The Mandel Spotlight Volume 1, Issue 2

The Mandel

Spotlight The Biannual Newsletter of The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center At Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Volume I, Issue II

Spring 2019

Mandel Scholars Academy Travels to Washington, D.C. Eighteen Mandel Scholars boarded a bus on May 17 to embark on an immersive cultural, historical and political learning experience in our nation’s capital.

DAY ONE The trip began with a visit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Visitors receive a card with the identity of a person who experienced the Holocaust firsthand. This exercise was impactful and connected scholars to the importance of history, human stories and how community can be used to carry out good or evil acts.

“I remember the picture of a Muslim man who hid Jews, but ended up in the camp himself. He knew he would get in trouble if he was caught, but he chose to do the right thing.”

– Danielle Anikey The group then walked to Union Station and boarded a trolley for an evening tour of major monuments including the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, among others. The monuments reflect our nation’s legacy and serve as a tangible representation of its culture.

“Into the Woods was not only captivating, but also gave us some lessons to take home: • Don’t get distracted. Keep moving forward. Be aware of your direction, the places you want to go, the people you meet and the people you surround yourself with.

• Our values are important as we try to achieve greatness in life.

• Working as a team helps you achieve results faster.

Having someone to lean on and to trust helps you learn more about yourself.”

– Isiaka Busari

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

After touring Arlington Cemetery and taking an extensive look at the National Archives, including some of the nation’s founding documents, the group headed to the Newseum to learn about great stories in history and the journalists who covered them.

The third day was devoted to exploring the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. Mandel Scholars collaborated in teams and utilized their critical thinking skills to navigate the sites and complete challenges provided by Mandel staff.

The evening was spent at Ford’s Theatre, where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Scholars experienced a performance of Into the Woods (music and lyrics by Sondheim). Weaving together the plots of several well-known fairy tales, the musical explores the consequences of various characters’ wishes and journeys.

“The highlight of my visit was the National Museum of the American Indian. Unlike contemporary Americans, Native Americans had a deep spiritual relationship with their ancestors and were a closely connected society. Their tribal lifestyle allowed diversity, but also unity.”

– San Phoi Ly Continued on page 4.

The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center at Cuyahoga Community College 4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills, Ohio 44122 | 216-987-2601 | mandelcenter@tri-c.edu

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The Mandel Spotlight

Staff

Profile

TMS: How did you get involved with the Mandel Humanities Center?

MH: Coming to the Mandel Humanities Center was a natural move and fit for me. It’s not only about my love of history and teaching, it’s also my work with students that solidified my career and brought me to the center. Everything that I’ve done at the College has been ultimately to serve students. Because of the reputation I have for my commitment to the students, to faculty and to Tri-C, Dr. Johnson asked me to consider the faculty chair position.

TMS: What made you want to do it? What’s exciting to you about the MHC? MH: Coming to the center provided me another opportunity to help students succeed because of the unique programming it provides. I’m a historian, so I understand the importance of the humanities in society as a whole. It is an exciting opportunity to build something here at Tri-C and become a part of its legacy.

TMS: How did you become a historian?

Mary

Hovanec Faculty Chair of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy

MH: My love of history began at age 4, when my father took me to a philatelic (stamp-collecting) convention. I was born in France, but my family moved to Cleveland when I was a young child. I grew up bilingual and was always conscious of the presence of multiple cultures and the value of the past.

I went to high school at Lourdes Academy, where my love of history was nurtured by the teachers, and I continued my study of history and languages in college at Case Western Reserve University.

I went on to graduate school at the University of Chicago, where I earned my master’s degree in Russian history. Because of my formative experience, I wanted to impart my love of history — and the importance of history — to the next generation of students.

TMS: How did you wind up at Tri-C? MH: A good friend of mine connected me with Betty Baker, a political science professor at the Metropolitan Campus. She mentored me and encouraged me to begin teaching at the College. I had never taught before and did not know anything about community colleges. That was my introduction to teaching and to Tri-C. Another mentor was history professor George Faust, one of the College’s first faculty members. Both Betty and George encouraged me to sit in on their classes to observe and further learn from them. I learned from the best.

TMS: What’s something surprising about you that your students wouldn’t guess?

MH: I originally thought I was going to work for the U.N. since I spoke five different languages (French, German, Russian, Ukrainian and, of course, English). I also studied Mandarin Chinese for two years. Languages brought me to government work as a translator in high-profile cases in Cleveland, including the initial depositions for a Nazi war criminal trial and on a case of an East German spy living in Solon).

Civil Rights Road Trip A highlight of the Spring 2019 semester was the first Mandel Scholars Academy road trip. A group of 22 students, plus four faculty and staff, traveled to Alabama to learn about the civil rights movement.

Upon arrival in Montgomery on Feb. 15, the group met local historian, clergyman and author Alan Cross, who led them on a walking tour of the downtown area and spoke about the city’s central role in 18th-century slave trade. They then visited the Equal Justice Initiative’s new Legacy Museum, which illustrates the connections between slavery, 20th-century lynchings and today’s mass incarceration.

Over the course of the three-day trip, the group also spent time in Selma and Birmingham, visiting the Edmund Pettus Bridge, 16th Street Baptist Church, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Rosa Parks Museum and other important sites. They also had dinner with a group of honors students from Auburn University at Montgomery, who shared their perspectives on life in the South and the ways in which living in Alabama has shaped their identities.

Reflecting on the trip, many students referred to it as “life‑changing.” Being brought face-to-face with the brutal history of race in America, as well as with the inspiring legacy of those who refused to stand idly by and accept injustice, was an extraordinary experience for everyone who participated. Mandel Scholar Nilda Vazquez put it simply: “I will never, ever be the same person.”

Anna Gagel agreed, saying, “I will carry this trip with me for the rest of my life.” Kevin Jones spoke for many of his peers when he said, “I hope [this will be] a possibility for future generations of Mandel Scholars.”

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Volume I, Issue II | Spring 2019

Alumnus

Profile

Patrick Arthofer earned an Associate of Arts degree from Tri-C in spring 2018 and successfully matriculated at Cleveland State University’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors College.

The psychology major is interested in finding ways to improve effective learning in children and enhance routine work for employees.

Arthofer earned President’s High Honors in fall 2018 and spring 2019 and is involved in the Tau Sigma Academic Honors Society for Transfer Students at CSU. He will join the Student Government Association as a senator this fall.

Upon graduating from CSU, Arthofer plans to enroll in graduate school to study either school psychology or organizational/industrial psychology. He hopes to work in a setting where he is able to make rigid routines more exciting for participants, thereby improving the quality of their work and/ or learning.

Patrick

Arthofer

Arthofer’s favorite aspect of the Mandel Scholars Academy was the variety of opportunities presented to students through cocurricular activities and other events. He believes these events truly helped connect students and showed them new ways to think critically about certain issues. The TEDx talk in Akron was his favorite cocurricular — not necessarily for the speakers themselves, but for conversations the lectures sparked between students for months afterward.

“We all kept exchanging what we learned from it,” Arthofer explained. “When people listen to new ideas and discuss them among themselves, they automatically raise their wisdom.”

One piece of advice Arthofer would offer to new Mandel Scholars is to keep moving forward — one step at a time.

“When you take a step, and your foot reaches the ground, the next piece of the path you are on will appear,” he said. “At times, you may be unclear as to what you are doing and where you are going.

But if you keep moving forward, you will eventually reach goals you had never thought possible.”

The Mandel Center Hosts Board Meeting The Jack Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center hosted its first National Advisory Board meeting on May 29. The National Advisory Board is comprised of local and national leaders in humanities education and community engagement who provide input, experience and guidance to the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center and the Mandel Scholars Academy.

The members of the inaugural Board are: • Mary Ann Blakeley, senior director of human resources at the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland • Tia Brown McNair, Ed.D., vice president of diversity, equity and student success at the Association of American Colleges and Universities • The Rev. Jawanza Karriem Colvin, Ed.D., pastor at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church • Timothy Eatman, Ph.D., inaugural dean of the Honors Living and Learning Community and associate professor of urban education at Rutgers University • Donald C. Hubin, Ph.D., director of the Center for Ethics and Human Values and emeritus professor of philosophy at The Ohio State University • Dan Moulthrop, chief executive officer at The City Club of Cleveland • India Pierce Lee, senior vice president of programs and grantmaking at the Cleveland Foundation • Sarah J. Sager, cantor at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple • Lori Varlotta, Ph.D., president of Hiram College • Ben Vinson III, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president at Case Western Reserve University and secretary of the National Humanities Alliance’s Board of Directors At its first meeting, the National Advisory Board gained an all-encompassing view of the Mandel Scholars Academy with presentations from the dean, faculty members, staff and students. These presentations covered every aspect of the Mandel Humanities Center's activities, including our efforts to engage students with the humanities both inside and beyond the classroom, develop students as leaders and engage with our community.

Looking ahead, the Board will regularly assess the Mandel Center's activities and offer feedback on strategies to increase its effectiveness in fulfilling its mission.

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The Mandel Spotlight

Mandel Scholars Academy Travels to Washington, D.C. Continued from page 1.

In the evening, Mandel Scholars debriefed over dinner at the iconic Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington’s oldest saloon.

DAY FOUR After walking the halls of the U.S. Supreme Court to view the history of the building and biographies of the current Justices, Mandel Scholars headed to the Library of Congress. There, they examined the architecture and viewed exhibits including Thomas Jefferson’s library and Baseball Americana.

“If there is one place I could spend weeks in, it is the Library of Congress. The supernatural feeling of the building is impossible to describe. Imagine my joy when I learned I can get a library card to do research under the dome!”

– Elizabeth K. A tour of the U.S. Capitol followed. Tour guide Joe was extremely helpful in describing the surroundings and answering questions as the group shuffled through the halls of this historic space. Scholars were in awe of the paintings and sculptures.

“Clio, the muse of history, is looking back. She has a scroll in her hand, and it looks like she is about to write something down. She is on a chariot with a time wheel on it. Joe told us that this woman symbolically is looking down at the men and women making decisions in the House and Senate, and what she is writing down is for the generations to come.”

– Ashley H. The group spent the second half of day four at the International Spy Museum. The interactive experience, which included code names and secret missions, was filled with hands-on displays and challenges. As the museum closed, scholars stayed for a talk by Eric O’Neill, author of Gray Day and the subject of the Universal Studio’s film Breach. The Q&A that followed his presentation can be viewed on YouTube.

“The International Spy Museum taught me so much about real‑world spies and how most fancy spy stuff is in the movies.

It was fun testing my ‘nerves of steel’ and interrogation skills.”

DAY FIVE On the last day of the trip, the group boarded the bus in preparation for the seven-hour trek back to Ohio. But there was still one stop left: the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Scholars spent half the day navigating four floors of the museum to better understand the African American experience from the colonial period to the present day. Written reflections indicate that this museum left a lasting imprint on the students.

“The National Museum of African American History and Culture was the most painful — and, at the same time, meaningful and beautiful — place that I went. The structure of the building represents the past, present and future of African Americans. It was built in a way that has people go up the floors, and it is almost impossible to look backward or outward.”

– Roselys Contreras

FINAL REFLECTIONS “I am inspired by all that I saw and motivated to start doing something within my circle of influence to make my community a better place. I realize I can be the voice for the next generation, and I need others to join in so that we can make history together as Mandel Scholars.”

– Aba Paintsil “This, to me, became more than Washington, D.C. It became the introduction of meeting me for the first time ever. I was surrounded with positivity the whole trip, and it helped me grow as a person.”

– Tarik T.

– Kayla Crowder

Community Engagement Projects The Mandel Scholars Academy offered three Community Engagement Project courses this spring. The courses were connected to a partnership between Tri-C and MetroHealth that honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On April 4, Mandel Scholars presented their project ideas to a group of high school students and community members at the MLK Morehouse Legacy Day event at Eastern Campus.

Three projects were selected: • Access to Food • Gun Violence Prevention • African American and Jewish Relations Continued on page 5.

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Volume I, Issue II | Spring 2019

Mandel Scholar

Profile

When did you decide to attend college, and why did you select Tri-C? I knew I wanted to go to college before I even started high school, because being successful and making a difference have been long term goals of mine. I’ve always taken pride in my education; school is something I have always excelled at. I began taking classes at Tri-C my junior year in high school as a College Credit Plus student because I wanted to get a head start on earning college credit. I wanted to go to Tri-C first and then transfer because of the cost savings. I also couldn’t pass up amazing opportunities once I was admitted to the Honors Program Fellowship and the Mandel Scholars Academy after high school.

How did you learn about the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy, and why did you apply?

I learned about the academy through a longtime friend who was also an honors scholar. She told me all about it, especially the opportunity to become a Mandel Continuing Scholar and transfer to the Cleveland State University Mandel Honors College. I was so excited that I decided to apply that same day! I wanted to become more involved in the community, and I knew the academy would offer me valuable skills and opportunities.

Isabel

Culkar

Talk about an experience you’ve had as a Mandel Scholar that made an impression on you.

One memorable experience is when I attended a naturalization ceremony at the Carl B. Stokes Federal Courthouse. I was assigned the job of taking pictures of everyone as they received their citizenship certificates from the judge. Having the opportunity to experience this event was very rewarding. I can’t imagine how exciting it must be to receive your citizenship after everything it took them to get to the United States — I know that for some, it had been a dream for a long time. I’m glad I was there to help welcome them to America and our community.

What is your major, and why did you choose to pursue that field?

My major is civil and environmental engineering. I decided to pursue this because I want to make a difference with my career. Keeping the environment as clean as possible and creating new methods of sustainability are both very important to me. I would love to be a part of something that creates solutions to keep our planet and all of its inhabitants healthy. I also love the aspect of working on different projects and the vast amount of opportunities being an engineer will bring.

What advice would you give to a high school senior thinking about applying to the Mandel Scholars Academy?

My advice? 100% apply! I’ve had nothing but positive experiences and good things coming from Mandel. I would also tell them to embrace every experience while at Tri-C and the Mandel Humanities Center, because there are so many wonderful people and opportunities with which to get involved!

Community Engagement Projects Continued from page 4.

The Access to Food team partnered with Strongsville Market District to host a Food Expo at Tri-C’s Eastern Campus. The day was filled with food demonstrations and hands-on activities. Guests were provided recipes and free food to take home. Strongsville Market District donated time and food for this event.

The Gun Violence Prevention team hosted a family-friendly event that engaged community members in dialogue about gun violence.

“Healing From Gun Violence: Guns, the Community and You” offered resources, training and space for self-expression through art. The Neighborhood Leadership Development served as both a community partner and venue.

The African American and Jewish Relations team took cultural competence training through the YWCA of Greater Cleveland and studied best practices in interviewing. Community members were invited to the Mandel Humanities Center to share their personal experiences related to the topic. A select number of these filmed interviews were showcased on the website of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.

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The Mandel Spotlight Assistant Professor of English, Matt Laferty, led students on a guided tour of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Mandel Scholars played WhirlyBall at the spring semester kickoff event (above); and attended a production of The Tempest at Playhouse Square with Assistant Professor of Humanities, Brian Johnson. (right)

Maria Brathwaite of the Tri-C Career Center led a dining etiquette workshop for Mandel Scholars.

Noteworthy

ACHIEVEMENTS

CURRENT MANDEL SCHOLARS • Oktay Adatepe: 2019 Democracy Fellow • Ellen Evans: 2019 Democracy Fellow • Yeymi Cedeno Guerrero: 2019 Newman Civic Fellow • Kevin Jones: Eastern Campus Student of the Year, Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar • Adolphe Musanga: From Congo to Cleveland, self-published book • Minata Ouedraogo: Metropolitan Campus Student of the Year

UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, Aug. 24 Mandel Scholars Academy Orientation

Saturday, Sept. 7 Fall Kickoff

Thursday, Oct. 10 Battle of the Literary Masters: C. S. Lewis vs. J. R. R. Tolkien

Oct. 21 – Dec. 15 "Crooked River Contrasts" exhibit on display in ESS gallery

Tuesday, Oct. 22 Panel discussion with “Crooked River Contrasts” photographers

Friday, Nov. 15 Second Annual Northeast Ohio Humanities Luncheon

Friday, Dec. 6

The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center at Cuyahoga Community College 4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills, Ohio 44122 | 216-987-2601 | mandelcenter@tri-c.edu

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End-of-Semester and Holiday Celebration

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The Mandel Spotlight

In Memoriam

Yeymi Cedeño Guerrero Oct. 6, 1997 – June 13, 2019

The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center suffered a terrible loss earlier this summer, when Mandel Scholar Yeymi Cedeño Guerrero passed away unexpectedly from natural causes.

Yeymi was a beloved member of our community and a model of academic achievement and civic engagement. Among other accomplishments, the honors student was Tri-C’s 2019 Newman Civic Fellow and a leader in student government.

A recent immigrant herself, Yeymi was a dedicated advocate for displaced persons and refugees.

While working with the Spanish American Committee of Cleveland, she helped provide aid and assistance to more than 3,000 families who left Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

Deeply devoted to helping others, Yeymi was unwavering in her desire to address issues of economic inequality through empathy, compassion and advocacy. She will be remembered for her dedication to improving her community through civic engagement, enriching the lives of others through service, and for her kindness, leadership and friendship.

Yeymi epitomized what it means to be a Mandel Scholar. She will be greatly missed.

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