Film and Discussion: East LA Interchange
Dr. Julia Ornelas-Higdon and Dr. Georgina Guzman
Prof. Julia Ornelas-Higdon and Prof. Georgina Guzman invited filmmaker Betsy Kalin
to CSUCI to screen her film “East L.A. Interchange” on March 15, 2017.
Students got to learn about the history and cultural diversity of Boyle Heights; the
city was an example of an early red-lined, racially-mixed community (Jewish, Japanese,
Black, Russian, Mexican residents) in Los Angeles.
Developing a Community Garden to Educate Children At Risk for Diabetes in Underserved Areas of Oxnard
Dr. LaSonya Davis
We aimed to reduce occurrences of obesity and malnutrition in youth, ages 4 – 17, in the underserved areas of Oxnard. Risk factors for diabetes include: obesity, low household income, poor diet, lack of exercise, and being of Latino background. Evidence based nutrition facts show that more variety of foods included in children’s diets, increased water intake, and less sugar can reduce rates of obesity and increase health and well-being. We used Herzberg’s Motivational Theory to teach responsibility of various tasks, independence, provide encouragement, and acknowledge achievements and growth. Obesity costs $19,000 per child. According to the Global Health Institute, “Reducing childhood obesity is a public health priority that has substantial health and economic benefits. These estimates provide the financial consequences of inaction and the potential medical savings from obesity prevention efforts that successfully reduce or delay obesity onset.” Our community needs to be the change and lead the change, to reduce obesity and malnutrition, and to promote healthy lifestyle changes among our children.
Black Faculty & Staff Association (BFSA) Speaker Series
Dr. Angela Timmons
The Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) Speaker/Lecture Series aimed to provide students, staff, faculty and the community-at-large exposure to literary expressions of the African American experience in areas of art, social justice and racial equality. It highlighted three speakers who helped raise cultural awareness, social consciousness, and promote a deeper/greater appreciation for the struggles, contributions and concerns of people of the African Diaspora. Presentations were open to all faculty, students and the community.