Transforming Basic Needs Supports In California Higher Education
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 | 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PST
Register for the event.
Postsecondary credentials are necessary to access living wage jobs, but for millions of Californians these credentials remain out of reach due to inadequate support for student basic needs. As part of the 2021-2022 budget, California has invested millions of dollars in making sure that challenges like housing and food insecurity cease to be impediments to student success. University leaders responsible for developing the spending plans for these dollars have a historic opportunity to advance state goals for student success and racial equity, but only if resources are invested wisely. The Center for Equitable Higher Education (CEHE), with input from California’s student basic needs community, has developed a set of research-based recommendations that can help ensure that colleges and universities make each dollar count.
Join the Michelson 20MM Foundation and the Center for Equitable Higher Education as we discuss transformative approaches to invest new funding to meet students’ basic needs.
Opening Remarks by: THE HONORABLE MARC BERMAN
24th California Assembly District
Marc Berman was first elected to the California State Assembly in November 2016. He represents the 24th Assembly District, which includes southern San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County, spanning from the heart of Silicon Valley over the hill to the beautiful Coastside. Marc chairs the Assembly Elections Committee, where he has become a leader on protecting voting rights, shielding voters from deceptive elections practices, making election information more accessible, and improving election cybersecurity and campaign finance disclosure. He also chairs the Select Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education in California, which is conducting a methodical review of California’s higher education policies to make sure they meet the needs of current and future students.
Marc has had one of the highest rates of success in the Legislature, having sent 61 bills to the Governor in his first five years in office. Most recently, he championed legislation that requires elections officials to mail voters a ballot before every election. He wrote the law to phase out the sale of new gas-powered landscape equipment statewide and authored landmark legislation to reform the college transfer process from a student perspective. In addition, Marc wrote legislation to make it easier for Californians to cancel their subscriptions online.
Speakers include:
RUBEN CANEDO
Director, Strategic Equity Initiatives and Basic Needs Committee Chair, University of California Berkeley
Growing up in a mixed status and binational family with a disabled body introduced me at an early age to harm, trauma, injustice, and oppression. Most importantly, it taught me how brilliant, resilient, loving, and transformative our family and community relationships are. I survived and am here today because of family and community. Growing up, everyone would take care of each other to make sure folks had food, shelter, and community. I believe in a world that will learn and heal beyond its current white-supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, and ableism. The way I can contribute to that direction is through our basic needs efforts. I’m humbled and privileged to share this community journey of belonging and justice.
RASHIDA CRUTCHFIELD
Associate Professor in the School of Social Work, California State University Long Beach; Co-Executive Director, The Center for Equitable Higher Education (CEHE)
Dr. Rashida Crutchfield is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and Director of the newly founded Center for Equitable Higher Education, which is dedicated to studying and promoting economic, food, and housing justice. She is also an advocate committed to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities through research and service. Prior to her work at CSULB, she served on the staff of Covenant House California, a shelter for 18-to-24-year-olds experiencing homelessness. This experience blossomed a passion to support this student population.
COLLEEN GANLEY
Program Specialist, California Community College Chancellor’s Office
Colleen Ganley currently serves as a program specialist with the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. In her current position, Ms. Ganley works to increase access to health, mental health, food and housing resources and other unmet basic needs for students in the California Community College system. Ms. Ganley also supports two statewide foster youth services programs within the California Community Colleges system including the Foster Youth Success Initiative and the NextUp programs. Prior to joining the Chancellor’s Office, Ms. Ganley worked at the Foundation for California Community Colleges, the non-profit that supports the Chancellor’s Office. During her 12-year tenure with the Foundation, she developed and implemented multiple statewide initiatives designed to support at-risk students.
JEN MAGUIRE
Associate Professor of Social Work and Social Work Undergraduate Program Director, Humboldt State University; Co-Executive Director, The Center for Equitable Higher Education (CEHE)
Dr. Jennifer Maguire is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Humboldt State University (HSU). She has provided innovative ways to address students’ basic needs to support student success and her call to action has been both personal and political. At HSU in 2013, Dr. Maguire, along with colleagues were awarded a grant that supported CalFresh outreach on campus. The award kicked off a series of funded grants and partnerships with the campus and local community to develop a comprehensive system of support—what is now known as HSU Oh SNAP! Student Food Programs. Dr. Maguire’s teaching and research has led to actionable policies, projects and programs that positively influence CSU students. She is a winner of a CSU Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award for her commitment to student success.
HENOC PRECIADO
Systemwide Manager of Basic Needs Initiatives, California State University Office of the Chancellor
Henoc Preciado currently serves as the Basic Needs Initiatives Systemwide Manager at the California State University (CSU) Office of the Chancellor. In this role, he works closely with the 23 campuses of the CSU as programs and services are created and delivered to support students experiencing food and housing insecurity. Henoc has provided leadership and support for the intersegmental California Higher Education Basic Needs Alliance (CHEBNA), and also serves on Governor Newsom’s Intersegmental Committee on Student Basic Needs. Prior to his current role, Henoc served as the inaugural Director of the Dreamers Resource Center at Cal State LA. Henoc is a proud product of the California State University, having earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Cal State Fullerton and his Master of Science degree in Higher Postsecondary Education from Syracuse University.
DEBBIE RAUCHER
Education Director, John Burton Advocates for Youth
Debbie Raucher currently serves as the Education Director for John Burton Advocates for Youth. In this role, she provides leadership and strategic visioning for JBAY’s education work and leads the agency’s policy efforts designed to improve post-secondary educational outcomes for foster youth and students experiencing homelessness. Ms. Raucher has worked in the social services field for over 25 years including extensive work in developing solutions to homelessness.
Moderated by: VIVIAN HERNANDEZ
Graduate Student and CalFresh Outreach Coordinator, California State University Long Beach
Vivian Hernandez is a third year graduate student at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) Master of Science in Counseling: Student Development in Higher Education (SDHE). She also currently serves as the Beach CalFresh Outreach Coordinator in the CSULB Basic Needs department. She values providing a culture of compassionate care in service to connecting students with Basic Needs resources.
Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation seeking to accelerate progress towards a more just world through grantmaking, operating programs, and impact investing. Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.