Fielding doctoral student Carol A. Preston-Brown selected to present at 14th Annual Narrowing the Gulf Conference

Posted by Hilary Edwards on Thu, Mar 14, 2013

Identified as an emerging scholar, Preston-Brown will present a workshop based on her dissertation research titled “Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water: An Intervention for Youth Aging Out of the Foster Care System," in which she states: 

Education outcomes for former foster youth are dismal. Although 70% of youth in foster care want to go to college (Rassen, Cooper, & Mery, 2010), the resources available for their success in California Community colleges are clearly insufficient.  My dissertation research begins with the mandate of the Chancellor of California Community Colleges to create systems of support for former foster youth who transition to community colleges.  My work also addresses the significance of academic K-12 preparation, which should lay the foundation to support quality-of-life-goals, so former foster youth can become contributing members of society.  

The annual Narrowing the Gulf Conference focuses on improving classroom instruction and supporting services for underrepresented students in postsecondary education. Preston-Brown’s research dovetails well with the theme of the conference given that she discusses former foster youth on the community college campus. Her research follows the theories of Maslow, Friere, Chickering, and Erickson as she explores the lack of positive outcomes and support for these students.

To view the full conference schedule, click here.

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Fielding HOD doctoral faculty member Christine GT Ho, PhD, recognized for her contribution to social justice

Posted by Hilary Edwards on Thu, Mar 07, 2013

HOD doctoral faculty member Steven Schapiro, EdD, stated, “the award had not been given for several years, but since Christine seemed so deserving of it, myself along with several other faculty members nominated her for it and suggested that we reinstitute this award as a way to recognize faculty and give visibility to social justice work.”

Ho was awarded for her meritorious service to the HOD doctoral concentration in Transformative Learning for Social Justice (TLSJ) in acknowledgment of her commitment and outstanding contribution to the TLSJ learning community. Ho was also awarded the faculty nominated Social Justice Award during the HOD Winter Session 2013 in Santa Barbara, CA.  The Social Justice Award was reinstated as a way to distinguish faculty and increase visibility of social justice work in recognition of Ho’s significant contribution and commitment to social justice over the years.

HOD doctoral faculty member and chair of the Senate Commission on Social and Ecological Justice, Placida Gallegos, PhD, stated:

As an anthropologist, Ho continues to be involved in the most critical issues of oppressed people, currently working to change conditions for undocumented students and families across the globe.  Her recent book, Humane Migration: Establishing Legitimacy and Rights for Displaced People, Ho documents the inhumane treatment of migrants and the human, social, and economic costs of current policies and practices.

In the preface of that book, Christine tells of her early years and how she began her career…

“…it was not until I studied anthropology at UCLA that my intuition about what was happening all around me took a more cerebral shape, inspiring my quest for self-understanding and igniting my concern with inequality and social justice.  Although I did not encounter it until much later in my intellectual development, the concept of structural violence has been very important to me.  Armed with newly acquired knowledge of how culture and society worked, I joined the professoriate of the US hoping it would allow me to give public voice to the plight of people, including immigrants, who suffer indignities of all sorts.  In other words, I feel a responsibility to speak out and to document the truth.”

Gallegos declared in her presentation speech awarding Ho:

You have inspired us all and set a very high bar. During winter session this year, faculty and students were discussing the history of Fielding and the “giants” who were part of our founding faculty.  I am pleased to be able to acknowledge Christine as a “gentle giant” who has made us a better institution by her presence.  Among her many contributions, she has been instrumental in the founding of the TLSJ concentration and for creating the KA715 in Structural Inequality and Diversity. 

Even more importantly, Christine exemplifies the essence of the scholar-practitioner and challenges us to take action in the world as a result of our scholarship.  In fact, scholar-activist is a more fitting description of what Christine calls us to become.

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Fielding doctoral student Michael Wilson actively helping homeless

Posted by Hilary Edwards on Thu, Nov 08, 2012

Quibble Creek Health and Phoenix Transition Housing Centre is a partnership between the Province, the City of Surrey and Fraser Health Authority and contains 52 supportive housing units and 15 short-term transitional recovery beds. The building includes Fraser Health’s Recovery and Assessment Centre, with 25 beds for men and women requiring 24-hour recovery and assessment services, and a primary care, substance use and mental health clinic.  

The Recovery and Assessment Centre is a safe, sheltered environment to assist individuals recovering from acute intoxication. An interdisciplinary team of professionals including nurses, substance use support workers and outreach workers care for clients and connect them with the network of mental health and substance use services available.  

Michael, currently in the HOD doctoral program at Fielding, states: “The Phoenix Society’s mission is to create a therapeutic community, which provides clients with personal, social and psychological supports at every step of their recovery process. The new building will provide an array of additional supports and opportunities for our society to better meet the needs of the population we serve. The planning process to bring this development to construction has been years in the making and I would like to thank the Province, the City of Surrey, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Fraser Health for the resources and support provided for our current Phoenix Centre and the new Quibble Creek Health and Phoenix Transition Housing Centre.”  

Clients at the primary care, substance use and mental health clinic receive care and treatment for medical, substance use and mental health issues. The team of health-care professionals include physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, clinical counsellors and social workers. Staff provides health information and education as well as some services on an outreach basis.   

Mayor Dianne Watts, City of Surrey, BC, commented: “Since 2009, we’ve taken over 350 people off the street in Surrey and found them permanent housing, thanks to our strong partnerships with the Province and community organizations.  This new development will help our most vulnerable citizens break free from the cycle of homelessness and poverty. We are helping people build healthier lives by providing them with the supports and housing they need.”

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Fielding doctoral faculty Jenny Edwards, PhD, presents in Hong Kong and Nanjing

Posted by Hilary Edwards on Mon, Nov 26, 2012

The Invitational Education World Conference provides a professional platform where educators around the world meet and share their success stories in optimizing the potentials of young people. 

Edwards's presentation was based on her book Inviting Students to Learn: 100 Tips for Talking Effectively with Your Students which is available on Amazon.com

Following her presentation in Hong Kong, Edwards traveled to Nanjing, China where she presented the same topic at the pre-conference for the Nanjing Principals.

Edwards has taught grades K–5 and grade 7. She has also served in Staff Development in Jefferson County Schools in Denver, Colorado. She is a training associate in Cognitive CoachingSM and has done extensive research in the area. She co-authored and served as project director and principal investigator for a $1.01 million grant for implementing Cognitive CoachingSM, Nonverbal Classroom Management, and monthly dialogue groups from 1994 to 1997 in Jefferson County Schools. She has conducted trainings in 11 countries in Spanish, French, Italian, and English. She has most recently presented Adaptive Schools trainings in Mexico and Italy.

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Fielding doctoral student Michael Wilson actively helping homeless

Posted by Hilary Edwards on Thu, Nov 08, 2012

Quibble Creek Health and Phoenix Transition Housing Centre is a partnership between the Province, the City of Surrey and Fraser Health Authority and contains 52 supportive housing units and 15 short-term transitional recovery beds. The building includes Fraser Health’s Recovery and Assessment Centre, with 25 beds for men and women requiring 24-hour recovery and assessment services, and a primary care, substance use and mental health clinic.  

The Recovery and Assessment Centre is a safe, sheltered environment to assist individuals recovering from acute intoxication. An interdisciplinary team of professionals including nurses, substance use support workers and outreach workers care for clients and connect them with the network of mental health and substance use services available.  

Michael, currently in the HOD doctoral program at Fielding, states: “The Phoenix Society’s mission is to create a therapeutic community, which provides clients with personal, social and psychological supports at every step of their recovery process. The new building will provide an array of additional supports and opportunities for our society to better meet the needs of the population we serve. The planning process to bring this development to construction has been years in the making and I would like to thank the Province, the City of Surrey, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Fraser Health for the resources and support provided for our current Phoenix Centre and the new Quibble Creek Health and Phoenix Transition Housing Centre.”  

Clients at the primary care, substance use and mental health clinic receive care and treatment for medical, substance use and mental health issues. The team of health-care professionals include physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, clinical counsellors and social workers. Staff provides health information and education as well as some services on an outreach basis.   

Mayor Dianne Watts, City of Surrey, BC, commented: “Since 2009, we’ve taken over 350 people off the street in Surrey and found them permanent housing, thanks to our strong partnerships with the Province and community organizations.  This new development will help our most vulnerable citizens break free from the cycle of homelessness and poverty. We are helping people build healthier lives by providing them with the supports and housing they need.”

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View the original article here

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