This episode has little to do with classroom lessons but everything to do with local student success. In the aftermath of the pandemic, we now have more local college students of all ages living in cars, arriving hungry, facing transportation issues, and needing physical and mental health services.
Educators, community leaders, and legislators in California have become increasingly aware of this. So, this year, they helped make federal, state, and private money more readily available to Inland Empire colleges to help these students stay healthy, safe, and learning. These services often referred to as wraparound support, provide community college students with much-needed access to food, housing, childcare, mental health, financial assistance, and transportation.
In this episode, two education leaders responsible for establishing and managing these programs tell us more about how these wraparound services support local student success.
Featured Guests
Dr. Adrienne Grayson
Associate Dean of Educational Partnerships, Riverside Community College.
Rebecca Ruan-O’Shaughnessy
Vice Chancellor for Educational Services and Support, California Community Colleges.
Interview Highlights
3:33 – Rebecca describes what kinds of support services are offered at CCC.
7:33 – Rebecca shares what effect these new support services are having on student success in the state of California.
13:34 – Rebecca explains what are the responsibilities and qualifications of new employees on CCC campuses.
17:15 – Rebecca tells us what her office has learned so far now that the state’s largest education system has started implementing extra support for students.
21:00 – Rebecca reflects on her satisfaction with the work being done at CCC.
26:52 – Dr. Grayson describes what wrap-around services are.
28:42 – Dr. Grayson shares what students are needing these services the most.
29:52 – Dr. Grayson shares what impact she saw as a result of efforts to help with their college preparation and the application process.
34:17 – Dr. Grayson explains how basic needs insecurity directly affects a student’s ability to succeed in school.
42:13 – Dr. Grayson shares what she finds most promising happening at RCC.
46:37 – Special Feature: Local students share their hopes and wishes for 2023.
Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.
This past month the Toward A Shared Vision education summit was held at the Riverside Convention center. It was aimed at bringing education leaders from Inland Southern California together to collaborate and in many cases to put those who come from different colleges and universities or K-12 in the same room to learn how others might be doing the very same job with different results.
So the Education Insight team set up a recording booth at the two-day event and we pulled a number of local and state leaders in to find out what the shared vision really is and what they agree is good in the Inland Empire as well as what they say needs to be done locally in our schools and colleges.
Featured Guests
Dr. Wolde-Ab Isaac
Chancellor, Riverside Community College District
Alicia Velasquez
Executive Director, Center of Educational and Community Outreach Programs, UCR
Kim Wilcox
Chancellor, University of California, Riverside
Dalyn Montgomery
Director of Enrollment, School of Education, University of Redlands
Andrew (Drew) Koch
Chief Executive Officer, Gardner Institute
Wayne Fletcher
Associate Provost for Academic Services, Cal Baptist University
Laura Hamilton
Professor and Chair of Sociology, University of California, Merced
Dr. Brian Haynes
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, UC Riverside
Interview Highlights
1:18 – Dr. Wolde-Ab Isaac shares what important information high-level educators would learn at the Toward A Shared Vision Summit.
6:30 – Alicia Velasquez describes UCR’s education outreach efforts and how it helps our students.
13:38 – Kim Wilcox shares what he sees as a shared vision by educators in the Inland Empire right now.
15:50 – Dalyn Montgomery explains what the biggest struggle is to local colleges and universities right now.
20:37 – Drew Koch rates the Inland Empire’s performance when it comes to helping students make it through the whole process.
32:01 – Wayne Fletcher shares what he’s learned at the conference that he can take back and apply to improve Cal Baptist University.
37:33 – Dr. Laura Hamilton shares a message to Inland Empire educators.
39:43 – Dr. Laura Hamilton shares what she is most concerned about right now.
43:23 – Dr. Brian Haynes explains the recent grant his team was recently awarded.
Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.
This week we’re talking with two women who fought relentlessly for their education.
As a daughter of migrant farm workers, Avisinia Rodriguez spent much of her childhood in the Oasis Trailer Park community in the Coachella Valley. Today, Dr. Rodriguez is the Assistant Dean at the Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus and the recent recipient of a multi-million dollar grant to help kids with backgrounds like hers find an easier path to success.
At seventeen, Brianna Moran found high school impossible due to the bullies that made life unbearable. She left without graduating. A decade later, she woke up one morning with a weight, health, and alcohol problem and decided enough was enough. Brianna found a way out of these issues and returned to school to reimagine her future.
Tune in to listen to these incredible stories of resilience and success on this episode of Education Insight.
Featured Guests
Brianna Moran
Student at Crafton Hills College
BriannaMoran is a 2022 graduate of Redlands Adult School who returned to get her high school diploma after ten years. She’s now a college student at Crafton Hills College and an honors program member. She currently works a full-time job as a Staffing Director and continues to strive to be a 4.0 full-time student. Brianna‘s educational plan is hopefully to transfer to UCLA in the fall of 2024 as a psychology major and one day become a Clinical Psychologist. Since being the student speaker at her graduation, she continues to share her educational journey as an adult student.
Dr. Avisinia Rodriguez
Assistant Dean, CSUSB Palm Desert Campus
Passionate educator and advocate of higher education! I am all about access and retention of students, specifically underrepresented students in college.
Interview Highlights
2:22 – Brianna reflects on the day she woke up and decided she needed to make a change in her life
4:05 – Brianna explains how she maintained her sobriety, worked on weight loss and went back for her GED at the same time.
5:50 – Brianna shares what happened that stopped her education in the midst of high school
6:54 – Brianna shares a special story about what made her decide to continue her education
7:56 – Brianna reflects on her experience at Redlands Adult School
13:38 – Brianna gives insight into this expected timeline society has for people and how it discouraged her to pursue her education as a middle-aged woman.
23:37 – Avi describes her childhood and where she grew up
30:41 – Avi discusses the difficult time she had during her Master’s program
34:42 – Avi reflects on one of her last memories with her father and what he wanted her to do with her life
38:01 – Avi tells us about the 2.3 million dollar grant she just received
39:56 – Avi talks about her experience going back to visit the old neighborhood where she grew up in
41:23 – Avi shares why she feels its important to fight for an education
42:47 – Special Music Feature: Alan Benson, Director of Rockstars of Tomorrow Music Education Program
Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.
The last few years have been tumultuous for everyone. From lockdowns, drought, protests, shootings, bullies, a global pandemic, and politics. But no one has been hit harder by these issues than our kids. They have become the #1 group to commit suicide or a mass shooting, and as the news reports this frequent story, there are always calls for more mental health assistance to help them. Today we are looking at how well our Inland Southern California Kids are doing, with two experts who are on campuses, leading major efforts to help our kids stay mentally healthy, happy, and productive.
Featured Guests
Dr. Lexi Backstrom
Administrator, Student Behavioral Health and Support
Dr. Lexi Backstrom is the Student Behavioral Health and Support Administrator for the Riverside County Office of Education. She oversees behavioral health services for Alternative Education and the CAREspace, part of the Superintendent’s Mental Health Initiative. She brings over 10 years of experience developing programs and supporting students’ behavioral and mental health needs in nonpublic schools, residential treatment centers, K-12 school districts, and alternative education. Her degrees, credentials, and licenses include Ed.D. in Educational Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis, Ed.S. in School Psychology, MA in Counseling, MBA, Clear Administrative Services Credential, PPS in School Psychology, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.
Jason Tate
Wellness Center Intervention Specialist
Jason Tate was born and raised in Arizona where he is the oldest of three and grew up a nature lover, academic, and athlete of six different sports. After attending Northern Arizona University on an academic scholarship and receiving his B.S in Biology and Secondary Education, Jason moved to Palm Desert, CA where he worked as a manager of Leeds & Son Fine Jewelers for nearly three years. In 2004, Jason joined the field of education as a biology teacher and varsity volleyball coach. Jason served as science department chair for nine years, coached for seven years, and created four UC/CSU-approved science courses never seen before in education. Jason also created the nation’s first and only functional medicine pre-med academy focused around three pillars of wellness; movement, nutrition, and mental health. While building the HANS Academy, Jason earned a Functional Medicine Health Coaching Certificate and extensive training in Advanced Mind-Body Medicine as well as a CTE Health Education Certificate. Over the years, Jason has appeared on several media outlets including more than 30 live podcasts from his own show called “Tate Talks”, a handful of TV appearances, several dozen speaking engagements throughout Southern California, and most notably a TEDx Talk in October of 2021. Jason recently accepted the position of Wellness Center Intervention Specialist at the historic Coachella Valley High School where he serves the entire campus, staff, and students, as a wellness specialist in addition to providing wellness training and education throughout the entire CV Unified School District. Jason’s wife, Laura, is a well-known pilates instructor in the Desert and their 14-year-old daughter is a freshman in high school. Jason enjoys traveling internationally, hiking, live music, and auto racing, and is still very active playing tennis, basketball, volleyball, golf, and weightlifting.
Interview Highlights
1:45 – Lexi tells us about CAREspace and why it’s important for kids to have a safe space to discuss mental health challenges.
2:48 – Lexi describes what kinds of problems kids are dealing with right now
3:34 – Lexi explains how CARESpace helps kids to deal with their struggles
8:02 – Lexi shares what kind of services CARESpace offers students
13:46 – Lexi explains what makes CARESpace so unique
19:16 – Lexi reflects on the number one thing we need to be doing more aggressively if we want to build happier kids
22:19 – Jason gives insight into who is struggling more right now — The students or the staff members
26:48 – Jason describes the importance of helping a child who is not growing socially or is beginning to isolate
28:24 – Jason elaborates on the greatest challenge mental health professionals are facing right now
34:18 – Jason discusses some of the ways to detect a child or student might be experiencing mental distress
37:09 – Jason reflects on the most successful programs that he sees currently working in regard to improving the well-being of our students.
40:31 – Jason shares how teachers can help with the mental health of students
43:47 – Special Music Feature: Cal State San Bernardino Symphonic Band. By composer Omar Thomas, featuring Maya Orendain – principal chair on piccolo and flute.
Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.
We’ve all heard the saying “it takes a village to raise a child”. Well, two Inland community-based programs heard that and said “I think that’s our cue”. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Inland Empire and Orange County and the Promise Scholars program are both finding success in helping kids do better in school and begin working for a successful education, career, and life. In this episode of Education Insight, we look at these two unique programs and why it has become so important to them to help kids do better in school and get excited about the future.
Featured Guests
Jennifer O’Farrell
Executive Director at Big Brother Big Sisters
Jennifer is an inspirational and entrepreneur leader in the social impact industry. For over 15 years she has spearheaded new programs or agencies, dedicating her life to pursuing equity for youth and families.
She proudly led the first Anti-Human Trafficking multidisciplinary task force for Riverside County and created the first comprehensive case management and advocacy system for victims and survivors of trafficking. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the region’s first Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Her focus is to create generational change by tackling some of the region’s hardest issues of poverty and trauma through one-to-one mentoring.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist University, is a certified Sexual Assault Counselor and Advocate, Case Manager for Trafficking Victims, and has a Philanthropy Certificate from the School of Business at La Sierra University. As the Anti-Human Trafficking Director, she secured state and federal grants and increased individual giving revenue to the cause. At Big Brothers Big Sisters, she has doubled the agency’s revenue giving more youth access of a mentor.
Locally, Jennifer served as founding member of The Pick Group, President of the YWCA, board member to the Riverside Community Health Foundation, Parkview Community Hospital Foundation, Riverside Public Utilities, and currently is a board member of San Bernardino City Unified School District’s Making Hope Happen Foundation, and CBU’s Advisory for the College of Behavioral Sciences.
Her accomplishments include being a TedX Riverside Speaker, a 2010 graduate of Riverside Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class, 2012 Attorney General’s Award of Citizen Appreciation, 2013 Young Alumni Achievement Award from California Baptist University, 2013 Woman of the Year from the Riverside County Commission on Women, 2014 Soroptimist International Ruby Award recipient and Soroptomist International Golden West Region Award Winner, 2014 NAACP Community Service Freedom Award Recipient, 2014 HOPE Collaborative Advocate of the Year Award Recipient, and 2018 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awardee.
Jennifer, as a wife, mom, and daughter loves to have fun. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, traveling, hiking, running, and reading.
Dr. Felix Melendez
Executive Director atPromise Scholars
Promise Scholars, a Southern CA 501c3 serving students in the Ontario-Montclair School District
Dr. Felix Melendez brings over three decades of experience to the Executive Director position. His career includes two years as principal at Serrano Middle School. Prior to serving in OMSD, Dr. Melendez was an English teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal in nearby Chino Valley and Corona-Norco School Districts.
“Dr. Melendez understands the upbringing of many OMSD students, not only as a Latino but also as a first-generation college student,” said Albert Maldonado, President/Chair of the Promise Scholars 501c3. “His interests, the interests of the Promise Scholars Board, and the interests of OMSD as a whole are aligned quite well.”
Dr. Melendez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He completed a Masters’s in Educational Administration at Azusa Pacific University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with an Emphasis on Teaching and Learning from APU as well.
Dr. Melendez is the youngest of seven siblings, all of whom attended college and have 3 Associates degrees, 4 Bachelor’s degrees, and 3 Master’s degrees among them. The power of education was stressed by his parents and the hunger to learn was instilled in him at an early age. Countless teachers and coaches guided his educational journey but none had more impact than his parents, Marcos and Leila, who learned English while reading over their children’s shoulders and never threw out an “old book” because a new idea might be hiding in there.
Interview Highlights
2:20 – Jennifer shares what and who inspired the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program.
3:17 – Jennifer describes the types of mentor programs BBBS offers.
4:42 – Jennifer explains why it is important to have mentorship at a young age.
7:55 – Jennifer gives insight into what criteria are implemented when matching a child to a mentor.
13:15 – Jennifer shares how mentorships ultimately affect a child’s accomplishments in school and in day-to-day life.
18:46 – Jennifer gives advice to kids and families to ensure they are on track in their academics and success.
22:49 – Felix gives insight into the work being done at Promise Scholars.
25:13 – Felix describes the impact this program has had on the students.
29:14 – Felix elaborates on why talking about college at a young age is so important.
32:12 – Felix discusses how this program has helped increase college and career success.
36:29 – Felix reflects on how they provide support to students where they’re actually transitioning into college.
43:00 – Felix shares the future of Promise Scholars.
Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.
