Berkeley

Demystifying UC Berkeley for Minorities, Veterans, Disabled, Women, LGBTQ and Formerly Incarcerated

Published

10 years ago

March 24, 2015

By Troy Williams

African Americans represent approximately 20 percent of the men and women in the Army and Marines, and 17 percent of the Air Force and Navy, according to the Military Times. However, as of April 2014, African Americans only represent 3.4 percent of the population at the UC Berkeley.

The mission of Cal Armed Forces Alumni (CAFA) is to reflect the diversity of the military at UC Berkeley. To do so, Raymond Banks, CAFA President, employs a variety of strategies and programs so that members of CAFA can help all veterans, women, the disabled, the socioeconomically disadvantaged, LGBTQ, formerly incarcerated, and communities of color gain admission into the university.

Banks, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, in collaboration with Dr. Tony Mirabelli, a professor in the School of Education at UC Berkeley, has piloted a concurrent enrollment cohort of two students: a formerly incarcerated veteran and myself. Banks also acknowledges the support of Fabrizio Mejia, ED of Centers for Educational Equity & Excellence.

The program is intended to provide academic support based on the tutoring model of the Athletic Study Center.

As students, we support each other. If and when we encounter difficulties, we have the assistance of a program tutor. Just as important, this program is demystifying Cal. I have been able to network, access resources, and acclimate to a very challenging academic environment.

Banks offered me the invitation while attending an Open Gate function, which works with formerly incarcerated men and women pursuing higher education at the College of Alameda.

The class I am enrolled in is “Academic Support Services for Student Athletes.” It explores the historical development of academic support services specifically tailored for student athletes, and examines the role of college sports at universities.

“The role of colleges is to ensure that student athletes graduate academically prepared,” said Professor Mirabelli.

Personally, I have found a lot of similarities between the monitoring of student-athletes and the monitoring of parolees, but this is cause for another story.

On March 31, CAFA will host a special event to honor and celebrate the success of women veterans and current women service members, as well as raise awareness of the challenges they face.

Laura Westphal, vice president of External Affairs for CAFA, talked about some of the challenges women veterans face.

She said, “We as women tend to go unsung at times being that our societal norm is to acknowledge and focus on the large population of men veterans and soldiers. We’ve had to work harder to show that we were tough enough, strong enough and were as resilient as our male counter parts.”

For more information on the Cal Armed Forces Alumni, visit http://my.berkeley.edu/site/Clubs?club_id=2200&pg=main

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Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., who has served as Progressive Missionary’s pastor since September 1977, said the church also delights in the fact that it has hosted only five pastors in its 90-year history, including Pastors James E. Moore, H. A. Green, F. Douglas Farrell, and Edward Stovall, who served for 37 years.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 16, 2025

Oakland Post

Progressive Missionary Baptist Poster. Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., Pastor of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Berkeley with his wife, Kay Frances Stuckey.

By Oakland Post Staff

The Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley is celebrating its 90th church anniversary on Sunday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at 3301 King Street in Berkeley.

The celebration will feature Pastor Darnell Manuel of the Union Baptist Church in Vallejo as guest speaker, along with many other special presentations.

Those who wish to share in Progressive’s history can purchase a 100-page full-colored souvenir book for $25.

The church boasts a number of notable people who either regularly attended or became members of the church since its inception, including former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor, and one of the organizers of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Helen J. H. Stephens.

Pastor Stuckey often remarks how longevity flourishes at the church — it boasts 13 centenarians (people who have reached 100 years or more). Currently, it has one centenarian who is still surviving, Mrs. Dorothy Chambers, and 14 members who have reached 90 years or more.

Recently, on Feb.17, the pastor and his wife Kay Frances, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.

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Activism

Faces Around the Bay: Author Karen Lewis Took the ‘Detour to Straight Street’

“My life has been a roller-coaster with an unlimited ride wristband! I was raised in Berkeley during the time of Ron Dellums, the Black Panthers, and People’s Park. I was a Hippie kid, my Auntie cut off all our hair so we could wear the natural styles like her and Angela Davis.

Published

1 month ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Karen Lewis. Courtesy photo.

By Barbara Fluhrer

I met Karen Lewis on a park bench in Berkeley. She wrote her story on the spot.

I got married young, then ended up getting divorced, raising two boys into men. After my divorce, I had a stroke that left me blind and paralyzed. I was homeless, lost in a fog with blurred vision.

Jesus healed me! I now have two beautiful grandkids. At 61, this age and this stage, I am finally free indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I now know how to be still. I lay at his feet. I surrender and just rest. My life and every step on my path have already been ordered. So, I have learned in this life…it’s nice to be nice. No stressing, just blessings. Pray for the best and deal with the rest.

Nobody is perfect, so forgive quickly and love easily!”

Lewis’ book “Detour to Straight Street” is available on Amazon.

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Activism

Golden State Warriors Program Is Inspiring Next Generation of Female Engineers

Breaking down barriers and biases that deter young girls from pursuing STEAM subjects is essential for creating a level playing field and ensuring equal opportunities for all. By challenging stereotypes and promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity in STEAM fields, experts believe young girls can be empowered to pursue their interests and aspirations without limitations confidently. Encouraging mentorship, providing access to resources, and celebrating girls’ achievements in STEAM are all crucial steps in creating a supportive environment that fosters success.

Published

2 months ago

March 23, 2025

Oakland Post

Front Row: UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team Back Row: Girls, Inc. Participants. Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

The Golden State Warriors and e-commerce giant Rakuten are joining forces to inspire the next generation of female engineers through Building STEAM Futures, part of The City Calls campaign.

Organizers say the initiative is founded on the idea that science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) are crucial fields for innovation and progress, and empowering young girls to pursue careers in these areas is more important than ever. Studies consistently show that girls are underrepresented in STEAM fields, resulting in a gender disparity that limits potential and hinders diversity.

On Saturday, March 8, International Women’s Day, the Warriors and Rakuten hosted 20 middle school girls from Girls Inc. of Alameda County at Chase Center’s Above the Rim for a hands-on bridge-building experience. The young girls from Girls, Inc. of Alameda County had an opportunity to design, build and test their own bridge prototypes and learn the fundamentals of bridge construction from the Engineering Alliance and the UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team.

This STEAM experience for the girls followed the first session in January, where they took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, learning about its design and construction from industry experts. The City Calls campaign, tipped off with the unveiling the Warriors’ new bridge-themed City Edition jerseys and court design earlier this year.