Berkeley Community Fund

What to Expect in October/November

During this time of the school year, scholars may be facing a mix of wonderful and challenging experiences as they navigate through their first year. According to the U.C. Berkeley Resident Assistant Manual, students can face some of the common issues listed below. Though a student can experience many of these issues at any point in their college careers, it can be more challenging for freshmen as they are still adjusting to a new environment. Knowing what challenges students typically face will help you to better understand your scholar's experience and support them

Common Issues
*academic pressure/burnout (exams, assignments, study habits) and feeling of unworthiness
*sense of belonging
*social and dating issues
*crunch of commitments
*identity search/questioning
*homesickness
*travel issues
*health issues over sleep and diet
*not responding to texts/calls

Sometimes it can be hard to know how to support your scholar while they're busy with school. In the early phase of your relationship, scholars may be hesitant to contact you. But we know from experience that this is a stressful time for students and they need your support. This is a good time to email, text, or call your scholar and check in. If you don’t hear back right away, be persistent. This usually works for us. We recommend scheduling a time to talk on the phone. It's hard to hold meaningful conversations over text.

Here are some tips you can consider as you check in with your scholar...

1. Ask About Self-Care

How are their sleeping and eating habits, what is their work/life balance, what are they doing to manage stress?

If your scholar is doing just fine - great! You can talk about groups they joined, fun experiences, or interesting lectures.

But if they are struggling...here are ways you can help:
*Listen and empathize- sometimes students just need someone to care.
*Share stress-reduction strategies that have worked for you.
*Remind students to integrate self-care into their study plan.
*Encourage them to make an appointment with a mental health counselor, talk to a clergy member, call you, or seek out friends/family to help them manage their stress

2. Ask About Challenging Classes

Our scholars often feel the need to handle their problems on their own and seek help as a last resort. It helps to specifically ask about classes they are struggling with or worried about.

Encourage them to:
*Talk to their professors, go to office hours or meet with their TAs.
*Ask about doing extra credit work to bring up their grade (it’s always better to ask for help early rather than the day of the final).
*Try studying with other students who understand the material.
*Go to course-specific tutoring sessions.

3. Ask About Study Habits

Do they have a study schedule that works? A place to study that is free of distractions? Do they study at a time when they are most focused? Do they use a calendar to schedule study time and break up sessions into manageable increments? Do they take regular breaks? (Studies show spacing out blocks of study time and taking breaks improve retention). Do they tend to save difficult material/class work for last and struggle with procrastinating?

Ways you can help:
*Share your tips for getting organized, meeting deadlines, and avoiding procrastination.
*Help your scholars discover what works best for them.
*Offer yourself as an accountability coach. Set up a routine for them to report back to you on goals and deadlines. It's easier to procrastinate, when no one is checking up on you.

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Required Appointments for Freshmen

We recently sent out an email blast to your scholar reminding him/her of the 3 required appointments they must complete by October 31, 2018 in order for them to receive their next scholarship check in January. We also discussed this during your match meeting in the summer. The reason that we ask our freshmen to complete these appointments is because we want our scholars to learn more about their campus resources so they can take advantage of them throughout their college career and before things get too hectic. Below is the description of requirements that your scholar received. Please check in with them about meeting these requirements.

A Tour of the Mental Health Center and/or a Therapy Appointment

College can be amazing, but it can also be stressful, lonely, or really hard at times. Therapy can sometimes help. A therapist will meet with you privately, is not allowed to share what you talk about with anyone, and can be a great place to vent about your stress and strategize ways to feel better. If you would like to try a counseling session to talk about your adjustment to school and just see what a session is like, you can. But it is also OK to just go to the Mental Health Center at your school and find out what services they offer, how you make an appointment, and what kind of problems they can help you with.

A Tutoring Session

Every college offers a variety of tutoring. We want you to attend a session in the subject of your choice. You could try your school's writing center for help with a paper, go to TA's office hours to ask questions, go to your department's scheduled tutoring sessions, or find a peer tutor through EOP or another program. Everyone will need tutoring in something at some point. We want to help you explore what's available and get comfortable asking for help.

A Career Services advising appointment Please visit the Career Center at your school to get help updating your resume. If you want to apply for a campus job or a summer internship, you will need a current resume. Career Centers also offer help finding internships, part-time jobs, practicing interview skills, figuring out your major, and doing career assessment tests to see what fields/majors might be a good fit for you.

The Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) has announced its 2018 Benjamin Ide Wheeler Award, honoring Susan Muscarella, a longtime champion of music and jazz in Berkeley and beyond.

Muscarella—Founder, President and Dean of Instruction at the California Jazz Conservatory—will be recognized as “Berkeley’s Most Useful Citizen” during BCF’s annual gala and benefit dinner, scheduled for October 6th at U. C. Berkeley’s Pauley Ballroom.

The evening’s theme of “Connections” is an appropriate reflection of Muscarella’s longtime connection with the Berkeley arts community, and her commitment to “a lifetime of connecting people to music,” as noted in the Wheeler Award announcement.

“Susan Muscarella reflects the best of our community,” commented Joleen Ruffin, BCF’s Executive Director. “Her success in establishing the Jazzschool and the California Jazz Conservatory from nothing shows what passion, vision, commitment, and persistence can achieve.”

Muscarella’s many connections across Berkeley are well ensconced and long established. Susan graduated from UC Berkeley where she also taught in and directed their Jazz Ensembles Program. In 1997, after a stint as a touring professional musician, Muscarella opened the Jazzschool on Shattuck Avenue, offering classes to students of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. The school has grown from 150 students per quarter at its inception to 500 students per quarter today.

The institution added a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies in 2009. Earning accreditation for the institution in 2013, the Jazzschool was brought under the umbrella of the newly named parent institution, The California Jazz Conservatory (CJC).

The award comes at a significant time in the Conservatory’s history: 2017–2018 saw the opening of CJC’s new Fiddler Annex located at 2040 Addison. The year also witnessed the addition of an Associate of Arts degree, a new degree concentration in North American Roots Music, and a celebration of the Jazzschool’s 20th anniversary.

The Benjamin Ide Wheeler Medal was established in 1929 by the Service Club Council of Berkeley to recognize an outstanding member of the community who has provided years of distinguished service, in any field of activity, which has benefitted the quality of life for a significant number of people in Berkeley. It is named after the University of California president who was best known for transforming the school from a small land grant college into a world-renowned university. No matter what issue he tackled, Dr. Wheeler always thought in terms of value to human life and human relationships. He followed politics at all levels and recognized that the fundamental basis for democracy is drawn from healthy local communities.

Like Dr. Wheeler, Susan Muscarella transformed a small school into a renowned educational institution. In receiving the award, she joins the many notable Wheeler medalists who have had a positive impact on the Berkeley community, including August Vollmer (1931), E.O Lawrence (1945), Sylvia McLaughlin (1977), David Brower (1998), the Honorable Thelton Henderson (2000), and Vicki Alexander, MD (2017). Dr. Alexander will present the 2018 award.

The Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) is a charitable nonprofit organization founded in 1991 to narrow inequities in the Berkeley community. It works toward that same goal today by providing motivated Berkeley youth with needs-based scholarships, mentoring, and other supports instrumental to success in college and beyond. For more information about the BCF and the October 6th event, visit www.berkfund.org.

The California Jazz Conservatory is the only independent, accredited music school in the country completely devoted to the study and performance of jazz. CJC offers a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and an Associate of Arts degree in Jazz Studies; the non degree-granting Jazzschool offers over 100 classes and workshops on a quarterly basis; CJC Concert Series presents concerts in two intimate venues featuring visiting artists, students and faculty. For more information about CJC, visit www.cjc.edu.

For Immediate Release

BCF Contact: Colleen Sparks / 510.486.8413 / colleen@berkfund.org
CJC Contact: Paul S. Fingerote / 510.845.5373 / paul@cjc.edu

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The Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) is excited to announce the award of $400,000 in scholarships to 25 Berkeley High School students.

The group will become part of our High Hopes Scholarship Program receiving financial assistance, one-on-one mentoring and other supports to help them succeed in and graduate from college.

Welcome to the 2018 High Hopes Scholars!

Kendra Bowman, Tuskegee University
Asha Byrd, University of California, Santa Cruz
Alejandra Carrillo Hernandez, University of California, Santa Cruz
Maalena Crawford, Cal State East Bay
Maria Cuautle-Velazquez, University of California, Santa Barbara
Leandro Gonzales, San Francisco State University
Amira Harara, University of California, San Diego
Jaali Henninger Crenshaw, Louisiana State University
Camilo Hernandez, San Francisco State University
Naeem Hopkins, San Francisco State University
Francesca Llorente, University of California, Irvine
Lisette Moreno, University of California, Santa Cruz
Christopher Ortega-Munoz, Chico State University
Briana Remsen, University of California, Santa Cruz
Simelia Rogers, University of California, Santa Cruz
Jayden Rose, University of California, Santa Cruz
Yessenia Sanchez, San Francisco State University
Luis Sanchez Cruz, California State University, Northridge
Tara Shahandeh, University of California, Berkeley
Lulani Sudjian-Lampkin, University of California, Santa Cruz
Jahlil Taylor, Howard University
Kranthiraj Vellanki, University of California, Santa Cruz
Jason Vilchez Alvarado, University of California, Riverside
Aryan Webster, California State University, Northridge
Hanyang Xu, San Francisco State University

The 2018 High Hopes Scholars are planning to study political science, urban planning, business, environmental science, education, criminal justice, and art. The majority will study at the campuses of the University of California and California State Universities. Some will travel out of state to attend Louisiana State, Howard and Tuskegee University. The High Hopes Scholarship Program provides $16,000 need-based scholarships to talented and resilient Berkeley high school students. The financial support helps close the gap between the true cost of attending college and the typical financial aid award. Scholarships are funded through generous donations from the community. The program also helps students successfully navigate the challenges they encounter in college through a critical array of support services including one-to-one mentorship, financial literacy training, transition-to-college workshops, and support from a college success advisor.

In addition to celebrating our newest scholars, we’re celebrating the college graduations of over 20 High Hopes Scholars, our biggest graduating class yet.

The post Welcoming the 2018 High Hopes Scholars appeared first on Berkeley Community Fund.

Each year the Berkeley Community Fund hosts our Annual Gala in October to celebrate our scholars and present the Benjamin Ide Wheeler Award to Berkeley’s “Most Useful Citizen.”

On October 6, 2018, we honored Susan Muscarella—the visionary founder, President and Dean of Instruction of the California Jazz Conservatory and Jazzschool. The event was held at the Pauley Ballroom on the UC Berkeley campus. It was attended by over 300 community members. The evening was MC’ed by Berkeley
High School graduate and Berkeley City College counselor, Skylar Barton.

Executive Director Joleen Ruffin thanked immediate past board president Chuck Fanning and welcomed new board president Ann Smulka.

2011 High Hopes Scholar, Raymok Ketema, was the featured scholar speaker this year. Raymok is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in History at UC Santa Barbara.

View the photos of the event on our Facebook page!

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The Berkeley Community Fund has received a two-year grant of $250,000 from the Bayer USA Foundation, funds that will be used to support the Berkeley Promise scholarship program launched last year.The donation will support scholarships, mentoring, and STEM career exploration for Berkeley Unified School District graduates from lower-income families and underrepresented groups attending Berkeley City College.

In addition to one year of free community college through the California Promise program, Berkeley Promise scholars receive $1,500 while they are at Berkeley City College and the opportunity to apply for $8,000 in scholarship funds once they transfer to a 4-year school. Berkeley Promise scholars are placed in a First Year Experience learning community at Berkeley City College; they can also participate in summer transition-to-college workshops; and receive mentoring, guidance, and transfer support.

“We are thrilled with Bayer’s commitment to the Berkeley Promise,” said BCF Executive Director, Joleen Ruffin. “Higher education is essential to helping young people in our community reach their goals. This gift helps us remove many of the barriers to success for our students from lower-income families and underrepresented in higher education. Through the Berkeley Promise we will increase bachelor’s degree attainment rates for students who start at Berkeley City College while building awareness of STEM academic pathways and career opportunities.”

“People at Bayer are passionate about scientific discovery and learning. We leverage science for a better life in everything we do,” said Judy Chou, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of the Bayer site in Berkeley. “So, we are particularly proud of the ways that this gift will expose young people in Berkeley to the opportunities in STEM education and scientific careers. We look forward to watching these students become tomorrow’s leaders.”

The 2018 Berkeley Promise Scholars will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Friday, December 7th from 4:30 to 7:00 PM in the Berkeley City College auditorium. The event is open to the public.

About the Bayer USA Foundation

The Bayer USA Foundation is an endowed 501(c)(3) entity and is the primary source of Bayer Corporation philanthropy in theUnited States. With a programmatic focus on the environment and sustainability; education and workforce development; arts and culture; and health and human services, the foundation creates and supports organizations that improve communities in which Bayer employees live and work, as well as society at large. The Bayer USA Foundation is one of three Bayer corporate foundations worldwide, including the Bayer Science & Education Foundation and the Bayer Cares Foundation.

About Bayer in the Bay Area

Bayer is one of the largest biotech employers in the Bay Area and a global leader in the research, development, and manufacturing of biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical therapies that improve human health. The Bayer presence in the Bay Area includes a 45-acre manufacturing facility in Berkeley and its West Coast Innovation Center in the Mission Bay area of San Francisco.

About the Berkeley Promise

The Berkeley Promise is a college access and matriculation scholarship initiative designed to help Berkeley Unified School District graduates—particularly those who are first-generation-to-college, from lower-income families or from underrepresented groups—advance on a path to complete a post-secondary degree or certificate, that starts with community college. Students receive mentoring, academic guidance, financial assistance, and transfer support. Partners include the City of Berkeley, Berkeley City College, Berkeley Unified School District, and the Berkeley Community Fund.

About Berkeley City College

BCC students form a thriving college community which mirrors the Bay Area’s ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic diversity. BCC is part of the Peralta Community College District and is located in downtown Berkeley, in one of the world’s great education centers. Student success is always BCC’s first priority. BCC continually adapts programs and services to meet students’ needs making it one of the top transfer institutions to UC Berkeley.

About the Berkeley Community Fund

For the past 10 years, BCF has been working to remove barriers to college degree attainment for students from lower-income families and underrepresented groups in Berkeley by providing scholarships, mentoring, connections and other supports instrumental to success in college and beyond. BCF has a track record of success, with a 90% graduation and persistence rate for students attending 4-year institutions.

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The application for the 2019 High Hopes Scholarship is now open! The High Hopes Scholarship Program is a college success program designed to provide mentorship, programs, community support, and resources to motivated and resilient college-bound seniors from Berkeley public high schools. Scholars receive a scholarship of $16,000, payable in installments of $2,000 twice a year for four years.

For information about the program, visit our High Hopes Program page.

To apply now, click here!

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January is National Mentoring Month. This campaign was launched in 2002 by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership to promote and celebrate youth mentoring. According to MENTOR, research shows that quality mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations.

We believe in the power of mentoring and want to ensure that our young people receive personal support and the resources they need to succeed in college and beyond. During this month, we are finding ways to celebrate, honor and thank our Berkeley Community Fund mentors for their dedication and commitment to our scholars–we are so grateful for all of you. THANK YOU!

If YOU would like to make a long lasting impact and become a mentor, find out more here.

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BCF’s Board of Directors announces that our Executive Director is stepping down in June.

Dear Friends of BCF,

After 6 wonderful years with the Berkeley Community Fund, I recently announced my plans to step down as Executive Director at the end of June. I did not arrive at this decision lightly as I care a great deal about this amazing organization, the students we serve, our staff, our mentors, and all of our partners. Most importantly, I care deeply about the work we do to close opportunity gaps and ensure that youth in our community have the supports they need to succeed in college regardless of their background.

In my role as ED, I’ve used my experience in business, higher education, and philanthropy to build an organization that I am sure will continue to leave positive marks on the lives of many. And now, I look forward to the next chapter in my life. I will be taking some time off for a long overdue extended visit with my family in Zimbabwe and then plan to return to the U.S. to pursue new opportunities.

It has been my privilege to lead BCF through an important period of transformation and growth. We have a remarkable staff and dedicated board of directors; I am proud of what we have accomplished together. I will be working closely with the Executive Director Search Committee over the next 6 months to find a new ED and support that person in their transition.

I hope that I will have an opportunity to thank you in person for your partnership and commitment to Berkeley’s youth. Please read on below for a message from our board of directors.

With gratitude,

Joleen Ruffin

A message from BCF’s Board of Directors

It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that the Board of Directors is sharing the news that Joleen is stepping down as our Executive Director.

Our board has formed a search committee to find a new executive director to lead the organization moving forward. As we conduct our search in the coming months, we welcome your assistance in identifying candidates who can help BCF continue its success. The position description is posted here.

BCF hired Joleen in 2013 to take the organization to the next level. Joleen has accomplished that and much more. Her inspiring leadership and deft management have played an important role in the growth of BCF and its impact on the lives of many Berkeley youth. We are grateful for her six years of dedicated service, which involved many significant accomplishments, including:

Increasing the number of students we serve in our 4-year High Hopes Scholarship Program
Establishing the BCF Promise Program for students attending Berkeley City College
Developing and expanding our programs to increase the college graduation and persistence rate of our scholars (90% of our scholars have graduated or persist in college)
Building a culture of equity and inclusion
Instituting organizational systems and processes to lay the foundation for growth
Raising the visibility of our organization in the community
Forming key partnerships with Berkeley Rotary, Berkeley City College, the City of Berkeley, UC Berkeley, and Bayer

Joleen leaves the organization in a strong position, both financially and programmatically. In 2013, Joleen was our sole employee. BCF now has a devoted and capable staff that will continue the vision shared across our organization. They, together with our committed board of directors, will help ensure that the organization continues to serve our scholars, mentors, and community partners.

Joleen will be greatly missed by the staff, board, scholars, and our partners. We look forward to staying in touch and following her future endeavors. If you have any questions or concerns during this transition, please feel free to reach out to me directly at ann.smulka@gmail.com.

Sincerely,
Ann Smulka
President, Board of Directors

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In observance of National Mentoring Month, we honored our High Hopes mentors at the 2nd Annual Mentor Appreciation event on January 20th.

The event was held at the beautifully restored Easton Hall building located near the Cal campus. We celebrated mentors for their continued dedication to our scholars and enjoyed a light brunch and mimosas!

As a token of our appreciation, mentors were awarded with BCF Appreciation certificates in recognition of their support and commitment to the success of our Scholars. Linda Osuorji and Lynn Walker, our College Success Advisors, shared stories of particular mentors they felt exemplified what it means to be a mentor. While they only had time to talk about a few, there are so many more mentors whose stories they could have shared.

We also honored Susie Goodin, long-time BCF board member and chair of our mentor committee. During her tenure on the board, Susie has stepped up to mentor 3 High Hopes Scholars and is personally invested in the success of all our mentor-mentee relationships.

Echoing President Obama’s Presidential Proclamation on mentoring, our executive director shared the following: “nobody succeeds on their own, every young person’s strength and resilience is fostered by those who have helped them see that they can do anything they put their minds to…”

We observe this every day in our program and we are very thankful for ALL of our BCF mentors!

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At the end of each semester, all of our High Hopes Scholars submit an update reflecting on their past several months of school. The following are a few stories selected from our 2018 cohort.

Amira Harara | Freshman | UC Berkeley

My first semester was both exciting and challenging in ways I did not expect. I really loved my English Composition class; the intimate class size allowed for more time with the professor which truly helped develop my writing skills. My Math class was really hard–after missing two full weeks of school due to illness, I worried how this absence would affect my grades and GPA. My Middle Eastern Studies class was my favorite–my professor’s passion for the material made the class super interesting and engaging.

My more difficult classes taught me that building relationships with my professors is invaluable, and that I am my only obstacle when I hesitate to ask questions. For my first semester, I wanted to focus on developing good habits with my academics. I learned that my ego should not get in the way of me getting an education. I learned that everyone has the same fear of asking a silly question and being viewed as inferior, but the risk is definitely worth the reward.

My relationship with my BCF mentor is going well. We see each other monthly and she is there for me when I need her. She’s been helping me explore internship opportunities as I look ahead to the summer.

Kendra Bowman | Freshman | Tuskegee University

This semester I took Pre Calculus, Chemistry, Chem Lab, English, History, and Freshman Orientation. Overall, I think I did well–I got through my first semester of college and that was a huge accomplishment for me.

My most challenging courses were Pre-Calculus and Chemistry. Pre-Calculus was hard because of how fast the course moved. By the time I began to understand one concept, we would move on quickly to the next concept so I always felt as if I was behind. I decided to get extra help from the math tutors who I found to be really helpful. Chemistry was difficult because it required a lot of work on my own. I leaned on my mentor Michelle, who is a scientist, for help and support. She is very familiar with Chemistry. I don’t think I would have been able to make it through without her. These challenges taught me the importance of asking for help and talking to my mentor.

I’ve become more social at Tuskegee than I was in high school. I think that’s a good thing. But, this semester has taught me about balance and finding when is the appropriate time to work or play. Being at Tuskegee has also helped me become more polite–in Alabama people always speak to each other, hold doors open for each other, and are just generally hospitable, so some of that has been rubbing off on me.

I think I’ve grown this semester because I’ve unlocked a new part of who I am. I’m enjoying my experience so far and look forward to what’s to come.

Simelia Rogers | Freshman | UC Santa Cruz

I enjoyed my Concepts in Politics class the most. I learned a lot about political theory and its roots, specifically the way that political thought has changed across history. The class was taught by a phenomenal professor which reaffirmed my desire to study politics.

I really tried to throw myself into several organizations this quarter to start making friends. I joined the Speech and Debate Club, Cowell Senate (my smaller college’s student government), and I got accepted into a larger branch of student government that advocates and helps write state legislation that impacts University of California students. I plan to get more involved in advocacy work when I return for winter quarter.

My mentor, Robin Packel, is a federal public defender and invited me to watch her defend her first case in federal court in September. I met Robin’s colleagues and was excited to visit a courtroom. My communication with my mentor has been great. I think she does a very good job of meeting me where I’m at emotionally, time wise, etc. She is very supportive. I really appreciate all the effort she puts in sending words of encouragement.

Naeem Hopkins | Freshman | SFSU

The biggest challenges I faced this semester were studying, time management, and getting used to the college workload. I’m still learning how to study correctly, because at times, I’m my biggest distraction. I’m getting better at it. The workload was also an adjustment. Senior year at Berkeley High was pretty easy, and I got used to the light workload. At first I felt like I didn’t have enough time to finish the work professors gave me, but I was able to turn in all of my assignments on time and earn a 3.6 GPA. I accomplished finishing my first semester with all A’s and B’s.

Socially speaking, I struggled at first with not knowing anyone. I was so used to my small school community. We had been together for so long, they became like family to me. Starting over was tough at first. I was able to meet a lot of new people in my classes, and I got to hang out with some people who went to Berkeley High. This semester I didn’t make many new friends, but I definitely got to know more people. I also learned how to be by myself. I haven’t mastered it. Some days are still harder than others, but I’ve definitely learned how to be alone without necessarily feeling alone.

My mentor Jeff and I are cool. We talk quite a few times per month. It’s not too much or too little, and I enjoy how things are right now. If I have problems with something, he always gives solid advice. I appreciate him a lot. He’s been a good mentor.

The post A look at some updates from our freshmen scholars appeared first on Berkeley Community Fund.

On Friday, February 22, the newly established Alumni Council hosted an inaugural event– a fundraiser at local favorite, Spats, a bar in downtown Berkeley. BCF alumni and staff served as bartenders, and the tips collected throughout the evening will go directly to the Council. It was a fun-filled evening. We were thrilled to see so many friends, family members, alumni, and community members show up to support the Alumni Council’s endeavors.

Thanks to the plenteous tips (and one very generous donation) we raised nearly $3,000! With this money the Council plans to put on professional development workshops for recent BCF graduates, organize more community-building events, and eventually start an Alumni Council High Hopes Scholarship.

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported. We hope to see you at the next one. Check out the photo gallery below!

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The Berkeley Promise and the City of Berkeley’s efforts to end homelessness were both honored at the 9th Annual Chancellor’s Community Leaders Breakfast on February 13th for being “transformational community-driven initiatives.” Despite heavy rain, the event was attended by dozens of community and campus leaders. Chancellor Carol Christ and Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín offered introductory remarks both talking about the importance of the partnership between the city, the community, and the campus.

Joleen Ruffin, Executive Director of the Berkeley Community Fund (BCF) and Dr. Rowena Tomaneng, President of Berkeley City College (BCC) both spoke about the college access initiative and partnership. BCC, BCF and the City of Berkeley lead the Promise, in partnership with Berkeley Unified School District, UC Berkeley’s Community College Transfer Center, BAYER, and the East Bay Community Foundation. Key staff and partners in attendance were introduced including Program Coordinator, Fatima Rodriguez-Ortiz; Associate Dean for Academic Success at BCC, Martín De Mucha Flores; and Merryl Owen, Director of the Community College Transfer Center and Transfer Alliance Project at UC Berkeley.

In an inspiring end to the event, Berkeley Promise Scholar Kyra Duncan, a first year student at BCC, spoke of how grateful she is to be part of the program. She said, “being able to have constant support throughout my community college journey is important to me. And having some financial help is the icing on the cake. As a Berkeley Promise Scholar I plan to take full advantage of the opportunities that we will be introduced to…I also know that through this program, I will have the support to explore different opportunities and a good start to my college career.”

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The application for the 2019 Berkeley Promise Scholarship Program is now open! The Berkeley Promise is a college access and matriculation scholarship initiative designed to help Berkeley public school graduates advance on a path to earn a degree or certificate that starts with community college. Through the Berkeley Promise Scholarship Program, the BCF is awarding 25 scholarships in Fall 2018 which includes $1,500 paid directly to the student over 2 years (while in community college) and monthly group mentoring sessions to help students succeed. Promise Scholars who successfully transfer to a 4-year university will have the opportunity to apply for additional scholarship funds of $8,000 over 2 years.

For information about the program, visit our Berkeley Promise Program page.

To apply now, click here!

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The Berkeley Community Fund is thrilled to welcome our 11th class of High Hopes Scholars. This year we received a number of highly competitive applications, and we appreciate all of the effort the applicants demonstrated through each step of the process. Many impressive candidates applied, but the combination of academic accomplishments, community service, and life experiences decided our final 24. We also welcomed our first three Berkeley Promise transfer students who will be joining the 2019 cohort. We are excited to welcome our new scholars into our community and look forward to getting to know them this summer.

Please join us in welcoming the 2019 High Hopes Scholars at Awards Ceremony. RSVP here.

The 2019 Scholars

Segen Araya University of California, Los Angeles	Kiara Rock University of California, Santa Cruz
Jennifer Banh University of California, Santa Barbara	Daija Rogers-Breland California State University, Northridge
Daisy Bermudez Sonoma State University	Mitzy Rubio University of California, Berkeley
Giang Chung University of California, Merced	Grace Schafer Perry Occidental
Kadar Davis California State University, Northridge	Sukhdeep Singh San Francisco State University
Carlos Estrada Sacramento State University	Natalie Sowers Xavier University
Remalehua Faiva Sacramento State University	Lauren Spencer Claremont/McKenna College
Leonardo Garcia University of California, Santa Barbara	Zorion Sudjian-Lampkin California State University, Long Beach
Sebastian Johnson San Francisco State University	Ryan Walton University of California, Los Angeles
Aracely Medina-Garcia University of California, Davis	Ruofeng Wang University of California, Berkeley
Sophia Morbidelli University of Oregon	Iman Aledlah \| Berkeley Promise Transfer San Francisco State University
Blessing Ntekume University of California, Riverside	Suna Tamang \| Berkeley Promise Transfer University of California, Davis
Marcos Ortigoza Sonoma State University	Shem Tekeste \| Berkeley Promise Transfer University of California, Berkeley
Luis Ramirez San Francisco State

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Today we’re saying a fond farewell to Joleen Ruffin as Executive Director of the Berkeley Community Fund.

We’re also pleased to announce we have hired our new Executive Director, Sherry Smith, whose stellar career has been devoted to college access and success programs for students like those BCF supports in our High Hopes and Promise Scholarship programs. You’ll “meet” Sherry in next week’s e-news from BCF. Today we’re extending our thanks and appreciation for Joleen’s visionary leadership and deft management of the Berkeley Community Fund during the past six years.

It’s been an honor and a joy to work with Joleen, who demonstrated a commitment to BCF’s mission, vision, and values in all of her work. With resource constraints typical of nonprofits, Joleen succeeded in accomplishing the organizational goals she set for herself when we hired her in May 2013: She streamlined systems and processes; increased the caliber and types of support our programs provide to our scholars; increased the visibility of BCF in the community; and developed partnerships with other organizations and the City of Berkeley. While she always had her eye on the bottom line, it was Joleen’s awareness of the needs of the community BCF serves her long-range perspective and her persistence that led BCF to launch its Promise Program — a program that builds upon the proven model of our High Hopes Program.

Joleen has much to be proud of. During her tenure, BCF grew the college graduation and persistence rate of its High Hopes Scholars to 90%, increased the number of scholarships granted each year, and had a positive impact on the lives of many Berkeley families whose children received High Hopes and Promise Scholarships. Joleen nurtured and built community with BCF’s board, staff, mentors, and supporters.

With her signature grace and professionalism, Joleen also gave BCF ample time for a well-planned transition to new leadership and continued success. Sherry joined the BCF team earlier this month and has been able to work side-by-side with Joleen for several days while she wraps up previous commitments. Sherry will be completely on-board with BCF starting July 23. We’re thrilled to be working with her.

Joleen, we will miss you, but we know you’ll stay in touch. We look forward to seeing you at our gala on September 28.

– Ann Smulka, President, Board of Directors

The post Farewell Joleen appeared first on Berkeley Community Fund.

Please join us for a hike and hangout to welcome our new scholars and mentors into the BCF Family.

We’ll meet at 10:00 am for introductions. Those who wish to hike will leave at 10:15 am. (The hike is about an hour and 15 mins. and there is some uphill climbing). If you want to hang out, but aren’t as interested in hiking, we will have blankets and games to relax and chill.

If you’d like to feed the animals or go for a swim in Lake Anza after the hike, bring a bathing suit and some celery for the animals and make a day of it.

Click to RSVP

Hike and Hangout Details:
When: Sunday, August 11th
Time: 10:00am-1:00pm (Hikers leave at 10:15am)

Meeting spot: Little Farm parking lot in Tilden Park, Berkeley
Park in the Little Farm Lot – on Central Park Dr. We will meet in the large field in front of the parking lot (On the map, it is called Tilden Park Indian Camp). Click Tilden Park Indian Camp for driving directions and map.

Please bring a bag lunch and water. BCF will provide snacks. Family members who are interested in hiking are welcome.

Questions? Contact Lynn @ (510) 463-1848 or Linda @ (510) 900-9541. Cell reception in Tilden is spotty, however, there is reception at Little Farm.

The post Annual Hike & Hangout appeared first on Berkeley Community Fund.

The Berkeley Community Fund has announced that Berkeleyside co-founders Frances Dinkelspiel, Lance Knobel, and Tracey Taylor have been selected to receive the 2019 Benjamin Ide Wheeler Award.

The award recognizes the trio’s vision and steadfastness in creating a news site that thousands of Berkeley netizens rely on for hyper-local news as it happens as well as for coverage of city council, commission and school board meetings, elections, public safety issues, the changing landscape of the city, local business, and local arts and entertainment. It will be granted at BCF’s annual benefit dinner gala on September 28, 2019.

“Since the time Berkeleyside was founded in 2009, we’ve witnessed increasing media consolidation, the closure of local newspapers across the country, reduced funding for investigative reporting, layoffs at national media outlets, and polarizing cries of fake news,” said Ann Smulka, president of the Berkeley Community Fund. “In Berkeley, where we value engaged citizenry and objective information to help us make wise decisions, we’re fortunate to have Berkeleyside as a trusted news source.”

The Benjamin Ide Wheeler Medal was established in 1929 by the Service Clubs Council of Berkeley to recognize and honor a member of the Berkeley community who has provided years of distinguished service, in any field of activity, which has benefitted the quality of life for a significant number of people in Berkeley. It is named after a University of California president who was an outstanding figure in the Berkeley community — an active leader, statesman, and accomplished scholar — and best known for transforming the school from a small land grant college into a world-renowned university. President Wheeler recognized that the fundamental basis for democracy is drawn from healthy local communities. The Berkeley Community Fund assumed responsibility for granting the award to “Berkeley’s Most Useful Citizen” in 1994.

Dinkelspiel, Knobel, and Taylor join a long list of Wheeler Award recipients who have had a remarkable impact on the City of Berkeley in a wide range of areas: the arts, civil rights, education, environmental protection, human rights, mental and public health, mosquito abatement, philanthropy, scientific discovery, social justice, and the undergrounding of BART. The first medalist was William H. Waste, a California Supreme Court Justice who was a co-founder and the first president of the Berkeley Public Library and a co-founder and president of the Berkeley YMCA, local institutions which continue to be as important to the fabric of the Berkeley community today as they were 90-years ago. The Berkeleyside co-founders are the first news publishers and journalists to receive the award. Like all of the Wheeler recipients before them, they remind us that Berkeley is filled with people who are committed to the greater good and who make the city such a unique place to live and work.

ABOUT THE AWARDS DINNER

The Berkeley Community Fund’s annual dinner brings together a cross-section of people from the greater East Bay to celebrate one of the things we love best about Berkeley: It is a small city with big ideas, a big heart, and big impact. The festive event is the major fundraiser for the Berkeley Community Fund’s college scholarship programs for Berkeley youth. Tickets and sponsorship information are available here or by calling (510) 486-8413

ABOUT THE BERKELEY COMMUNITY FUND

The Berkeley Community Fund is a charitable nonprofit organization founded in 1991 by a group whose love for Berkeley and for a community of hope and equity inspired them to set up a fund that would reflect their goals. Based on our belief in the importance of higher education to improve economic and social mobility, since 2008 all donations support our needs-based college scholarship and mentoring programs for motivated Berkeley youth from lower-income families. The graduation/persistence rate of our High Hopes Scholars pursuing a bachelor’s degree, most of whom are in the first generation of their family to attend college, is 90%. The scholars embody the spirit and values of our unique city and will be ambassadors for years to come.

Join us in honoring Frances, Lance, & Tracey

Purchase Tickets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

CONTACT:
Sherry Smith, Executive Director
(510) 542-2126 sherry@berkfund.org
or
Ann Smulka, Board President
(510) 316-4642 ann@berkfund.org

Download this press release

The post Berkeleyside to Be Honored at 2019 Annual Gala appeared first on Berkeley Community Fund.

In observance of National Mentoring Month, we honored our High Hopes mentors at the 2nd Annual Mentor Appreciation event on January 20th.

We observe this every day in our program and we are very thankful for ALL of our BCF mentors!

The post BCF Mentors Honored During National Mentoring Month appeared first on Berkeley Community Scholars.

At the end of each semester, all of our High Hopes Scholars submit an update reflecting on their past several months of school. The following are a few stories selected from our 2018 cohort.