Hello CalWORKs family. I hope that many of you have had time to review the recommendations from the Task Force on Student Success (TFSS) that I forwarded to the listserve last week. I sent an additional email to the listserve on 9/28/11 which had the TFSS Meeting Calendar and pertinent web-sites to gather more information; as well as give feedback to the TFSS.
I wanted to give you an update on what the California Community College CalWORKs Association (CCCCA) has been doing to educate and inform those who might be in favor of the TFSS recommendations, (which sound very much like Educational Darwinism).
- CCCCA sent a letter in June 2011 to the TFSS opposing block grant funding.
http://calworksassociation.org/news-information
- CCCCA President & President-Elect have been in communication with several community partners over the past several months to remind them that our CalWORKs students and their children should not be overlooked as the state moves toward economic recovery:
ü (CWDA) California Welfare Directors Association’s Senior Policy Analyst
ü (WCLP) Western Center on Law & Poverty’s Legislative Advocates
ü (FACCC) Faculty Association of California Community Colleges’ Executive Director
ü (CCL) Community College League’s Director of Fiscal Policy and Executive Director
ü (CDSS) California Department of Social Services – Welfare to Work Division
ü EOP&S Association President
ü DSPS Association
- As a result of this relationship building:
ü CWDA is writing a response in support of Community College CalWORKs programs and against categorical block funding of our program.
ü WCLP has acknowledged the Community College CalWORKs contribution to Workforce Participation Rates across the state and will continue to advocate on behalf of our students.
ü CDSS has expressed concern and will be working with CCCCA to thwart this proposal.
- CCCCA President attended the TFSS meeting on September 14, 2011 with the intention of having the CCCCA Board meeting added to the TFSS Fall calendar. http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/PolicyInAction/StudentSuccessTaskForce/TimelineMeetingSchedules.aspx
- The Statewide Student Senate President (also TFSS Member) is scheduled to attend the Region 3&4 meeting on October 14th.
- Linda Michalowski will present at the October 24th CCCCA Board meeting held at Cerritos College. 9-4 pm* Please RSVP to nrodriguez@Cerritos.edu, all are invited to attend.
- CCCCA has disseminated information and encouraged Regional participation in the two Town Hall events later this month:
ü Southern California Town Hall – October 27, 2011 @ 10AM-12PM
LA Chamber of Commerce
Room: Bank of America A, B, & C
350 South Bixel St.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
ü Northern California Town Hall – November 16, 2011 @ 10AM-12PM Oakland Elihu M. Harris Building
Room: Auditorium
1515 Clay St.
Oakland, CA 94612
- CCCCA has recently published another edition of Portraits of Success which will be available shortly as an advocacy and educational tool locally and at the State level. Thank you to Kathy Valcarcel at Mt. San Jacinto College for coordinating this valuable effort.
- CCCCA has begun planning the 3rd Annual Training Institute which will focus on advocacy training and student success to help our programs move from defense to offense.
A final note, I realize we are all fatigued from the continuous barrage against our students and our programs. This is the time to stand with our sister categorical and CalWORKs programs across the state. We are a strong Association and can be victorious for our students and their children.
Please feel free to contact me with your ideas, and concerns. I am extremely proud of what you do every day for our students, and vow to stand with you.
Susan L. Sweeney
President California Community College CalWORKs Association
408-88-4813