Seated around a table with Mayor Michael Nutter and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan listening intently, Community College of Philadelphia students spoke from the heart.

They, along with a number of other Philadelphia students, shared stories of their struggles and victories with the men and offered recommendations on ways to empower their peers.

On July 11, the College hosted Secretary Duncan’s roundtable convened by President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, a new effort to help young men of color reach their potential and address persistent opportunity gaps.

Jason Mays, 30, president of the Student Government Association and the 2014 Student Leader of the Year, shared that he dropped out of high school as a youth because he didn’t like the school. Later, after he enlisted in the U.S. Army, Mays found several mentors who persuaded him to focus on getting an education. "They had expectations for me," said Mays, who graduated from the College in May with an associate’s degree in Business Administration.

The event was attended by more than 60 observers, including the College’s president, Dr. Generals; Philadelphia School District superintendent, Dr. Hite; Director of the College’s Center for Male Engagement, Derrick Coleman; and former Commonwealth Judge Doris Smith-Ribner, an advisory board member of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.

The young men at the table represented neighborhoods from across the city. In addition to Mays, Quaris Carter, another May graduate; Jose Quintero, Aneury Rodriguez and Nicholas Gross, participated from the College.

Discussion topics included:

• The importance of mentorship.
• The need for mentors to affirm positive behaviors during difficult transitions.
• The relationship between academic achievement, workforce preparedness and trauma.
• Greater financial support for institutions that support young people.
• The need to promote the practical importance of a post-secondary degree, credential or certificate.
• The need for out-of-school activities and opportunities to learn and develop.

Secretary Duncan highlighted the need for the U.S. Department of Education to do a better job of disseminating information about federal and other resources to help with college costs.

The My Brother’s Keeper Initiative will hold another discussion during the fourth 2014 Summit on Educational Excellence for African Americans at the University of Pennsylvania, October 17 and 18.

Dr. Donald Generals, the sixth president of Community College of Philadelphia, began his tenure on July 1.

"These are challenging yet exciting times for the community colleges of America,” Dr. Generals said in a message to the College family. "As such, we are uniquely positioned to advance the social and economic interests of this great city — and nation. I look forward to working with you as we build on the rich tradition of the Community College of Philadelphia.”

Dr. Generals, 58, formerly served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, N.J. An educator and seasoned researcher, he is an expert on the roots of the progressive education movement in America. This concept is advanced by leading educators who believe schools must be effective agencies of a democratic society. In 2013, he authored a book titled, Booker T. Washington: The Architect of Progressive Education.

Over the years, Dr. Generals has been drawn to the democratic mission of community colleges. He noted that the College’s approaching 50th Anniversary celebration comes on the heels of the recent commemoration of the Civil Rights Act. The College was created May 14, 1964 and opened its doors to 1,200 students in September 1965.

"It reminds us all of the close relationship between access, educational achievement and the pursuit of the American dream," Dr. Generals said. "The community college concept is unique to the world. It has the potential for expanding educational and workforce access while simultaneously bolstering our national economy."

Dr. Generals has been active in numerous professional and service organizations, including: the New Jersey Academic Affairs Affinity Group, as chair; the National Alliance of Community and Technical Colleges, as a Board member since 2010; the College Board, Middle States Regional Council; and the Paterson Board of Education as a former Commissioner.

 There were lights, cameras, as well as a memorable call to action during Community College of Philadelphia’s 48^th Annual Commencement where Jotaka Eaddy, Senior Director for Voting Rights and Senior Advisor to the President and CEO of the NAACP in Washington DC, encouraged students to follow their north star to success.

More than 1,100 of the Class of 2014's 2,376 candidates for graduation attended the May 3 ceremony at the Liacouras Center, bringing along throngs of elated family and friends. The Class of 2012, with 1,823 graduates, previously was the largest class.

This year's Commencement theme, "Lights, Cameras, and Action", served as a reminder of the graduates' higher purpose, a theme woven into the fabric of college life, through leadership training, community service activities and academic classes. Eaddy's address encouraged graduates to stay connected to others as their journey continues.

"Each of us is on a great journey or path of life. That journey teaches us all things, reminds us of all things. These paths, I believe, are all connected," said Eaddy who turned an early interest in civic engagement into a fascinating career, where she travels the world to champion human rights issues. "Keep your eye on your north star. On your journey, you may fall — and we all fall sometimes. What's important is that you get back up. Always remember that you are powerful — no matter where you started, no matter where you're from."

Before starting her speech, Eaddy took a selfie with the graduates standing in the background. The image was posted to the College's Twitter account and on Instagram. All that social activity generated a buzz, as the hashtag began trending in Philadelphia during the event.

Interim President Judith Gay, Ph.D., urged students to use knowledge for the greater good. "The skills and wisdom you have acquired, what you have discovered about yourself, and the progress you have made will continue to serve you throughout your life," she said. "These experiences are yours to build upon, to improve upon, and to help inspire others. Equipped with new directions, goals and dreams, you are ready for the road ahead. You will demonstrate the strength of Community College of Philadelphia graduates and your contributions will help the city flourish."

Student speaker Erika Lawrence, who will transfer to Temple University this fall, echoed the theme of public service. She said community service activities gave her new confidence and led to amazing opportunities, such as an invitation to join Temple University President Neil D. Theobald, Ph.D., at a breakfast. An honor student, Lawrence will continue her studies in global marketing.

"We hold a meaningful degree that can now open many doors. Our possibilities have now become limitless," she said. "Let's walk into the possibilities the world has in store for us."

Six College employees, 16 international students, and 81 veterans were among this year’s class. The College awarded a total of 2,510 degrees and certificates. During the ceremony, Dr. Gay announced that Associate Professor Richard Frei, Ph.D., was the winner of the 2014 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, established by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation. As the honoree, Dr. Frei will deliver a celebrated lecture during the 2014-2015 academic year.

U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA) started his career teaching fifth grade at the Gesu School in North Philadelphia and coaching basketball.

His desire to serve the public eventually led him to the U.S. Senate, where he has been guided by the wisdom of his late father, Pennsylvania Gov. Robert P. Casey, who believed that “all public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.”

On April 25, Sen. Casey will be recognized for his ongoing efforts to help improve communities as he becomes the sixth recipient of the Judge Edward R. Becker Citizenship Award. The presentation will be made during a 9 a.m. breakfast in the Center for Business and Industry, Room C2-5, 18^th and Callowhill streets (entrance on 18^th near the corner of Callowhill).

Joining him in the room will be members of the Becker family, prominent attorneys and legal scholars, and students and faculty from across the College who have benefited from Sen. Casey’s efforts to increase dollars for early childhood education and financial aid, combat hunger and protect the troops overseas. They will be available to share their personal stories with the news media.

The prestigious citizenship award is named for the Honorable Edward R. Becker (1933-2006), a judge who was as comfortable in the presence of Supreme Court Justices as he was with hourly wage workers. A Philadelphia native, Judge Becker was a brilliant scholar and a highly respected jurist. He served on the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals from 1981 to 2006, using his extensive gifts to uphold the highest standards of the law while maintaining a down-to-earth humility and common touch.

“He cared deeply about making the world a better place and recognizing the humanity in the stranger and the stranger in ourselves,” said Charles Becker, Esq., Judge Becker’s son. The Becker Award honors those who dedicate their lives to public service.

Sen. Casey could have begun his career in a comfortable office but instead he volunteered at the Gesu School in North Philadelphia, where he lived at 23^rd and Girard Avenue with the other staff. Since then, he has continued to be a hands-on leader as he has worked, as a U.S. Senator, to champion funding for early learning programs, support record increases in federal financial aid and protect U.S. troops by leading efforts to stop the flow of ammonium nitrate, a key component in IEDs that have killed or wounded thousands of soldiers and civilians.

Previous Becker Award recipients include former Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell (2011); Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Marjorie O. Rendell (2010); Co-Founder, President and Executive Director of Project HOME, Sister Mary Scullion (2009); former U.S. Secretary of Transportation William T. Coleman, Jr., Esq. (2008); and U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (2007).

Community College of Philadelphia and Temple University are connected in many ways, and the Delaware Valley and its regional businesses reap the dividends of this relationship, according to Temple University President Neil D. Theobald, Ph.D.

“We work together to provide this region with its greatest asset, which is human capital,” he said. “We are the main customer-receiver of each other’s students. There are nearly 2,000 former Community College of Philadelphia students enrolled at Temple.”

Temple University has long been the top transfer destination for the College’s students. In fact, about one in 19 Temple students formerly attended the College. One in seven college grads in Philadelphia is a Temple graduate.

Some Temple students also transfer to Community College of Philadelphia to earn credits or earn new credentials. In a 2006 report, 38 percent of Community College of Philadelphia students enrolled in a career program said they were reverse transfers and Temple was the institution they were most likely to have attended. “In short, Community College of Philadelphia is invaluable for Temple University,” Dr. Theobald told the audience.

The College’s diverse student population adds to the Temple University experience, he said. “They provide something really different at Temple. They tend to be more experienced. They bring their work history, their insights, their experience to our classroom discussions,” Dr. Theobald said. “(They)… really provide a nice mix for us that enhances the experience for everyone.”

Dr. Theobald also highlighted other shared goals and common interests as he spoke to College staff and regional business leaders on April 8 at the launch breakfast for the Spring 2014 edition of Pathways, the magazine of Community College of Philadelphia. Seated at his table throughout the breakfast was Erika Lawrence, the College’s 2014 student Commencement speaker who plans to transfer to Temple’s Fox School of Business.

Temple and Community College of Philadelphia both play a large role in educating and preparing the workers that area educational institutions and hospitals need, he said, adding that the region’s future, in large part, lies in the strength of its “eds and meds.”

His remarks took a serious turn as he touched on the problem of growing student loan debt. “We have got to do something that addresses this issue of affordability in higher education and keeps costs low,” Dr. Theobald said.

Community College of Philadelphia’s clearly-defined paths to possibilities help many students transferring to Temple to reduce those costs. “That’s where the transfer agreement with the College is a big help because it lowers the cost of a bachelor’s degree, he said.

In the Pathways article about Dr. Theobald, he addresses the importance of a liberal arts education to the world economy, Temple’s role and responsibility in moving the city forward, and the need to reduce student debt. Other articles examine the unique learning environment of the honors program; the College’s new psychology degree that prepares students to become counselors, educators and researchers in addition to psychologists, and a host of other career options.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), on campus to promote economic security and opportunity for women, took a moment on Feb. 7 to praise community colleges for providing a path to better opportunities.

Women now hold the majority of bachelor’s degrees and advanced degrees nationwide, putting them in a position to drive our 21st century economy. Sixty-three percent of the students at Community College of Philadelphia are female.

"Community colleges are the bridge," she said. "They are the path that takes people from where they are, to where they want to be," Pelosi said. "With everything that we do, education is essential. That’s why it’s so important that we’re here at the College."

Pelosi, the first woman to serve Speaker of the House of Representatives, is currently the House Minority Leader. She spoke during the invitation-only "When Women Succeed, America Succeeds" event, which advocated for a higher minimum wage, access to child care for working mothers, and other policy issues that strengthen women and families.

PathWays PA, and The Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces sponsored the event.

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) and U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) joined Pelosi on a panel alongside three area women who discussed the difficulties faced by those in low-paying jobs. They spoke to a packed room in the Klein Cube of the Pavilion Building.

Onetha McKnight, who works as a wheelchair attendant at Philadelphia International Airport, said she earns $5.75 an hour plus tips. She uses a co-worker’s asthma inhaler because she can’t afford to buy her own. McKnight said she is among 2,000 workers employed by a subcontractor to provide passenger services at the airport.

"I wish I could say my situation was unique at the airport, but it’s not. Most of my co-workers at the airport are women struggling to get by on poverty wages. Thankfully, legislators like Nancy Pelosi are listening," McKnight said.

Democratic congressmen have a put forth a proposal to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour and peg it to inflation. "Over 60 percent of people who make minimum wage are women over age 30," Pelosi said.

State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D-Philadelphia) and State Rep. James R. Roebuck, Jr. (D-Philadelphia) were among the dignitaries in attendance. Rep. Roebuck also serves as vice chair of the College’s Board of Trustees.

The College’s spring 2014 Professional Development activities focused on strengthening the culture for students with unique or complex learning needs.

During the opening session on Jan. 6, Bill Welsh, executive director for the Office of Disability Services at Rutgers University, delivered the keynote, "Creating an Environment that is Usable by All".

The presentation included a brief tutorial demonstrating how to use Microsoft Word tools to create documents that are easily accessible to those with special learning needs. Afterward, Welsh led a workshop for the President’s Cabinet on “Best Practices for Accessible Technology and Information.”

Jocelyn E. Sirkis, director of Professional Development, coordinated the Professional Development event and others that took place that week.

“What we know is that when we make our courses and our processes accessible to people with disabilities, we also typically make them better for all users,” Sirkis said.

In panel discussions and workshops, students, faculty and staff discussed the challenges of living with disabilities and offered the tools and strategies for making the learning environment more accessible. Workshop titles included “More than Life without Sound: ASL (American Sign Language),” “Being Deaf and a World of Visual Adaptation” and “Get to Know Us: A Person- first Panel.”

10,000 Small Businesses–Greater Philadelphia recently marked its second commencement and the one-year anniversary of the groundbreaking program’s launch.

Judith Gay, Ph.D., the College’s interim president; Nicole Pullen Ross, Mid-Atlantic region head of Goldman Sachs; Alan Greenberger, deputy mayor for Economic Development and director of Commerce; and Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter were among the dignitaries who attended the Jan.11 ceremony, where 27 business owners received program completion certificates.

“We’re really proud of this class,” said Nutter, who also met with the business owners before the ceremony. “We’re particularly excited about this program. We have a lot of focus on start-up businesses and entrepreneurs but this program answers ‘What are we doing to support those who have already survived the initial start-up phase and are trying to expand their businesses?’”

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses–Greater Philadelphia is a fully funded program that offers 14weeks of entrepreneurial instruction, one-on-one coaching and access to capital for eligible business owners from the region. The business owners in the second class represent a diverse mix of industries and professions, including urban planning, manufacturing, funeral rites, web development, education and retail. They come from cities and suburbs across the region and have two things in common—a proven track record and willingness to learn more.

Since its launch last year, 50 business owners from across the region have completed the program in Philadelphia. Applications for 10,000 Small Businesses are accepted on a rolling basis at Community College of Philadelphia, with Feb. 10, 2014, as the deadline to apply for the next cohort.

In his speech to fellow scholars, graduate Rich Goldberg, president of Safian & Rudolph Jewelers, noted how much the business owners had bonded during the course. “Each of us decided we were destined for something greater,” he said. “Not just because we believed it, but because we made others believe in us and our visions.”

In her closing remarks, Margaret Berger Bradley, the program’s executive director, told the entrepreneurs that their new skills and business acumen had prepared them for the next level of success. “This is not a graduation. This is your commencement,” she said.

During his distinguished career, Thomas R. Hawk, Ph.D., helped Community College of Philadelphia grow in prominence and influence, regionally and nationally.

He is widely respected by peers as a practitioner and an academic. In 2006, Dr. Hawk became the first business officer from a community college ever selected to receive the Distinguished Business Officer of the Year award from the National Association of College and University Business Officers. “In the end, you succeed because of the colleagues with whom you work on a daily basis,” Dr. Hawk said recently. “I have been blessed to work with a large number of truly smart and creative people.”

A long-time champion of open-access institutions, Dr. Hawk began his community college career on the faculty. “I first walked in the doors of the College in 1967, when I was 22. It was an ‘Introduction to Business’ class and the chance to teach it was an amazing experience for me. The students were bright and engaged. Many were older than I was and had life experiences that gave them far greater wisdoms than I had in many areas,” he said.

In January, following 46 years of service, Dr. Hawk, Vice President for Planning and Finance, will retire. Over the years, he assisted or led efforts to:

• Maintain financial planning and budget management strategies which have enabled the College to sustain stability and quality in programs and services, and deal responsibly with fluctuating patterns of public support.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of the College’s Facility Master Plans which have led to the development of three permanent Regional Centers and major expansion and renewal of the College’s Main Campus. He oversaw the development of seven new buildings at the Main Campus and Regional Centers, as well as extensive renovations and expansions.
• Provide leadership for the strategic planning and institutional research efforts, which have provided a basis for understanding and strengthening institutional effectiveness and helped to identify strategic directions.

Having earned a Masters of Business Administration from the Wharton School and a Doctorate in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Hawk could have worked for a Fortune 500 company, but instead he signed up for a rollercoaster ride at a community college. Why has he stayed so long?

“It’s the mission of the college,” Dr. Hawk explained, during recent remarks to colleagues. “How can you not get excited about helping to transform thousands of lives on an annual basis? It’s the great people I have worked with and for; the quality and commitment of my professional coworkers and institutional leadership at the senior and board levels...”

On December 5, the College threw a festive retirement party that drew more than 100 well-wishers from all walks and ages of life, along with family, present and former trustees, staff and Foundation board members. Dr. Hawk said his decision to put his advanced degrees to work for a community college was a strategic one. “Despite the occasional facility breakdowns and the periodic budget crises, it has been fun and very rewarding.

Dr. Hawk used the platform to reflect upon how much the College had changed over the decades, and offer newcomers — anyone here 30 years or less — a recap of some of the milestones.

“In its early years, the College had no developmental programs, few career programs and operated from one relatively small leased facility. Other major cities were creating complex multi-campus institutions. But things changed rapidly for the College in the 1970s and 80s.” Among the challenges and opportunities the college has faced:

• Returning Vietnam vets transformed the nature of the student body
• BEOG, which became Pell, created true financial access by allowing lower income students to enroll with little or no out-of-pocket costs. As a result enrollment growth greatly exceed intuitional planning projections
• The adoption of a truly open admissions policy resulted in the need for a massive commitment to developmental education and academic support services
• Development of a regional center model to ensure off-campus students had access to essential academic programs and support services
• New technology has transformed how teaching and learning occurs, how the College is managed and the nature of the College’s physical facilities

"In the variety of positions I have held during my career, I was lucky enough to be able to help play a role in assisting the College to respond to all these issues and many more," he said.

As retirement nears, Dr. Hawk is working on the big plan for the next chapter of life: he’ll spend more time traveling, grandfathering, walking the dog, riding rollercoasters, and gardening.

Larry Thi was a stand-out student at Community College of Philadelphia before transferring to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a scholarship worth up to $30,000 a year.

Now a UNC graduate and a high school teaching fellow with a nonprofit group called 12+, the scholar and alumnus last month came back to the place where his higher education career started, but this time he was looking for new tools to help inner city youth realize academic success.

Thi was among more than a dozen educators and advocates who attended a town-hall style information session for community leaders on November 19 in the Main Campus Pavilion. The workshop was part of an initiative that seeks to give Philadelphia’s influential teachers, mentors and community leaders, who we call Pathfinders, timely access to the latest information regarding changes to financial aid, admissions deadlines and scholarships.

In 2011, Thi was selected to receive the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a national award given to outstanding community college students. The award helped fund his undergraduate degree in history at UNC Chapel Hill, which Thi received in May 2013.

Since August, Thi has taught high school students in Kensington through 12+, which seeks to serve students from the most impoverished sections of the city. His mission now is to empower students and provide a road map to college.

“My current duties as a 12+ Fellow include providing college access to students at Kensington Health Sciences Academy, cultivating a college-going culture and promoting academic achievement,” Thi said. “I facilitate workshops to equip students with necessary skills to succeed, advise students one-on-one, and operate multiple after school programs including Chess Club, ESL Club and Poetry Club.”

The Pathfinders workshop provided useful information, he said. “I attended a teacher-parent conference and the parent asked me about learning disability support services provided by universities and colleges for her son. Having attended the Pathfinders workshop, I informed the parent about the Center on Disability and certain accommodations and support that may be provided for her child,” Thi said.

At the November workshop, Samuel Hirsch, Ed.D., vice president for Student Affairs, discussed the broad range of support services available to new students at the College. The Pathfinders asked a lot of questions about Single Stop, a national initiative that is new to our College. It provides free and comprehensive social and financial services to students as part of an effort to foster economic security and support student retention.

Students around the nation have received an average of $2,000 in public benefits, services and tax credits through Single Stop USA. Community College of Philadelphia is the 16th College in the nation to launch Single Stop.

Jennifer Cardoso, of Philadelphia Academies, Inc., a nonprofit youth development organization that works with several district schools, said she came to learn more about the Single Stop initiative. “I knew about it but was interested in knowing more,” Cardoso said.

New market research has shown that the College’s enrollment is being driven in part by community influencers who convince prospective students to enroll. The Pathfinders initiative is designed to support them and create opportunities for them to gather and share new ideas.

For more information about Pathfinders, contact Diane Kae, manager, Student Outreach and Recruitment at dkae [at] ccp.edu (dkae[at]ccp[dot]edu).