar

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Last modified July 22, 2010 by University Communications.