Lavea Brachman’s Post

The University of Lethbridge took some major steps forward in 2023. From philanthropic and volunteer activities to breaking research boundaries, energizing our cultural and athletic scenes, disseminating new knowledge and creative achievements, ULethbridge makes a tangible difference in the world every single day. Our stories captured these moments throughout the year. Over the coming days, we are excited to share a compilation of highlights from 2023. One of the most impactful stories this year is actually a combination of many announcements introducing new members of ULethbridge senior administration team throughout the spring. The announcement of Dr. Digvir Jayas as ULethbridge’s seventh President and Vice-Chancellor early in 2023 and his installation in the fall were historical for ULethbridge and the broader southern Alberta community. Dr. Jayas’s introduction was also representative of a year of massive change at ULethbridge that saw a significant infusion of new perspectives across the University. Among the new senior leaders introduced this year were Terry Whitehead (BA ’94), Chancellor; Dr. Michelle Helstein, Provost & Vice-President, Academic; Dr. Heather Davis-Fisch, Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts; Dr. Jon Doan (PhD ’06), Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences; Dr. Harold Jansen, University Librarian, Dean, School of Liberal Education; and Dr. Lisa Starr, Dean, Faculty of Education. With new leaders and a new comprehensive strategic plan in progress, the future is bright and full of promise. Read more: https://ow.ly/Fmkr50QhFt8 #ulethbridge #YQL #2023Highlights

Our city would benefit greatly by more formally engaging our students, both high school and university/college, because they are allowed to envision our future (as they'll be living it). The students and faculties at SDUSD, UCSD, SDSU, USD, UCSM, Palomar, Sweetwater, and City College all have the energy and ability to bring big ideas to the future of San Diego... that they can champion to build in the future. It's a powerful source of innovation that is being left on the table when discussing our long-standing housing, homeless, and climatic crises. How? Invite them to lead the vision plans for our community plan updates, our historical resources reforms, and housing action plan 3.0.

Soaring to New Heights: The Rebranding of University Park Airport to State College Regional Airport In a strategic move that reflects a broader vision for growth and regional connectivity, the University Park Airport in State College, Pennsylvania, has un­dergone a significant transformation – a rebranding that positions it as the State College Regional Airport. This change goes beyond a mere shift in name; it symbolizes a commitment to fostering increased accessibility, community en­gagement, and economic […] https://lnkd.in/eKc4GrCj

Soaring to New Heights: The Rebranding of University Park Airport to State College Regional Airport In a strategic move that reflects a broader vision for growth and regional connectivity, the University Park Airport in State College, Pennsylvania, has un­dergone a significant transformation – a rebranding that positions it as the State College Regional Airport. This change goes beyond a mere shift in name; it symbolizes a commitment to fostering increased accessibility, community en­gagement, and economic […] https://lnkd.in/eKc4GrCj

Soaring to New Heights: The Rebranding of University Park Airport to State College Regional Airport In a strategic move that reflects a broader vision for growth and regional connectivity, the University Park Airport in State College, Pennsylvania, has un­dergone a significant transformation – a rebranding that positions it as the State College Regional Airport. This change goes beyond a mere shift in name; it symbolizes a commitment to fostering increased accessibility, community en­gagement, and economic […] https://lnkd.in/eKc4GrCj

On Thursday, February 8th, I participated in the Building the Future of Middle-Income Housing Policy in California convening with SPUR. An oft-neglected demographic of the housing crisis in California, middle-income communities are failed by a lack of “entry-level” homes, per Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation, and are priced out of this great state due in part to the consistent failure of housing development to keep up with housing necessity. Californians who are middle-income deserve the same access to stable, affordable housing as all Californians, and the fight to create an equitably housed California must champion the voice of this population that is consistently left out of the affordable housing conversations. I was glad to lend my policy knowledge and experience as President and CEO of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation to this conversation, and I hope to hear more about the future of affordable housing development supported by an affordable housing finance system that serves a broader range of incomes going forward. #middleincome #affordablehousing 

Schools and Their Impact on the Detroit Real Estate Market - Explore how academic institutions can affect the Detroit real estate market and contribute to the city's investment opportunities and desirability. https://hubs.ly/Q02hbh8Y0

A MUST READ: This may be the best article I have ever read on this topic. Food insecurity and a student's family struggling to financially take care of their family's basic human needs does not go away when a student enters into college. In fact, many times, the family's financial struggles heighten when a child goes away to college, because that child worked when at home to contribute to the family income. That child--that older sibling was the childcare for their younger siblings. So now that the child is away at college, where is their financial contribution going to come from? Who is going to care for the other kids while their parents are working one, two, sometimes three jobs, trying their best to support their family, and who is going to pay for that childcare? How is that college student going to be able to focus and succeed while in constant worry about their family's health and well-being? Will they be able to stay enrolled in college and break the intergenerational cycle of poverty? Some will, but they need our help (please read the article). Some students won't, and some won't even be able to start college. Just this year, a young man who had applied for and we awarded a full-ride scholarship, had to decline the offer, because there was no one other than himself who could take care of his younger siblings while their parents were at work. Thank you, Sara Goldrick-Rab and Amarillo College for posting your article and thank you for helping to increase awareness of this real in-our-backyard problem, of this need, and for paving the way as to how we can help, whether directly or through advocating for help, so that those who can help do help. Help the student AND help the family. How? Please, read the article. Any internal and external stakeholder at any institution of higher education should have a vested interest in accepting combatting these barriers as their charge. It's just a matter of strategizing how to begin, for no change is possible if changes aren't made.

There is no question, where #philanthropy can make the greatest impact in #highereducation, that the place to #invest is at Farmingdale State College and The State University of New York. #SUNY Returns $8.67 for Every $1 of #NewYorkState Investment; Campuses Graduate More Than a Third of the State’s #College-Educated #Workforce! The Rockefeller Institute of Government study breaks down SUNY's economic impact for each of the state's regions. Read the full report. #highereducation #economicimpact #accesstoeducation #workforcedevelopment #socialmobility #economicdevelopment #donateforeducation #FarmingdaleStateCollege #FarmingdaleCollegeFoundation #FSC #FSCAlumni

Want to learn about a different part of the world and never leave your home? The UMass Civic Initiative is looking for individuals or families to participate in the Summer 2024 Homestay Program. A homestay brings together one or two international undergraduate students with local individuals or families in the Pioneer Valley. The experiences are overnight and last from lunchtime on the first day through lunchtime the next day. The Civic Initiative has been running exchange programs in the valley since 2003. We have over 1,500 alumni from all over the world and homestays have been a crucial part of the exchange experience! The students have consistently told us that the homestay is the most rewarding part of their stay here. Our hosts say that the casual conversations that take place open up whole new insights into the society, culture, and politics of both the U.S. and other countries. Plus, hosts’ young children are given an early glimpse of world diversity. An eligible family will live no more than an hour’s drive from Amherst. Besides meals, hosts can arrange local activities like a movie, walk, or sporting event. Civic Initiative staff will handle the drop-off and pick-up transportation. We will also provide you with any students’ social or dietary information in advance. A typical guest number is two students. We are looking for homestay hosts for the following weekends for a one-night stay: June 21-22 June 28-29 July 5-6 July 12-13 Note: We strictly follow CDC guidelines regarding testing and quarantine guidelines. If you are interested in becoming a host or have questions, please get in touch with Theresa Wodecki, Civic Initiative Financial and Administrative Assistant at twodecki@donahue.umass.edu or 413-575-1709. Learn more about the Civic Initiative: https://lnkd.in/eht2VX7T