SPRING 2019 INSIDE TALK Justice Consortium Parents Talk About Planning for College Brotherly Love College Issue The Sheila Rawlings Page 21 Tamara Allen-Thomas Page 22 Daved Richardson Page 16 Chancellor Greenstein Page 18INSIDE TALK 04 College News 06 Talk Across PA 08 Business News 10 Latino News 12 Health News 14 TMAG 2019 Black History Celebration 16 Consortium for Justice Works Can A School be its Own Village? pg 20 2 | TALK MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2018 Spring 2019 Interview with Chancellor Greenstein pg 18 Penn Hills pg 22PUBLISHER’S NOTES Th is issue of Talk Magazine has an interview with the new Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor Dr. Daniel Greenstein. He shares his plans for Pennsylvania›s higher education at 14 state universities and colleges. As part of the education issue, there is information with help on developing a strategy for receiving financial aid and tips on maximizing tuition packages. A recent study completed by Fidelity Investments and MEFA found that most parents don›t discuss paying for college with their children and the importance of having that conversation. Talk encourages college-age students to share the burden of paying for higher education with their parents by researching scholarships, grants and in-state schools. Inside, we share a list of aff ordable schools in PA and for PA residents are least the expensive in-state colleges to consider. We want you to be aware, in 2020, the White House proposal to cut education funding by $62 billion dollars as the cost of higher education continues to escalate and those cuts include federal student aid funding. Also, in this issue we feature an article by Austin Premier on «Can a School be its own Village» and an interview with the Principal and Chief Academic Officer of the Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship Tamara Allen-Th omas. If you are preparing your child or if you know someone on their way to college, make sure they go online and read this issue of Talk Magazine – www.talkmagazineonline.com. Th e LJS Group / Talk Magazine / TMAG Luther J. Sewell, Jr. / Publisher Roxanne N. Sewell / President & Editor theLULAdesigns / Graphic Design & Layout Tené Croom / Contributing Writer Austin Premier / Contributing Writer Diane I. Daniels / Photographer PO Box 143 Monroeville, PA 15146-0143 (P) 412.823.4007 info@talkmagazineonline.com www.talkmagazineonline.com4 | TALK MAGAZINE • SPRING 2019 COLLEGE NEWS THIEL Thiel College hosted Callie Crossley, a Wood- row Wilson Fellow, Academy Award-nominated documentary director and television commenta- tor based in Boston. Crossley attended various classes and other events with students and members of the Thiel community. Her visit concluded with her dis- cussion on diversity, “A Conversation with Callie Crossley.” A former producer for ABC News 20/20, Crossley is also a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow, guest lecturing at colleges and universities about media literacy, media and politics and the intersection of race, gender and media. Crossley is the host of the WGBH radio show “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley,” which airs during the WGBH Morn- ing Edition and often hosts Basic Black, a radio show that details events in the community geared towards people of color. “We are thrilled to con- nect our students with some- one as accomplished and respected as Callie Crossley. She had a full schedule of meeting with students and talking with members of our campus family,” Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Liz Frombgen, Ph.D., said. “She shared her perspectives with us. Her engagements and meet- ings were all purposefully designed as interactive and collaborative meetings rather than lecture-style arrange- ments with students, faculty and staff members.” MILLERSVILLE Dr. Christopher Emdin, creator of the #HipHopEd social media movement, was key- note speaker at the Anna Funk Lockey Lecture. Emdin is an associate professor in the Depart- ment of Mathematics, Science and Technology at Columbia University. The topic of this year’s Anna Funk Lockey Lecture is “Keep the Crossover.” Emdin will emphasize the importance of creating a cultural- ly-integrated, inclusive classroom that encourages individuality while adding to student’s collective academic success. In addition to his position at Columbia, Emdin also serves as associate director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education. He is the author of the award-winning book “Urban Science Education for the Hip-Hop Generation,” and the New York Times Best Seller, ”For White Folks Who Teach In The Hood and the Rest of Ya’ll Too.” He is the creator of the Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S. The White House, under President Barack Obama, honored Emdin as a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathe- matics (STEM) Access Champion of Change. In addition, the National Association of Multicul- tural Educators named him the 2015 Multicul- tural Educator of the Year. Emdin has also served as a minorities in energy ambassador for the United States Department of Energy. TEMPLE University trustee Leonard Barrack, for- mer men’s basketball coach Fran Dunphy and world-champion Bernard Hopkins are among those to be recognized at the ceremony. Former world-champion boxer Bernard Hopkins, former Temple men’s basketball coach Fran Dunphy and longtime university trustee Leonard Barrack, FOX ’65, LAW ’68, received honorary degrees from Temple University during its 132nd Commencement ceremony. The three received doctor of humane letters degrees during the celebration, held at the Liacouras Center. The university will confer three additional hon- orary degrees at separate school and college ceremonies. In a tradition dating to the early 1890s, Temple bestows honorary degrees upon leaders from many backgrounds and fields whose achievements exemplify the university’s ideals and mission. The university has awarded nearly 900 honorary degrees throughout its history. CHATHAM Chatham University, found- ed in 1869, is proudly celebrat- ing its 150th anniversary in 2019. To honor this milestone, Chatham has planned a year- long celebration that highlights the school’s pioneering con- tributions to the past, present, and future of sustainability and health, women’s leadership and gender equity, and transforma- tive opportunities in liberal arts education, in Pittsburgh and beyond. Callie Crossley at Thiel College Dr. Christopher Emdin continued on page 28 continued on page 28WWW.TALKMAGAZINEONLINE.COM | 5 COLLEGE NEWS LINCOLN Our perspectives shape how we see and react to the world around us, Marrix Seymore Sr., Lin- coln University’s dean of education, told students during the Honors Convocation. “It’s important to understand that maintaining perspective is practical and critical,” he said. “You have to have a clear view of the big picture.” Nearly 400 awards were presented during the 90-minute program, with a number of students winning more than one honor. “It’s my honor to stand before you to address this robust body of honorees,” Seymore said at the beginning of his remarks, “representing (over) 50 graduate and undergraduate programs of study.” LU President Jerald Jones Woolfolk told the stu- dents: “This is an amazing accomplishment for you, and I am very proud of you. It is because of your choices that you are seated where you are.” LA ROCHE La Roche College is proud to announce that the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved its application to become La Roche University, effective immediately. Sister Candace Introcaso, CDP, Ph.D., president of La Roche, announced the transition during a celebration for students, faculty and staff. Alumni and friends from across the country and world joined the president for the announcement via Facebook Live. “Changing our designation and name to La Roche University is the fulfillment of a vision that many on campus have shared for several years. This approval to become a university is recognition of how far La Roche has come. What began as a school for religious women in 1963 with seven students in its first graduating class is now a university that offers 66 undergraduate programs of study, six master’s degrees and one doctoral degree. Our 14,000 plus alumni live in every state in the U.S. and in 65 countries around the world,” President Introcaso said. University status will support a growing student population and new academic programs, and it will help La Roche market its offerings to students unfamiliar with its reputation, both do- mestically and abroad. Additionally, the creation of the La Roche University Lifelong Learning Center will provide academic enrichment and other experiential learning opportunities that enhance the lives of local residents. CACC The Community College of Allegheny County was proud to receive a 2018 Innovation of the Year Award from the League for Innova- tion in the Community College. Presented at the League’s Innovation Conference, the awards were granted to 46 community colleges across the nation for outstanding innovations that serve community college students. Receiving the award on behalf of the college were Dr. Evon Walters, president, CCAC Allegh- eny Campus; James Messer, chief officer, CCAC Facilities; Megan Rice, director, CCAC Dr. Marrix Seymore, Sr., Lincoln University, Dean of Education (from the left): Dr. Evon Walters, Surbhi Sharma, Dr. Rufus Glasper, Megan Rice, James Messer, Dr. Michael Ayewoh continued on page 28 continued on page 28TALK ACROSS PA 6 | TALK MAGAZINE • SPRING 2019 PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh-area lawmakers today released the following statement regarding the acquittal of former East Pittsburgh Police Officer Michael Rosfeld, who fatally shot Antwon Rose II, an unarmed black teenager, in the back last summer. “First and foremost, our deepest sympathies go out to Michelle Kenny and Antwon Rose Sr. as well as the rest of Antwon’s family and friends. Our community lost a 17-year-old boy. We will continue to mourn this senseless and pointless loss of the life. The life he lived as well as the life he could’ve gone on to live.” “While no verdict can bring Antwon back, we had hoped to see justice for his murder. Unfortu- nately, there will be no justice for Antwon. This outcome, while extremely disappointing, is far from surprising. Our region has a troubling history of racial injustices. The loss of an unarmed Antwon with no punishment for the police officer who shot him three times as he tried to flee will be added to that history.” “Martin Luther King Jr. once said that ‘True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.’ There is no justice in across our region today. There is no justice for Antwon and his family. There is no justice for the communities of color that are continually revictimized when they see a family member, friend, neighbor or coworker needlessly lose their life with no punishment for those who acted aggressively or carelessly.” “There will not be justice until we demand justice through legislative and civil actions. We en- courage all those feeling despondent, angry and hurt to stand together and support one another. Though there is no justice for Antwon today, we are resolute that the system can be changed to ensure justice in the future.” Signed, Rep. Jake Wheatley, Rep. Ed Gainey, Rep. Austin Davis, Rep. Summer Lee, County Councilman Dewitt Walton and City Council- man Daniel Lavelle HARRISBURG House lawmakers joined PennEnvironment recently to announce a package of bills aimed at addressing single-use plastics, pervasive issues of litter and the various environmental harms caused by a “throwaway” society. Legislation in the “Zero Waste PA” package works to address issues created by a disposable society including single-use plastics such as straws, plastic bags and Styrofoam takeout food containers, electronic waste, funding Pennsylva- nia’s recycling programs and more. “We can no longer ignore the growing waste problem that is threatening our environment. My colleagues and I have introduced a package of bills that, together, address this problem from a number of angles,” said Rep. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery. “By encouraging the use of more naturally biode- gradable materials, addressing issues with the way we recycle, and finding ways to support environ- mentally friendly practices, we can help preserve our planet for future generations.” The measures that would be addressed in the package include: • Prohibiting food establishments from using polystyrene containers to distribute prepared foods. (Rep. Tim Briggs) • Dissuading litterers and illegal dumpers by increasing the fines and penalties for those caught illegally throwing away their garbage. (Rep. Donna Bullock) • Prohibiting establishments from offering plas- tic straws except upon the customer’s request. (Rep. Mary Jo Daley) • Increasing the disposal fee for municipal waste landfills from $4 per ton to $8 per ton to help support important conservation and environ- mental protection programs. (Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler) • Increasing the recycling fee that landfill operators pay from $2 per ton to $5 per ton on waste received at their landfills, the first increase in 30 years. (Rep. Mary Isaacson) • Authorizing counties that have recycling programs to collect a recycling and waste management fee of up to $4 per ton, to be used to create and maintain new or existing recycling programs, programs to clean up illegal dumping sites or litter, and/or programs for alternative energy. (Rep. Patty Kim) • Significantly diverting organic waste from our landfills and incinerators and spurring a market for organic waste composting (Rep. Danielle Friel Otten) • Establishing a statewide cigarette filter up- cycling initiative, where a 20-cent, partially reimbursed deposit on each pack of cigarettes sold in Pennsylvania would be used for collec- tion centers and safe reuse. (Rep. Chris Rabb) • Ensuring that producers of plastic packaging take responsibility for the decisions they make by requiring that they cannot sell or distribute plastic packaging in Pennsylvania unless they are part of a recycling program to take it back. (Rep. Melissa Shusterman) • Providing for a fee of two cents on each non-reusable plastic bag used by purchasers of consumer goods at retail establishments grossing over $1 million annually to support recycling. (Rep. Brian Sims and Rep. Jared Solomon) • Creating a 5-cent beverage bottle and can de- posit program in Pennsylvania. (Rep. Wendy Ullman) • Encouraging the use of reusable water bottles by requiring that newly constructed state buildings, as well as existing state buildings undergoing renovations to water and pipe in- frastructure, install water bottle filling stations. (Rep. Perry Warren) • Addressing Pennsylvania’s failing electron- ic waste recycling law by taking from best practices implemented in other states to make Pennsylvania’s law effective. (Rep. Mike Zabel) In the coming months, the lawmakers will be building co-sponsorship support for these mea- sures and holding local events in their districts related to the package. PITTSBURGH Governor Tom Wolf recently appointed Theo- dore W. “Ted” Johnson chairman of the Pennsyl- vania Board of Probation and Parole. Johnson has served as a board member since 2016. “I am pleased to appoint Ted, a seasoned and ex- perienced professional working with the inmate and parolee population in Pennsylvania, who will take on the responsibility of chairman of the Pennsyl- vania Board of Probation and Parole,” Gov. Wolf (left) Rep. Summer Lee, (right) Rep. Austin Davis Theodore Johnson PA State Reps. Wheatley, Lee, Davis and Gainey (left to right) (left) Rep. Jake Wheatley, (right) Rep. Edward GaineyTALK ACROSS PA WWW.TALKMAGAZINEONLINE.COM | 7 said in a press release about the appointment. Statute states that the board chair “shall direct the operations of the Board and fulfill the functions established by the Act. Preside at all meetings of the Boar and perform all the duties and functions of the chair thereof.” The board serves as the exclusive and indepen- dent decision-making body with regard to deci- sions to parole, re-parole, commit and recommit for violations of parole and to discharge persons sentenced by any court at any time to imprison- ment in a correctional institution. Johnson, an Erie native and Pittsburgh resident, most recently served as deputy director of THE PROGRAM for Offenders, Inc., in Pittsburgh, and has served as an adjunct profes- sor teaching undergraduate courses in criminal justice and intelligence studies at Point Park University. PHILADELPHIA The Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program announced the 2019-2020 class of the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence, a leadership program aimed at preparing the next generation of communi- ty college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success, both in college and in the labor market. Dr. David E. Thomas, associate vice president of strategic initiatives at Community College of Philadelphia is the only educator in Pennsylvania to be included in this distinguished group. Thomas joined Community College of Philadelphia in 2010 as dean of the Division of Access and Community Engagement. In 2015, he assumed the additional roles of associate vice president of strategic initiatives, executive director for the Institute for Community Engage- ment and Civic Leadership, and manager of the College’s record label, Spring Garden Records. Under his leadership, the College founded the Institute for Community Engagement and Civic Leadership, which has taken on critical issues ranging from support of fostering youth to voter registration and citizen engagement campaigns. The College adopted Spring Garden School, promoting college as a destination for elemen- tary school students. Additionally, the Division provided leadership in creating new dual enroll- ment opportunities for Philadelphia high school students. More than 1,400 high school students took classes between fall and spring semester last year. The College and the School District of Philadelphia created the only four-year middle college of its kind in the Commonwealth. The select group of 40 Aspen Presidential Fellows will embark on a 10-month fellowship beginning in July 2019. Delivered in collabora- tion with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative, the fellows will work with mentors – current and former community college presidents – who have achieved exceptional outcomes for students throughout their careers. Fellows will also learn from national experts about ways to harness data to assess student success outcomes, strategies for internal change leadership, and how to create strong external partnerships with K-12 schools, four-year colleges, and employers. “Evidence shows that substantial improvements in student success are achieved only when presi- dents have the commitment and skill needed to lead change within their institutions and through partnerships in the community,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program. “These fellows have been cho- sen because they embody that commitment and, we believe, will build their skills even further to become transformational presidents.” LANSDOWNE Residents gathered for East Lansdowne Borough’s second annual Easter egg hunt, held in the playground of the borough’s elementary school. A small gathering of children, aged two to 10 years, attended the event along with their parents. Organizers believed more would have come had it not been raining. With baskets in tow, the eager children cheered as the event’s special guest, the Easter Bunny, arrived. Multi-colored sunglasses, graffiti book bags, bubbles, and other toys were laid across tables, while multi-colored eggs, filled with tickets and candy, were spread across the playground. The chairman of the borough’s Recreation Committee, Councilman Joseph Williams, said the committee plans events like this to gauge the level of participation from residents. “I like to see how many people we are getting at these events,” Williams said. Williams said the committee takes data collected from events to Council meetings and discuss what took place and how they can better plan for future events. CLARION Larry C. Pickett has been reappointed to the Clarion University Council of Trustees. Pickett first served on the Council of Trustees from 2009 to 2012 and was reappointed in 2018. Pickett, a 2012 New Pittsburgh Courier “Men of Excellence” honoree, is a Process Improvement Project Manager for the Finance Division at Carnegie Mellon University. He’s responsible for managing projects that support Process Improve- ment (PI) initiatives, including system imple- mentations at CMU. He uses statistical analysis, LEAN and Six Sigma methodologies to provide expert PI and project management services to complex projects at CMU. Pickett is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and certified project manager. He leads projects from their original state to final implementation integrating structured methodologies and using industry standards. Pickett develops, analyzes and presents data evidence and solutions to CMU senior leadership and key business partners. He also manages processes designed to im- prove payroll systems. As a member of the Council of Trustees, Pick- ett serves as Chairman of the Facilities Commit- tee and member of the Presidential Leadership Review Committee. Responsibilities include the establishment of academic programs and approv- al of operating and capital budgets. Pickett earned an M.B.A. with emphasis in Management of Technologies from California University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. degree in Leadership and Liberal Studies from Duquesne University, and a B.A. degree from Clarion Uni- versity. Dr. David E. Thomas Larry C. Pickett Lansdowne Easter Egg HuntNext >