by April | Education, Uncategorized
In an event accented by hands-on workshops, class lectures, laboratory visits, campus tours and interaction with UCSD faculty and undergraduates, hundreds of pre-college students and their parents got more than just a savory taste of university life this month when they attended Dare to Dream College: The African Experience at UCSD.
“As an African American,” said one parent who participated, “I think this event not only challenged young Black students to dare to dream college and to go after that dream, but also challenged parents to get involved, and stay involved, in preparing their children for higher education –starting in early childhood.”
Indeed, the message of early academic preparation and active parental involvement were important goals when UCSD Student Educational Advancement (a division of Student Affairs) joined with the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) of San Diego and Imperial Counties in sponsoring Dare to Dream College. The event was not only intended to help enhance college-going rates of African Americans in San Diego, but to also provide an opportunity to showcase the academic and career opportunities UCSD has to offer.
And from UCSD, the event enjoyed the participation and support from the Chancellor’s Office, faculty, staff, Student Affairs, the Black Student Union and other undergraduates. “It was truly both a community and university effort,” report Loren Thompson, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Educational Advancement (SEA), and Linda Doughty, Director, Cal-SOAP.
The event immersed 4th through 12th grade students in various interactive activities with faculty, staff and undergraduates based upon students’ grade levels and academic interest. These included workshops on why college is important, how to develop “mental toughness ” for college, a debate with the UCSD Black Student Union on overcoming peer pressure.
Meanwhile, parents attended informative and motivational sessions that addressed their particular needs and concerns including workshops on how to be advocates for their children’s education, negotiating college for their children, and a special stage reading and panel discussion on how to speak to children about the importance of college.
Dare to Dream College is an annual event and to follow up with event attendees for inclusion in additional college preparation activities.
by April | Volunteerism
H.E.A.R.T. entered a world of imagination…a Willy Wonka themed Walk and an fun-filled festival for kids. We want children, adults, adults who act like children to come out and have an absolutely scrumdiddilyumptious time benefiting San Diego Center for Children and the extraordinary programs that help thousands of children and families every year in San Diego County.
Imagine a Walk where everyone is wearing a costume, oompa loompas are directing you which way to walk, candy and Wonka-sized lollipops everywhere. Basically every small child’s fantasy, and admit it, yours too. We want you to imagine the unimaginable, and help us turn an ordinary walk in to something extraordinary. So come walk with us and enjoy a little nonsense on Saturday morning.
With our support we helped thousands of children and families across San Diego County get the hope and healing they need. Let’s come together as we help San Diego Center for Children restore the joy of childhood. One Oompa Loompa at a time.
by April | Education
Through the hard work of Joanne Fields and many others, the San Diego Organizing Project and District E Trustee Cabinet presented the Invest in Schools Not Prisons Community Festival. In California it costs $62,300 per year to imprison someone, but just $9,100 per year to teach a child. A powerful short video from Californians for Safety and Justice challenges us to “do the math” when it comes to expanding the criminal justice system or investing in schools seen on the right of our website endorsing The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act
The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act of 2014 is a voter initiative for the November 2014 California ballot that will change sentencing for low-level nonviolent crimes such as simple drug possession and petty theft from felonies to misdemeanors and direct financial savings to K-12 schools, mental health treatment, and victim services. This reform maintains the current law for registered sex offenders and anyone with prior convictions for rape, murder or child molestation.
Details of the Act
- Stops wasting prison space on low-level nonviolent crimes: Changes the lowest level nonviolent drug possession and petty theft crimes from felonies to simple misdemeanors. It authorizes resentencing for anyone who is incarcerated for these offenses and poses no threat to public safety. These changes apply to juveniles as well as adults.
- Keeps rapists, murderers and child molesters in prison: Maintains the current law for registered sex offenders and anyone with prior convictions for rape, murder or child molestation.
- Stops government waste and redirects hundreds of millions from prison spending to K-12 and treatment: California counties will save hundreds of millions annually and state prison reductions will generate between $750 million to $1.25 billion in savings over the next five years alone. Those savings will be shifted into K-12 school programs (25%), victim services (10%) and mental health and drug treatment (65%).
- Protects public safety: Focuses law enforcement resources on violent and serious crimes, and directs savings to programs that stop the cycle of crime. Prisoners may only be released if they demonstrate that they are no longer a threat to public safety.
- Reduces the collateral consequences of felony convictions for low-level crime: Reduces the barriers that many with felony convictions for low-level nonviolent crimes face to becoming stable and productive citizens, such as employment, housing and access to assistance programs and professional trades.
H.E.A.R.T. did our part by helping with event setup as well as providing a booth advocating education. The festival was a family-safe day with music by Tribal Theory, Lyrical Groove, DJ Miki Vale, and the Thunder Squad Drumline. it also included free community resources, community marketplace,including The Blue Heart Foundation, Pat On The Back Foundation,FANCY Teen Girls Expo, Ground-Up Youth Foundation, Heartbeat MUSIC Academy, INC., Lincoln High School Cheerleaders, Father2Child, Alton Lister, Jeff Harper-Harris, Shaun Manning, Elizabeth Libbi Nichols, Torrion Dedmon, The Lyrical Groove, Tribal Theory, Dona Gonzales, Chef Rick, Tywnot?, Akroz, Imagine Media Group, San Diego Organizing Project & the SDUSD Board Trustee Marne Foster – District E Cabinet with all our support we made the Invest in Schools Not Prisons Community Festival a success.
by April | Career Development
The National Society of Black Engineers -San Diego represented by NSBE SDSU President, Alishia Ballad and Jason Witt stopped by to discuss the challenges and opportunities in he field of Engineering. NSBE-AE-SD chapter enjoys regional and national recognition for our outstanding programming and leadership within the organization and the community. NSBE San Diego has received “National NSBE Alumni Chapter of the Year” five of the last 6 years, most recently for 2011-2012! Other awards we have received include: “Regional Chapter NSBE Alumni of the Year” and “Regional Pre College Initiative Chapter of the year”! In addition to our chapter awards, our very own NSBE-Alumni Extension San Diego member Tashonda Brown, Project Manager San Diego Gas and Electric, was awarded the “NSBE Alumni Extension Member of the Year” for 2011-2012! We are proud and priviledged to have such a dedicated team of professionals and students who promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics throughout the community.
NSBE Programs include:
NSBE JR
The Pre-College Initiative (PCI) program works to stimulate interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers. Our PCI program encourages Grade 9–12 students to attend college pursuing technical degrees by showing students how engineering and technology relate to the world around them through the excitement of academic excellence, leadership, technical development and collaboration.
Participate in NSBE’s PCI programs by becoming a NSBE Jr member. NSBE Jr membership is available to all students in grades 6-12.
Mini Seek Camp
“Mini Seek Camp” (MSC) is the less intense version of the NSBE SEEK camp that took place Spring 2012 at Porter Elementary in San Diego. Because of its success replication and expansion of the mini-camp concept to other schools is on the move.
Goals
On behalf of NSBE-SD, we invite you to join us in helping the kids in our community fulfill their dreams through financial and professional support. YOUR donations allow us not only to fulfill, but to continuously strive to exceed our national mission: “To increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.” The focus of NSBE-SD is to develop and enhance existing NSBE programs, increase technical awareness, encourage scholastic achievement, and stimulate enthusiasm in the science and engineering professions. Our programs provide relevant technical information and professional development that promote technical expertise, professionalism, and fellowship
You may contact NSBE at:
NSBE Professionals San Diego
PO BOX 882232
San Diego, CA 92168-2232
by April | Career Development, Team Building
This past Saturday Head instructor of Primal Jiu Jitsu Professor Damien Davis provided a FREE lesson in Jiu Jitsu as well as discussed what it takes to be a business owner.
Professor Davis posed these important questions to H.E.A.R.T. “What is Kids self defense and how do you find the right training for your child? What is Self defense many people ask and they find the default “Karate” School. We are not here to talk bad about other martial arts but more so to bring to the public eye of the what MARTIAL ARTS is and should be” .
Every parent has or should have expectations of the education their child receives when training. That’s exactly what parents miss all together is Martial Arts is Training for life. Every day your child looks to you for guidance and support to get them to the best future, the highest grades and unshakable confidence. Martial arts should not just be about FIGHTING and combat. It needs to be the moment 
your child understands they matter, they are accountable for the actions in which they take part.
Self Defense is a key skill set that will follow your child into each and every class room, play ground and job interview. Primal Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will focus on the number one foundation to strong character “Confidence”. Why confidence it’s the personality trait that keeps your child from being bullied, picked on. A confident child will have the verbal skills and self defense awareness to protect themselves, friends and people they care about.
In an event accented by hands-on workshops, class lectures, laboratory visits, campus tours and interaction with UCSD faculty and undergraduates, hundreds of pre-college students and their parents got more than just a savory taste of university life this month when they attended Dare to Dream College: The African Experience at UCSD.
Indeed, the message of early academic preparation and active parental involvement were important goals when UCSD Student Educational Advancement (a division of Student Affairs) joined with the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) of San Diego and Imperial Counties in sponsoring Dare to Dream College. The event was not only intended to help enhance college-going rates of African Americans in San Diego, but to also provide an opportunity to showcase the academic and career opportunities UCSD has to offer.
