Which Way to a Higher Education: A Panel on Education Pathways & Success

3092 16th Street,San Francisco CA 94103

06 October, 2021

Description

There are many ways to higher education success. Join us at Manny's to hear about some powerful paths to educational achievement. As society expands its ideas about “traditional” learning and redefines post-secondary success, many are finding that there are many, often unexpected, paths to higher education success. The traditional notion that one attend college right after high school and earn a degree in four years simply does not work for everyone. Is college for everyone? Is there only one path to getting into college? Does it matter when, where or how you go to school? What other ways are there to achieve the goal of higher education? How much should we weigh the cost of student loans and tuition? Where can we go for help? There are many roads to success and our incredible panelists will share theirs. Join us for this inspiring conversation with community leaders Lateefah Simon, Roberto Y. Hernandez and Derick Brown. They will share their educational journeys and offer advice on achieving the goal of higher education. Dr. Sheryl Davis is our moderator for this important conversation addressing educational equity and the intersection of learning and culture. This event will be in person at Manny's but there will also be a Zoom link ticket for those who'd like to tune in digitally from the comfort of their home. Please note that this event will be recorded. In-person attendees MUST wear face masks and provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Go to https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/ to acquire a digital vaccine record. About Lateefah Simon: Lateefah Simon is a nationally recognized advocate for civil rights and racial justice in Oakland and the Bay Area. She is President of the Akonadi Foundation and a member of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors. Since 2015, Lateefah also has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the California State University, the nation's largest public university system. Lateefah previously served as Program Director at the Rosenberg Foundation, where she launched the Leading Edge Fund to seed, incubate, and accelerate bold ideas from the next generation of progressive movement leaders in California. She also held the position of Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, successfully launching community-based initiatives, such as the Second Chance Legal Services Clinic. Lateefah spearheaded San Francisco's first reentry anti-recidivism youth services division under the then-District Attorney Kamala Harris leadership. Before serving in this role, Lateefah became—at the age of 19—the Executive Director of the Center for Young Women's Development (now named the Young Women's Freedom Center), a position she held for 11 years. In 2003, Lateefah received a MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Award, making her the youngest woman to receive the grant —in recognition of her work as Executive Director of the Young Women's Freedom Center. She has been featured in SF Chronicle, SF Business Times, KQED, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Philanthropy News Digest, Inside Philanthropy, Associated Press, CNN, ABC News, and many more media outlets. About Roberto Y. Hernandez: Know as the "Mayor of the Mission District", Roberto Y. Hernandez is the current CEO of the Cultural Arte Native de Las Americas (CANA). Hernandez has worked as an organizer for the United Farm Workers and the Mission Coalition Organization. He has also served as the Director of the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, the Executive Director of the Real Alternatives Program (RAP), as well as the CEO Mission Economic Cultural Association. He is a native San Franciscan, a graduate of the University of San Francisco, and enjoys painting, conga drumming, lowriders, music, and dancing. About Derick Brown: Derick Brown is the Senior Director for the Leo T. McCarthy Center at the University of San Francisco. A native San Franciscan, he brings more than 20 years of experience leading neighborhood engagement strategies and addressing complex community issues. Derick most recently worked with the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) as Senior Community Engagement Advisor. He was responsible for implementing the department’s community relations strategy, securing and strengthening partnerships with CBOs, private companies and universities, and building relationships with community thought leaders. Prior to the SFPD, Derick was San Francisco’s Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services where he managed the Mayor’s community relations strategy. As Senior Director of the Leo T. McCarthy Center, Derick is committed to continuing and enhancing the tradition of inspiring USF students to serve others and pursue successful careers in public service. Derick is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley. About Dr. Sheryl Davis: Sheryl Evans Davis is Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and a passionate advocate for equity, access and education. Over the last year she has been leading the city's process to distribute $120 million to support the Black community. Throughout her 20+ year career as an educator, nonprofit administrator, legislative aide and City commissioner, Davis has championed the historically forgotten and ignored. Her professional career has been focused on employing culturally competent tactics and strategies. She builds strong partnerships and funding streams that create pathways to educational success, community safety, mental health and wellness for and with diverse communities. Dr. Davis earned her BA from San Francisco State, an MPA from the University of San Francisco and recently completed an Ed.D. program at the University of Southern California.