Renewing the American Dream – For Our Well-Being

Growing up in Queens, NY, on the shores of Little Neck Bay, I remember my mother warning me not to play in the water because pollution would make me sick. Los Angeles is home now, a city that for decades was smog-choked. Unfortunately, these experiences are not unique to me—they are repeated in communities across the country. As a Nation, we have to work hard to make sure that our environment is protected and our communities are healthy, particularly in low income and minority communities who often bear the greatest pollution burden.

As Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), my job is to advise President Obama on environmental policy. CEQ works across the Federal Government on policies and programs that protect public health and the environment. Poor air quality is linked to cancer, respiratory illness and heart disease, and high rates of asthma that particularly affect Latino children. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that Hispanic children are about 60% more likely to have asthma as compared to non-Hispanic Whites. And According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, close to 50 percent of all Hispanic-Americans live in counties that frequently violate groundlevel ozone standards. But the other reality is that poor air quality also affects our economic vitality, leading to missed school and work days, lower rates of economic investment in polluted communities, and ultimately lower productivity.

Strengthening the Local Community Through Workforce Development Preparedness

Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

I am fortunate and blessed to serve as the president of Lawson State Community College. The College plays an important role in the diversification of the workforce in Birmingham and surrounding counties in Alabama. As president of the college, I firmly believe that the area must have an educated, skilled and highly trained population to meet the demands of the local economy and the workforce.  The college offers a variety of certificate and degree programs designed to meet the needs of the community, the region and the state. These include college transfer, career technical course offerings and training opportunities. 

It is important that the college be represented in the varied conversations held throughout the region as far as workforce development and preparedness are concerned. My staff and I work diligently to ensure representation and make sure that as a community stakeholder, the college brings to the table people, processes and training opportunities equipped to have an impact on the local workforce.

Preparation for the workforce starts from the moment a student begins the matriculation process at the college. Students are immediately immersed into the Freshman Academy, also known as the Freshman Encounter: e3 4 life  a program designed to equip, engage and empower (e3) freshmen with skills and knowledge that will contribute to their success at Lawson State and to provide effective engagement strategies to facilitate that success.  Students begin early to experience and appreciate the demands of academe and the preparation necessary for success in all areas of life. Faculty who teach in the Academy work closely with the Student Persistence through Assistance and Collaborative Efforts (SPACE) Center to prepare students to be more successful in their chosen areas of study. Academy Faculty and the staff of the SPACE Center utilize technology as the primary tool for the acquisition of knowledge and skills. The services provided by these two units, as well as the coordination, and cooperation among other units such as the Student Support Services Program, writing and mathematics laboratories, and an early warning system administered through student services all work together effectively with first generation students throughout their academic endeavors at the college. As a community college, Lawson State is a gateway to the personal success of students and ultimately to the workforce of the community. 

Education With Purpose: Teaching Students the Skills Necessary for a Job

Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

On Wednesday, September 21, I was honored to be included in a Champions of Change Roundtable discussion about two-year colleges and their impact on our nation. It was a great opportunity to talk about the business model Lake Area Technical institute uses to prepare students for today’s workforce.

LATI graduates over 75% of its students. Students attain graduation because they are required to be in an identified program with a graduation plan from the first day of their enrollment. The graduation plan sets expectations and prescribes the courses needed, the course sequence, and attendance requirements. No student is allowed to meander through general courses seeking a path. Instruction is geared to be project-based and hands-on. Program instructors are required to know their students personally and are responsible for student attainment. Instructors are hired based not only upon their work experience but also their ability to connect with students. An instructor’s passion for the occupational area and personality is more important than academic credentials.