Glendale’s Community Newspaper
Vol. 77 No. 8
Inside This Week
www.glendalestar.com
Patrick named GCC’s diversity director BY ANNIKA TOMLIN
Glendale Star Staff Writer
BUSINESS .... 14 Delta Dental awards $775K in local grants
FEATURES .....16 Urban Margarita pairs two special events
February 18, 2021
Dr. Alexander Patrick is taking on the new role of Glendale Community College director of diversity, equity and inclusion for three years. He is in his fifth year serving as part-time residential faculty in the college’s social studies department. “I see this role as working to improve the success of all students, especially the ones who have been marginalized or let out of the system — not just students, though,” Patrick said. “I want to change the culture and equity mindedness. When I’m speaking of equity mindedness, I’m thinking how can we target these areas in the institution that may not be at a place where they are not able to serve not only our students but also our faculty and staff and the other community members. How do we make our college more
equitable?” President Teresa Leyba Ruiz said she’s excited about adding “this very important leadership role.” “We are thrilled that Dr. Patrick is willing to apply his thoughtfulness, intelligence, passion and energy to this position,” she added. Patrick said the application process was similar to any job within the college and that the position — in his words — was created because people were seeing that others within the college and surrounding community value the importance of “diversity, equity and inclusion on campuses.” “I think some people were like, ‘Oh, we are going to hire someone to work with (DEI). This person is going to come up with this mind-blowing idea that is going to fit and correct everything that we have done up until this point, and it will always be the SEE DIRECTOR PAGE 3
Dr. Alexander Patrick is in his fifth year serving as part-time residential faculty in the college’s social studies department. (Photo courtesy Glendale Community College)
Brooklyn Bedding moves HQ to Glendale BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
FEATURES ..... 17 Comedian Steve Trevino coming to the Valley
OPINION..................... 10 BUSINESS.................. 14 FEATURES.................. 16 RELIGION ................... 18 CLASSIFIEDS ............. 20
Glendale Star Executive Editor
Arizona-bred Brooklyn Bedding broke ground on its new 648,165-square-foot manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters in Glendale on Feb. 17. Located at 5301 W. Bethany Home Road, the new home will allow for an expanded retail space and the addition of 150 employees over the next two years. With the completion of the new build slated for December, the company now employs
The Glendale
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more than 250 people in the Valley. “Brooklyn Bedding has come a long way from the early days of selling overstock mattresses to now be in a position to triple mattress production,” said John Merwin, owner and chief executive officer of Brooklyn Bedding. “Over the years, I’ve been asked to define our journey as an American-made brand. No one grows up thinking, ‘I want to build mattresses for a living.’ I read all the books. I went to all the seminars. Every
expert said you’re supposed to find your passion and pursue it. While I was trying to figure out what I should be doing with my life, I was building stuff and doing what I loved. I finally woke up to the fact that that’s success. I try not to lose sight of the fact that I’m building mattresses for people who are waking up to their own potential every day, who are working and dreaming, too.” Family owned since 1995, Brooklyn
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