Fresno Unified - Clovis Unified - Central Unified See Grad Pictures: Section C
ADVOCATE The FRESNO FRESNO Legend STATE STATE The California
Volume 54 - No.10 July 3rd - July 17, 2020
Fresno’s African American Community Newspaper
Kehinde Solwazi To Retire
& BlackCommunity Community &The The Black
President Joseph L. Castro’s annual President Joseph L. Castro’s annual interview with The California Advocate for interview with The California AdvocateIssue for our Commemorative Black Graduate
our Commemorative Black Graduate Issue 10% compared to last year. T C A HE
ALIFORNIA
DVOCATE
With help from our alumni and supporters, we must continue to make a strong BY: CRAIG REID public case for continued ADVOCATE: To begin with, before we discuss the financial support from the ADVOCATE: Right off the graduates: bat, before What we discuss What effect State and donors to ensure effect the hasgraduates: has the pandemic had on you yours? had on you that all qualified students theand pandemic have access Fresno andbrought yours? my family closer together. CASTRO: The pandemic has We to area being State education. C ASTRO : The pandemic very careful in our interactions with other family members and friends to ADVOCATE family : What ensure that everyone is safehas andbrought healthy.my The silver lining for Mary and me isdo you closer together. We are be- feel is Fresno State’s greatthat we have many fewer evening at home with with ing verycommitments careful in ourand in-more esttime strength in dealing our youngest son and our adult daughter. teractions with other fam- the educational challenges ADVOCATE: Although Fresno State has and beenfriends able to helpcreated over the in ily members by years this pandemic? to ensure that everyone is C ASTRO: In addition to maintaining and we are not traveling safe and healthy. The silver having exceptionally talsustaining many hosting campus lining for Mary and me is or ented faculty and staff who low-income students, at this time. that we have many fewer events are committed to student do you expect that Governor evening commitments and success, the University has more time at home with a strong safety net of serlow-income students Newsom’s revised our youngest son and our vices for students, will lose access to proposed budget forwhich adult daughter. we California have been State developing universities like the ADVOCATE: Although for years, well before the Fresno State due to systemour in region Fresno State has been able University pandemic struck the loss of revenue? 2020-21 the This to help over the years in and statereduces this spring. CASTRO: No, I maintaining and sustaining state’s supportinvestment includes an array many low-income stuofthe services – from don’t. Because of in CSU by 10%acadents, do you expect that demic, such as Fresno State’s vital compared to lasttutoring and low-income students will advising, economic, inrole in ensuring year. Withto help lose access to universities cluding a robust financialsocial mobility our alumni like Fresno State due to the from aid program and and emergenamong its students, supporters, we basic must needs, loss of revenue? cy grants, and of whom are continue to make a CASTRO: No, I don’t. such as the frequently Themany Advocate would Because of Fresno State’s visited Student Cupboard the first in their strong public case for likefamilies to thank Dr. vital role in ensuring social continued and Clothing Closet. to obtain a financial mobility among its stuDVOCATE: Related quesA Joseph Castro (Above), college degree and/ support from the State dents, many of whom are tion: What is the UniverPresident, California or are from modest and donors to ensure the first in their families sity’s greatest weakness? The Advocate would State University, Fresno income households, that all qualified to obtain a college degree C ASTRO :Rather than a like to thank Dr. Joseph for Ihis continued believe the State of haveI am access and/or are from modest in- students “weakness, concerned Castro (Above), President, come households, I believe to about the increasing numinvolvement in our California and our a Fresno State California State University, the State of California and ber of students who have annual Black Graduate generous donors will education. Fresno for his continued our generous donors will to juggle competing prioricontinue investing commemorative issue. involvement in our in the continue investing ties that span well beyond in the University. 3 -academic What do realm. you In the Dr. Castro is the first annual Black Graduate University. We will play the We will play a vital feel Fresno State’s commemorative issue. a vital part in California’s past,ismost college students Fresno State University part in California’s greatest recovery from COVID-19. could look to their parents Dr. Castro is the first President to both hail At the same time, we do for financial support Fresno State University recovery from strength in dealing while from the Central-Valley not take this support for they focused primarily on President to both hail COVID-19. with the educational (Hanford) and be a granted, particularly as the their studies and from the Central-Valley the same time, challenges createdextraby State navigates choppy curricular activities. Today, directAtdescendant of (Hanford) and be a direct we do not take this this pandemic? fiscal waters due to the the vast majority of our Mexican farmworkers. descendant of Mexican support for granted, In addition to pandemic. We are reducing students are paying for farmworkers. Castro also Castro also is as a the particularly having exceptionally our expenses by pausing their studies on their own, thehiring, San descendant of the San is aondescendant virtually allofnew which often entails workState navigates talented faculty Carlos Apache tribe. Thus and we are not traveling or ing one or more Carlos Apache tribe. choppy fiscal waters and staff who part-time wehosting consider him toevents be, at campus jobs. In addition, Thus him duewe to consider the pandemic. are committed to they may literally and figuratively, a this time. be raising their own chilto be, and Weliterally are reducing student the their native son extraordinaire. Governor Newsom’s dren or success, contributing figuratively, a native son revised proposed budget our expenses by University earnings to support their pausing on virtually for the California State parents and siblings. extraordinaire. University system in Althoughonworking Continued page B5during all new hiring, and 2020-21 reduces the state’s college, which I also did, investment in the CSU by continued on page B5
An open letter to my beloved African American Community
Before the monstrous crime of chattel slavery and Jim Crow, I’ve had the African tradition of eldership. This writer has reached the age of eldership which means time for good judgement and wisdom from old age. So, first let me give the African American community immense gratitude for the love and support for our African American studies programs at Fresno City College. You have sent fine generations of your young people to learn the greatness of our ancestry and culture.
Continued on page B4
Fresno State‘s Black Faculty Message To 2020 Black Graduates
SUBMITTED TO THE ADVOCATE FROM: BLACK FACULTY STAFF ASSOCIATION at California State University, Fresno
The Black Faculty and Staff Association at California State University, Fresno, would like to take this opportunity to offer its heartfelt congratulations to the university’s African American Graduates for 2020. We recognize the tremendous amount of work, sacrifice and tenacity needed to make it to this life changing accomplishment. We also want to congratulate the parents, families, guardians, mentors and supporters who now bear Ms. Lynnette Brown, witness to this monumental M.B.A, M.Ed, President transition. For some of you, of Black Faculty Staff this means more work, as Association, at California you seek to contribute to State University, Fresno your communities, finding employment, and/or going on to graduate study. For others, it may mean a well-deserved rest before moving on to the next chapter in your lives. As you continue through these new pathways, we are certain that you will continue to serve your communities, mentor those coming up behind you and do all you can to inspire, encourage and amaze yourselves in which you come in contact!
Volume 54 ~ No 10 July 3, 2020
P.O. Box 11826 • Fresno, CA 93775 www.caladvocate.com
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