STEM is the road map to Philadelphia’s economic future and the bedrock for future investment.

With that in mind, Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) has redesigned and upgraded its biology, chemistry and microbiology labs, and added professional-grade equipment.

More than 25 percent of degrees and certificates awarded to CCP’s Class of 2018 were for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields.

In February, the College held a STEM Open House to showcase improvements to and a complete redesign of multiple laboratories and teaching spaces in the West Building on Main Campus. The renovation for the latest addition, the biology lab, was a $7.2 million upgrade, with $5.9 million of those funds coming from a bond issue.

President Donald Guy Generals hosted a panel discussion with local STEM leaders including: Dr. William Wunner, professor, director of Academic Affairs, and Outreach Education and Technology Training for the Wistar Institute; Dr. John Lee, associate director, CAR-T Discovery and Platform Development, Jannsen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson; Dr. Darryl L'Heureux, American Medical Writers Association, Delaware Valley Chapter; and Adebayo Bello, CCP alumnus; Genetic Counseling assistant at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Mr. Bello, who received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bucknell University, plans to enter medical school this fall.

Talent development, the role of science in the innovation economy and CCP’s role in attracting industry and diversifying the workforce were among the topics addressed. In a 2017 ranking by SmartAsset, Philadelphia’s STEM workforce ranked high in both racial and gender diversity. Women made up about 33 percent of the total STEM workforce while 18 percent of STEM employees were black.

“Community College of Philadelphia provides a strong talent pipeline for regional industries,” Dr. Generals said. “Our mandate is to provide students with career ladders that offer training for entry-level jobs, and future opportunities to grow and advance with cutting-edge programs like the Biomedical Technician Training Program at Wistar Institute."

The Biomedical Technician Training Program and the Biomedical Research Technician (BRT) Apprenticeship were established by The Wistar Institute and Community College of Philadelphia to meet the growing demand for technicians at area health care and research centers. Of the 152 graduates in the technician program thus far, 53 percent are minorities and 72 percent are women, which deepen the diversity of ideas in the industry.

STEM education has evolved, shifting from simply performing experiments to learning why and how they relate to coursework and to the world.

As interactions of learners and teachers have become more intentional, peer-to-peer study has taken on new importance. The new facilities form an educational landscape that supports effective teaching and learning with technology-rich classrooms, student study areas, state-of-the art equipment for DNA analysis, a high-tech mass spectrometer, professionally equipped anatomy, physiology and micro-biology labs, and a spacious open lab where students can confer with instructors and peers after or before class to review coursework and materials. The College’s biology and chemistry labs had not been updated since their installation in 1983-1984.

This year has been exciting for Community College of Philadelphia’s (CCP) women's and men’s basketball teams. The student athletes, coaches and the entire athletics staff worked extremely hard. With the season coming to the end, CCP’s teams finished strong and have much to celebrate.

CCP’s women’s team finished the season undefeated in the conference (10-0), earning the regular season championship, as well as the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) Tournament Championship titles. The women finished second in the Region with a final record of 15-1. Despite their loss in the Region XIX semifinals against the New Jersey Passaic women’s basketball team, CCP was ranked 10^th in the nation throughout the season. Several players were ranked nationally, and as a result received All-Region recognition. Additionally, key players Casandra Colon (freshman forward), Kyirah Beckham (sophomore guard) and Andrea "Dream" Bowleg (sophomore center) received All-Conference honors.

The CCP men’s team stayed true to their long-lasting tradition of being among the region's best teams. While finishing the season third in the conference (9-5) and ninth in the Region (11-10), the men persevered and remained firm in their purpose. Sophomore guard Ishmael Marshall received All-Conference honors and ranked 9^th in the nation in three-point percentage.

“I am very pleased with the teams' efforts this season,” said Rogers Glispy, CCP athletics director. “The women turned our program around and won the conference for the first time since 1997 — most impressive was how they achieved this by going undefeated.”

Additionally, four student athletes were named to the EPAC All-Academic Team: Andrea Bowleg (3.55 GPA), Cassandra Colon (3.5 GPA), Devonte Saxon (3.25 GPA) and Jemal Sheppard (3.5 GPA). Combined, the teams have 13 student athletes eligible to return next season.

Philadelphia Works joined the leadership from Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) for the official opening of the new PA CareerLink® Philadelphia Resource Hub at the Northeast Regional Center. The new Hub will serve as an access point to comprehensive services for both job seekers and employers located in Northeast Philadelphia.

“This new Hub will better serve our customers in the far Northeast,” said H. Patrick Clancy, president and CEO of Philadelphia Works. “Our goal is to connect both job seekers and employers in order to help fuel growth of our residents and businesses, while helping to align our services with Community College of Philadelphia programs. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide this critical service to our community.”

The Hub features a fully-functioning computer lab with access to all digital services provided at a typical PA CareerLink® Philadelphia Center. There is also a full-time site administrator, who will be available for one-on-one job search assistance, resume development, or referral to more comprehensive services offered at other PA CareerLink® Philadelphia locations. Regular workshops and other classroom-based instruction are planned for the coming months and will be facilitated by staff from one of the other four stand-alone PA CareerLink® Philadelphia centers.

Additionally, the new Hub will serve as a hyperlocal recruitment center for local employers. All PA CareerLink® Philadelphia locations regularly host pre-screening and on-site interview days for some of the largest, and smallest, employers in the city.

“We see this Job Resource Hub as another pillar in our commitment to serving the community,” said Dr. Donald Guy Generals, president of Community College of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Works board member. “It is exciting for the Community College and Philadelphia Works to come together to address the need for coordinated workforce development efforts in Northeast Philadelphia. We hope this new hub will benefit not only CCP students, but the entire Northeast Philadelphia community.

The opening of new PA CareerLink® Philadelphia location aligns with many of the recommendations outlined in the citywide workforce development strategy, Fueling Philadelphia’s Talent Engine, released last year. By expanding access to this resource, Philadelphia Works is helping more residents connect with free training and support services they need to enter, or re-enter, the workforce.

Student success starts with high-quality education and a safe space for learning says Vincent Scarfo, the coordinator for Community College of Philadelphia's new MarcDavid LGBTQ Center on Main Campus.

 "It's important to have a safe space on campus where you can be with people who understand what you are going through, and who are like-minded and where you can feel accepted," Scarfo said. "When you're not accepted or respected, it's hard to focus on your schoolwork."

 The success of the College’s diverse student population is a key priority, as is retaining students to help them progress to graduation and earn a proficiency certificate.

"We live in a society where everyone is assumed to be in one of two genders and assumed to be attracted to the opposite gender," Scarfo said. "But people who fall outside the gender binary often feel lost or aren't sure where they fit in. Or, those who do know where they fit find there are people who treat them with disrespect or discriminate against them."

 A welcoming campus is one that recognizes the details of comfort, safety, acceptance, cultural competence and diversity, and the latest inclusive practices, such as the usage of gender-neutral pronouns such as they. 

 That's why Scarfo's priority is normalizing the College's "chosen name" policy. Students' legal names are required on legal documents, such as a transcript or a diploma, but under the policy, students can choose the name that shows up on their student identification cards or college emails.

This "chosen name" option is particularly important, Scarfo said, for transgender students who may want to change their names to something that affirms their gender.

The College's international students may also want to utilize the “chosen name” policy, they noted, because some choose to temporarily use names that are easy to pronounce in English instead of their given names.

Scarfo, who started work at the College in July, also hopes to work with faculty members on further developing the Diversity Certificate program to include more information on how to be an LGBTQ ally and further explore the intersection of different identities. "I think there's a lot of willingness to learn and a lot of excitement about learning," they said.

They seek to make the library of cultural information on the LGBTQ community accessible to all. For example, many people, out of politeness, will address someone as "Sir," "Ma'am," Mr., Ms., Mrs. or Miss, but those gender-based honorifics can be uncomfortable for some, Scarfo explained. So an individual might avoid honorifics if an individual’s preferences are not known.

For more information, find the MarcDavid LGBTQ Center on Facebook, on Twitter and Instagram (@ccplgbtq) or visit the Center in Room S1-19E in the Winnet Student Life Building. To get involved with the student-run LGBTQ+ Club, email oak.troise [at] gmail.com (oak[dot]troise[at]gmail[dot]com).

Nina Ibemi and Regina Stoltz are the first two graduates of an innovative new apprenticeship program that qualifies them to work in biomedical research, an industry that fosters strong regional growth.

The Biomedical Research Technician (BRT) Apprenticeship is an extension of the 18-year-old Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) program, established by Community College of Philadelphia and the Wistar Institute to meet the growing demand for technicians at area healthcare and research centers.

At Wistar, Ibemi works in vaccine and tumor research. “I fell in love with histology,” she said of her new career. “We help scientists figure out how to make treatments.”

 As Ibemi and fellow apprentice Regina Stoltz trained, they were mentored by experienced professionals and worked side-by-side with top scientists and students in doctoral and post-doctoral programs, an opportunity they wouldn’t have had without the partnership. Two new apprentices are slated to begin training soon for in-demand jobs.    

 “Employers across Pennsylvania need skilled workers with the hands-on training that programs and apprenticeships like this provide,” said Pennsylvania Labor and Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak, who spoke at the BRT and BTT graduation in August.   “Today’s graduates were trained in industry-grade laboratories and have the skills to get good jobs in the science and research sector throughout our commonwealth.”

The programs have put a number of non-traditional students on a STEM career path, with 152 graduating from the technician program since it began, including the 12 honored on Aug. 2. Of the 152, 53 percent are minorities and 72 percent are women, which deepen the diversity of ideas in the industry.

The apprenticeships are part of Governor Wolf’s $50 million PAsmart initiative. By providing targeted funding for apprenticeship programs, STEM education, computer science, and more, students and workers get the training and real-world skills needed for the 21st century economy. In April, the Governor announced $3.5 million in apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship grants, which included funding for the biomedical technician and apprenticeship programs at the College and Wistar.  

Ibemi had earned a graduate degree in chemical engineering in Russia, but could only find work as a tutor there. Now she’s excited about the prospect of advancing science.  Stoltz, was an artist who, tired of struggling, wanted a career. She marvels that she’s now on a path to a career where salaries can top $50,000 and hiring demand is strong.

Ibemi and Stoltz represent a new trend in apprenticeships, which have traditionally been associated with the building trades. These “nontraditional” apprenticeships apply a similar model to a different field. They combine classroom training and on-the-job mentoring in a program regulated and approved by the state. Apprentices are not interns, but paid employees receiving raises as their skills and knowledge increase.

“This 2018 graduating year of biomedical research technicians represents a first for Wistar as we are proud to graduate two inaugural students who have completed our first-of-its-kind, nontraditional, credentialed BRT Apprenticeship program alongside our 12 BTT Program graduates,” said Dr. William Wunner, Wistar director of outreach education and technology training, and director of academic affairs. “Our apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs feed into the region’s strength in the life sciences by developing experienced research technicians who can add to the vital workforce.”
Dr. Donald Guy Generals said, “We are excited to witness the first two BRT Apprentices graduate in the first of its kind career path apprenticeship.  This model will expand to support the development of the region’s growing and industrious biomedical and biotech labor force.”

Community College of Philadelphia is opening its doors August 14-16 to the coin enthusiasts flocking to Philadelphia to see the World's Fair of Money® and the rare nickel that is expected to be auctioned off in Philadelphia on Wednesday for $5 million.

The Third Philadelphia Mint, which Community College of Philadelphia acquired in 1971, happens to be the place where the Eliasberg 1913 Liberty Head Nickel was minted. The Stack's Bowers Galleries is offering this coin for auction Aug. 15 during the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money, which will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Aug. 14-18, 2018.

The nickel is one of only five that are known to have been produced at the Third Philadelphia Mint, an historic jewel that is now the heart of the College’s Main Campus. The Mint is renowned as the place Gilroy Roberts, the Ninth Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint (1948 to 1964), developed the design of the obverse (heads) side of the Kennedy half dollar, which was commissioned after the President John F. Kennedy’s death on November 22, 1963. The Gilroy and Lillian P. Roberts Foundation gave the College more than $1 million to preserve the historic Philadelphia collection and the legacy of an engraver whose likeness of JFK is recognized around the world.

On August 14-16th, visitors are invited o look inside the Mint building and tour the Gilroy Roberts: Mastering a Craft exhibit. The Mint Building is located at 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, Pa  

For more information:  A history of the third US Mint and Gilroy Roberts Gallery

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses-Greater Philadelphia helped the firm position itself for growth.

Business executive Ken Carter was about to enroll in Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses-Greater Philadelphia when he and his partners at SUPRA Office Solutions Inc. had an idea that was both exhilarating and scary.

What if the West Philadelphia office products company turned traditional mergers and acquisitions upside down, meaning that SUPRA, the smaller business, would acquire a bigger one?

Carter, a graduate of the Minority Business Executive Program at Dartmouth University's Tuck School of Business, thought it made sense for SUPRA, an office supply and furniture company, to buy EMSCO Scientific Enterprises Inc., a medical equipment business.

But during the classes, which are conducted at Community College of Philadelphia, he had to prove the deal's worth to his instructors, classmates and ultimately, to himself.

"The most outstanding thing was the financial analysis of the deal," said Carter, who is president and chief operating officer of Supra. He and his partners, Lin Thomas, chief executive; Derrick Suswell, chief financial officer; and Ismail A. Shahid, executive vice president of Governmental Affairs are all accountants.

Carter said the program, which is an ongoing investment designed to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital and business support services, added to his accounting expertise by teaching him “specific tools that helped me hone in on the specific analysis of the deal in terms of profitability."

The analysis confirmed Carter's instincts and, shortly after Carter graduated from 10,000 Small Businesses–Greater Philadelphia in 2014, SUPRA acquired EMSCO. The 2015 deal nearly tripled SUPRA's revenues, now $20 million. SUPRA, which had eight employees, now has 22. Carter and the management team's skills propelled SUPRA to the top of the prestigious Philadelphia 100 list, ranking first in 2016 and fourth in 2017. The list, which ranks the fastest growing privately-held companies in Philadelphia, is one of the most sought-after awards in the region, as local media publish and widely promote the rankings.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses-Greater Philadelphia is investing in the city, by helping its rising group of job creators. Since the program began at the College in 2013, 428 business owners have benefited, with 27 in the most recent group which graduated last spring.

"You have to get outside of your business to learn things about your business. What attracted me to the program was that Goldman Sachs really targets your growth plan, and that was especially important to our management team,” he said.

Sudden growth, while gratifying, can be perilous for a small business, if the growth isn't sustainable, said Maura Shenker, director of Temple University's Small Business Center. "You have to pull in outside expertise," she said. "A bad decision can break your business."

SUPRA bought EMSCO because some of SUPRA's office customers were scientific laboratories, so it made sense to supply them with both file cabinets and beakers. Carter's 10,000 Small Businesses instructors offered advice on how to integrate the two companies.

Next is a $12 to $14 million ground up construction project for SUPRA’s new Parkside headquarters which will accommodate a warehouse for "downpacking," which is repackaging supplies for easier inventory, and a new business, cyropreservation, the cold-storage preservation of cells. Carter is also reaching out to the Parkside neighborhood, adding public space for community gatherings and events.

Meanwhile, other business owners who were part of Carter's 10,000 Small Businesses cohort are working together, at times partnering on projects and buying goods from each other. SUPRA buys promotional material from Andrew D. Magnus, owner of BTC Envelopes and Printing LLC., and certified public accountant Anita T. Connor, of Anita T. Connor and Associates, handled audits. SUPRA outfitted a building for Around the Clock Home Health Care Services, owned by cohort graduate Theresa Williams.

10,000 Small Businesses "was a great experience for me and worth the investment of my time,” Carter said. “I learned a great deal about sustaining my business and planning for growth. It was game changer for me.”

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis at Community College of Philadelphia. The program is open to business owners from across the Greater Philadelphia region. Learn more.

After the graduates flipped the tassels on their caps from right to left and posed for photos with proud family members, someone still had to pack away the gowns worn by the faculty, checking names off a master list.

At The Liacouras Center on May 5, that someone was Roland Fountain, College mailroom supervisor, a 45-year employee of the College and a 45-year volunteer at commencement.

"I represent the College so I want to make sure the students are happy," he said. "I like the students. It's a pleasure watching them walk up to meet the President (at commencement)."

Fountain didn’t wait to be assigned a task. After he helped the faculty don their ceremonial robes, he walked the building searching for other ways to help. When stacks of commencement programs began to dwindle in the lobby of The Liacouras Center, he unpacked boxes of programs and stacked them high so no friend or family member would go home empty-handed. “I go where I am needed,” he said chuckling.

Every commencement is both a labor of love and a series of unexpected events and challenges. This year, a crew of well more than 100 college employees — some paid, others volunteers — pitched in by handling everything from the placement of programs on the back of more than 1,000 chairs, to perfecting the visuals and audio, to preparing the robing rooms, to assisting with the processional.

Faculty and deans showed up en masse, connecting with the students to get some final photos. Hazim Hardeman, an alumnus, Rhodes Scholar, and commencement speaker, received a surprise visit from Brian Seymour, associate professor of art and coordinator of the College's Honors program, along with a group of faculty who had taught Hazim.

Paula Umana was there, as usual, helping the graduates line up for the ceremony. She directs Single Stop, where students can get help with housing, food, tax refunds, childcare — anything that would pose an obstacle to graduation.

For her, it was an emotional day, with equal proportions of sadness and delight. "Being in a place where you see the people who struggle, yet persisted and did all they could and then to see them graduate... it's priceless," she said, her throat catching with emotion. "I saw so many people smile."

This year's commencement was emotional in part because of the sudden passing of David Watters, the assistant dean of students who had organized so many graduations that he was known on campus as Mr. Commencement.

Richard Kopp, assistant dean of Campus and Community Engagement, said an amazing cast of volunteers — old and new — stepped forward to make the College’s 52^nd commencement a memorable one. He rallied them the night before with a stirring email paying tribute to Watters.

“Without everyone's help, no matter how large or small the role may seem, the day will not be a success without each and every one of you,” he wrote. “I’d like to thank you in advance for your time, energy, expertise and guidance — you've all helped me (and each other) get through a difficult time of transition without commencement's longtime fearless leader, David Watters, at the helm. He will surely be shining down on The Liacouras Center tomorrow morning and will be proud of his team's efforts and the legacy that he's left behind.”

For many employees, commencement is the day that makes their jobs worthwhile.

Jenavia Weaver, once again, served as lead marshal for the procession.

"I look in the students' eyes and I see the stories," said Weaver, a 19-year College employee and coordinator of the Student Leadership and Involvement Center. "They inspire me more than they understand."

In April, clad in her power suit and professional high heels, Shania Bennett, 18, stood on the steps of Pennsylvania's Capitol building in Harrisburg and declared herself to the world.

"When I come here, I feel great," said Shania, who joined other students from Community College of Philadelphia in lobbying for improved funding for community colleges. At that time, she was a dual enrollment student, which meant she was taking college classes while finishing up high school classes at Girard Academic Music Program High School in Philadelphia.

"I feel like I belong here,” she said as she met with her state representatives and state senators in pursuit of increased funding for the state’s 14 community colleges.

She took what she learned to heart. On June 4, Shania was elected ward treasurer, perhaps the youngest in the city. In May, Shania won a committee person's seat in the 48th Ward's 12th District in South Philadelphia. Her election is part of a city-wide drive to bring fresh air and fresh effort into a city pressed hard by poverty.

"My mindset is that somebody has to do it and that somebody is me," said Shania, who grew up in a poverty-stricken area of South Philadelphia.

As young as she is, Shania's no stranger to politics. For two consecutive years, she has traveled to Harrisburg as part of the College's annual Lobby Day event. Specifically, the students shared their stories and their dreams. They also sought a $10.6 million increase in the state's appropriation to community colleges, with $1.4 million of that slated for Community College of Philadelphia.

The dual enrollment program at the College allows high school students to take classes at the College for free or deeply discounted. The College enrolled 655 high school students in the fall and 778 in the spring. Among them were six students from MaST Community Charter School in Northeast Philadelphia who earned their associate degrees in business before they received their high school diplomas and 121 ninth graders  from the Parkway Center City Middle College, which was in its inaugural year. By the time they are seniors, they will have earned an associate degree or certificate. Shania earned about 40 credits, with some of her college work also fulfilling high school requirements. 

Shania, who studied criminal justice courses at the College, followed in the footsteps of her brother, Juwan, who also took courses at the College while in high school. He's pursuing his doctorate's degree at Temple University.

Shania will attend Pennsylvania State University in the fall, coming in with enough college credits to allow her to graduate by the age of 20. She expects to be a lawyer within five years.

In the meantime, though, she and her classmates absorbed the lessons they learned on Lobby Day on April 10, as they traveled with Stephen Jones, an assistant English professor, and Gilberto Gonzalez, a designer in the marketing and government relations department. Jones and Gonzalez are co-presidents of the College’s faculty, staff and adjunct union, the American Federation of Teachers Local 2026, which co-sponsors the Lobby Day trip.