2nd Annual Public Policy Institute Spring Symposium Urban Youth: Fostering Success through GRIT May
13-16th, 2013 Roundtable & Performance: A Triumph! Mon, May 13 | 7-10pm | $100 donation | The Broad Theatre The opening event of this year's symposium showcased our 21 2013 graduates at a reception in the College's beautiful gallery. Following the reception, this first program kicked off the week's thematic policy issues related to urban youth through a performance brought to the college by leaders from The Children’s Partnership and First Place for Youth. The sold-out audience at the Broad sat enthralled as young adults from The Possibility Project who had transitioned out of foster care presented their own stories through original book and music. Our primary partners for this event were The Children’s Partnership, First Place for Youth, The Possibility Project, and The Broad Theatre.
Campus Lecture Tue, May 14 | 11:15am-12:35pm | free | SMC HSS 165 This campus lecture featured the symposium’s keynote speaker, author Paul Tough. Mr. Tough is the author of How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, which enjoyed 12 weeks on the New York Times best seller list. Mr. Tough is a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine, where he has written extensively about educating, parenting, poverty, and politics. His work is the basis of Santa Monica College’s GRIT Initiative.
Keynote Luncheon Tue, May 14 | 12:45-2pm | by invitation | SMC HSS 301 After the campus lecture, Mr. Tough joined invited campus administrators and faculty leaders, Associated Students, and PPI donors for a luncheon conversation on urban youth and the college’s GRIT Initiative.
Keynote Seminar Tue, May 14 | 3-5pm | by invitation | SMC HSS 301 This small group seminar featured Mr. Tough and is designed for the benefit of campus leaders engaged in the development and implementation of the college’s GRIT Initiative. Dr. Eric Oifer, SMC GRIT Initiative faculty leader, will facilitate the seminar.
Community Keynote Address Tue, May 14 | 7-9pm | free | John Adams Middle School Auditorium 2425 16th St., Santa Monica CA 90405 at Pearl Street This community lecture was delivered by Mr. Tough as the symposium’s premier town-gown event. Mr. Tough’s talk focused on his work and our community’s commitment to public policies that address the needs of urban youth. Our primary partners in the community lecture are the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District, the SMMUSD Parent Teacher Association, the City of Santa Monica and its Cradle to Career Initiative, and the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.
Film Night and Roundtable Wed, May 15 | screenings 4:30pm and 8:00pm; Singleton LIVE 6:30pm | free | Laemmle’s Monica 4-Plex, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica 90401 The symposium’s film night screening of award winning director, John Singleton’s 1991 Boyz ‘N the Hood was followed by a roundtable retrospective on urban youth and violence led by Mr. Singleton. Our primary partners for this event are the SMC Associated Students, the City of Santa Monica, and SMMUSD.
Roundtable: Hearing, Reflecting & Advocating: Municipalities and Youth Services Thu, May 16 | 11:15am-12:35 pm | free | SMC HSS 165 This roundtable discussion featured community leaders from the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council, the City of Santa Monica, local non-profits, and young people living in our community. The goal is to identify and discuss the needs of our community’s youth and possible public policy responses.
Roundtable Luncheon Thu, May 16 | 12:45-2:00pm | by invitation | SMC HSS 301 After the campus roundtable, presenters joined invited guests in luncheon “Table Talk” facilitated by the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council to map out possible policy improvements in support of our community’s needs surrounding youth services.
Community Forum on Foster Youth Thu, May 16 | 7-9pm | free | Bundy Campus How public policy decisions made at the local level affect the lives of foster youth—for better or for worse. Panelists : CA Assembly Member Holly Mitchell, chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Foster Youth, USC Assoc. Dean Wendy Smith, author of Youth Leaving Foster Care: A Developmental, Relationship-Based Approach to Practice, and James Williams, former foster youth and spokesperson for the California Youth Connection. This one-hour panel discussion was riveting, and was followed by a robust, one-hour audience discussion. Moderated by SMC Policy Institute Founding Director, Sheila Kuehl.
THE PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE AT SANTA MONICA COLLEGE In January, 2010, a new public policy institute was created at Santa Monica College and I am privileged to be its Founding Director. The Institute presents an exciting opportunity for civic engagement and collaboration. The mission of the Institute is to engage educational, government, service sector and business leaders, students, faculty and policy makers in programs and endeavors related to issues relevant to the communities of Los Angeles County, and beyond. The Institute continuously explores and analyzes social, environmental, political and economic issues in local communities and create a center for civic engagement, community education and collaboration providing educational opportunities, public programming and continuing education. Benefactors, Sponsors and Supporters • You are invited to become a Benefactor of the Institute at the $500 level, a Sponsor at $250 or a Supporter at the $100 level with preferred seating at all events and receptions. Please email me at Kuehl.Website@gmail.com to support this innovative institute. Thank you! The Institute has three areas of emphasis: One: Community Education and Engagement. I call this “critical thinking for voters”. In order to engage community members, the Institute produces a number of community fora which bring prestigious and compelling panelists to address the community and give the participants opportunities for feedback, discussion and education. . OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS: FEBRUARY 2013 COMMUNITY FORUM PROP 13: TO CHANGE OR NOT TO CHANGE? This popular program presented a first-look, hot-off-the-press preview of the upcoming policy discussions on whether—and how—to change California’s Prop. 13, featuring a trio of stellar panelists: Lenny Goldberg, Executive Director of the California Tax Reform Association Michele Prichard, Director, Common Agenda at the Liberty Hill Foundation and Senior Advisor to California Calls, a voter education and organizing nonprofit; and Jennifer Ito, Project Manager at USC’s Program for Environmental and Regional Equity. Founding SMC PPI Director Sheila Kuehl moderated the panel. You can see a recording of this program at http://www.youtube.com/watc?v=ErHmnIOIc7w NOVEMBER, 2012 COMMUNITY FORUM CEQA, ANGEL OR DEVIL? The California Environmental Quality Act is currently at the center of a struggle over environmental regulation. What is CEQA? What was it meant to do? Is it protecting the environment or simply being used to block development? What is the real scoop on this groundbreaking California law? Join our stellar panel: Mike Woo, Dean, College of Environmental Design, Cal Poly, Pomona Former City Councilmember, City of Los Angeles Bill Craven, Chief Counsel, CA Senate Comm. on Resources & Water Gail Goldberg, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute, Los Angeles Former planning director, cities of L.A. & San DiegoSEPTEMBER 2012 COMMUNITY FORUM "WHY DO CITIES GO BANKRUPT?" In one stunning two-week period, and only in California, the cities of San Bernardino, Stockton and Mammoth Lakes plunged into bankruptcy. Join our stellar panel to consider cause and effect--why some cities go bankrupt and some do not--what it means when a city enters bankruptcy--and what happens to those who rely on the cities for services, not only residents and employees, but also non-profits and others who provide services under city contracts. Our up-to-the-minute panel presentation will be followed by a robust audience discussion. Rick Cole, City Manager, Ventura; former City Manager, Azusa; former Mayor of Pasadena. Sonia Caravalho, Partner, Best, Best and Krieger LLP; City Attorney for the cities of Santa Ana and Claremont Kafi Blumenfield, President and CEO of the Liberty Hill FoundationJULY 2012 COMMUNITY FORUM "PORTS! Should California's Ports be Responsible for Their Impact on the Environment?" A panel discussion on the conflicting roles of our Los Angeles Ports in the basic delivery of goods and the subsequent effects on the environment. Who should be held responsible for clean-up and preventative measures? With a great panel: Cindy Miscikowski, President, Board of Harbor Commissioners, Port of L.A. Jerilyn Lopez Mendoza, V.P., L.A. Board of Public Works and former V.P. Board of Harbor Commissioners Chris Cannon, Director of Environmental Management, Port of L.A. Academic Symposium: May 15-17 2012: "HAPPINESS AND EDUCATION" • Tuesday, May 15 “Implementing the California Dream Act.” A panel discussion – led by Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles – includes students sharing their personal experiences. • Tuesday, May 15 “What is Happiness? A Roundtable Kickoff.” A thought-provoking discussion with SMC professors and other educational leaders on the nature of happiness. • Wednesday, May 16 A screening of the film Walkout, followed by audience discussion. • Thursday, May 17 “Learning Outside the Lines: Finding Happiness through an Inclusive Education Movement.” Author/activist Jonathan Mooney, a leader in the field of disabilities and alternative education. • Thursday, May 17 Community Program: “Looking for Happiness in the Constitution?”Erwin Chemerinsky – founding dean of the UC Irvine School of Law – joins UCLA Law Professor and Vice Provost Christine Littleton and UCLA Law Professor and Civil Rights expert, Cheryl Harris, in a discussion on whether it is possible to claim the Constitution was established to protect the happiness of Americans. First Program of 2012: "The End of Redevelopment?" (February 23rd, 7-9 pm, Bundy 123), presented information on the termination of Redevelopment in California and what this will mean to cities, counties, schools and other state programs. Panelists: Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D, Santa Monica); Cliff Graves, Senior Economic Development Officer, City of Carson; and Murray Kane, Senior Principal in the law firm of Kane, Ballmer and Barkman. to rsvp for this event, please email ppi.rsvp@smc.edu. First Program of 2011: "Public Policy In The Movies" presented clips from four movies: Chinatown, Inherit the Wind, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and The Wizard of Oz to stimulate audience discussion on the public policy issues embedded in each of the clips. Second Program of 2011: "What's Goin' On?" presented current information on the California budget stalemate, possibilities for an all-cuts budget, versus taxes approved by voters, and ways in which commercial property tax levels may be adjusted. Panelists: Assemblymember Julia Brownley and Lenny Goldberg, Executive Director of the California Tax Reform Association. Third Program of 2011: "Public Policy on Broadway, Two" presented selected numbers from the student production of "Urinetown, the Musical" to stimulate audience discussion on public utilities, private ownership and legislative mandates. Fourth Program of 2011: "Food Equals Life" presented an exploration of hunger, food availability, local food growing options, school nutrition and education on food. Panelists: Matthew Sharp, Senior Advocate, California Food Policy Advocates; Paula Daniels, Senior Advisor to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Sustainable Food Systems; Abby Leibman, CEO of Mazon, A Jewish Response to Hunger; and Louisa Cardenas, Master Gardener Fifth Program of 2011: "Realignment: It's Not Just For Chiropractors Any More" presented information about California's new plan to devolve supervision and funding for public safety (prisoners and probation), health and human services from the state to the counties. Panelists: Diane Cummins, Senior Advisor to Governor Brown on Realignment; Dr. Mitchell Katz, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services; Phil Ansell, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Social Services; Sheila Williams, Deputy CEO for Public Safety Realignment, Los Angeles County. Programs in 2010: Inaugural Gala October 4, 2010 "Eavesdropping on Leadership" • On October 4, an exciting and engaging program at the beautiful Broad Theatre officially introduced the Public Policy Institute to the community. The program featured a wide-ranging discussion between Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Assembly Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass, moderated by Sheila Kuehl. "Public Policy on Broadway" June 16th: • On June 16th, from 7-9 p.m., the Public Policy Institute presented "Public Policy on Broadway", in collaboration with the amazing students and faculty of the Musical Theatre Workshop at the college. The 18-student company performed three songs, "The Farmer and the Cowboy", "You Have To Be Carefully Taught" and "Seven and a Half Cents". Following each song, I engaged the near-to-capacity audience in a socratic discussion about the policy issues raised by each song and what they thought about them. The discussions were lively and the Edye, the small theatre behind the Broad Stage, was the perfect venue. Premier Program: April 29th • Our first, sold-out, community education forum took place on April 29th. A distinguished panel of presenters presented on the impacts of the state and federal budget wars on local entities and the steps local governments and others are taking in order to maintain services and programs. The panel presentations were followed by a lively audience discussion. The Panel: Area of Emphasis Number Two: The Academics: Student Participation. This area of emphasis has seen growth in a number of important areas: Beginning in 2011, Santa Monica College became the only community college in California granting an AA degree in Public Policy, as well as a Certificate in Public Policy. Students at SMC must fulfill 18 units in public policy and specific related topics to receive the certificate, and greater specified requirements for the AA. For information about the AA and Certificate programs, please email Professor Richard Tahvaldaran at tahvildaran_richard@smc.edu. Opportunities for students, also created by the Institute, include independent study, community internships, and participation, for credit, in programs, campaigns, municipal and county offices, and non-profit local projects, all with an eye to giving students insight into the many actions that go into the formation of public policy. |
Contact Sheila |
Public Policy Institute-Santa Monica College |