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JANUARY 19, 2012
VOLUME 85, ISSUE 9
PUBLISHED SINCE 1927
Sach’s helps create jobs
By Ruby Campos Images Page Editor
Edward Mahurien/Viking
STATE OF THE COLLEGE: President Eloy Oakley delivers the fifth annual State of the College address Friday Jan. 6 to an estimated 400 in attendance. Oakley focused his speech on jobs created through LBCCʼs partnership with Goldman-Sachsʼ small business initiative.
Student support promised " President’s focus turns to minority students in annual speech. By Edward Mahurien Co-Editor in Chief President Eloy Oakley discussed the accomplishments of the past year and gave plans for the year ahead in his fifth annual State of the College address Friday, Jan. 6. The speech was opened with music major Arvi Lapuz singing the national anthem, followed by Spring 2012 ASB cabinet president Ramon Calvillo leading the pledge of allegiance. In front of a crowd of more than 500, Oakley touted jobs created or retained by the college and through LBCC’s partnerships with Goldman Sachs and other small business programs coordinated through LBCC.
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 dents a free first semester. small business initiative is a partThe Long Beach College nership between LBCC and the Promise is a partnership with financial giant. Long Beach Unified, LBCC and Small business leaders may Cal State Long Beach that guarantake part in specialized training, tees placement into core-required paid for by Goldman Sachs, that courses such as English and math. will help them better cope with Oakley said he believes the protoday’s economic reality. In the gram will help students transition address, Oakley stated that 95 better from high school to the riglocal small business owners had ors of college coursework. taken advantage Oakley said of the program, the Pathways and of that, 50 “Unemployment and the educa- Promise will percent have benefit all stution gap has fallen hard.” added new dents, but with employees and added emphasis Eloy Oakley within minority 75 percent have LBCC president seen an increase groups, specifiin revenue after cally Latino and taking the training. African-American students. The LBCC community relaThe focus on minority educations department rolled out a tion was a particular point of focus video highlighting the new phase throughout Oakley’s address. of the Long Beach Promise “The impact of unemployment Pathways Program, which takes and the education gap has fallen effect this Spring semester. It was especially hard on the members of bolstered by a grant from the non- the Latino and African American profit Lumina Foundation that communities,” Oakley said. will grant incoming LBUSD stuHe would clarify that statement
with “Unemployment rates for these people in these communities nearly double those of Whites or Asians and this is largely due to the disparity in rates of college completion.” LBCC hopes to bridge the gap within the Latino community with the Lumina grant awarded last year, which was intended to increase access and success with Latino students, about 40 percent of students at LBCC. “Improving education outcomes for students and especially students of color is the most important economic and civil rights issue of our time,” said Oakley, which drew applause from the majority of people in attendance. One of the major challenges LBCC faces will be to implement the priorities on an ever-declining budget. Oakley painted a grim financial picture for the future stating, “Funding and mandates from the state has changed fundamentally and permanently.”
With the economy the way it is big business is starting to take notice in small business. “Small Business is the backbone of the American economy” said LBCC President Eloy Oakley when talking about the new partnership between Goldman Sachs and LBCC to help 10,000 small businesses in the greater Long Beach area with the new scholarship program. Goldman Sachs is a financial institution cornerstone despite various economic struggles it and the economy have faced recently. The company has it’s eyes on the next possible goliath in the private business sector or at the very least a solid business investment. As a part of the new partnership, selected business owners will receive a scholarship to be a part of business education classes created in partnership with leading business schools from all over the country. Some of the classes provided in the program are business and marketing, business support, and Opportunities to access capital in which Goldman Sachs has committed 20 million dollars in lending support. Helena Whittenberg a business management major said of the program, “That’s good because they’re investing in their future,.” Twelve free information classes are slated for, spring semester 2012 to provide more details about the program. LBCC classes start Jan 4 - 12 at LAC in building o-2 Room 234 from 9:30 - 11 and continue after that in the LBCC small Business Development center Jan 7 - 11 at 309 Pine Avenue in downtown Long Beach. The program begins March 2012 and all business owners are encouraged to apply at lbcc.edu/10000smallbussinesses and download the application.
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