e-Newsletter: July 2005
A "SMASH"ing Summer
Summer is here and off to a "SMASH"ing start as the number of Bay Area high school students attending Level Playing Field Institutes Summer Math & Science Honors Academy (SMASH) has doubled to 48. The students moved into their dormitory on the UC Berkeley campus on July 5th and began their intensive, six-week program of science, math, and English classes taught by experienced and credentialed high school teachers.
Joining the SMASH students this summer is the new program director, Irene St. Roseman. Irene was the former director of a college preparatory program for socio-economically disadvantaged students of color at Menlo-Atherton High School, and has fifteen years of experience as a professional educator. Irene will run the logistics of the summer program and assist the founding director in developing a more robust school-year program.
In addition to their in-class work, SMASH students also conduct a variety of lab experiments, meet math and science professionals, take educational and recreational field trips, and grow to become a community supportive of each other. The ultimate goal of the program is to encourage students from underrepresented communities (Hispanic/Latino, African American and Native Americans) to excel scholastically and pursue studies in math, technology, engineering, or science at top colleges and graduate schools.
Summer Reflections by IDEAL Scholar Anthony Franco
I just finished my second year at UC Berkeley where I am studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Since I first could get my hands on computers, I've been fascinated by the process of creating software. At UC Berkeley, I realized that the playing field was not exactly level. Many of the other students in my class who I had to compete with had gone to private schools where they've been taking computer courses for years already or had parents who were already leaders in the computing field. Luckily, I've had the support of IDEAL to allow me to compete.
I did not have to worry about working my way through college since IDEAL provided the financial help that allowed me to focus solely on my studies. I knew that receiving a summer internship would not only help me gain experience in the computer field, but also open doors for other opportunities. Having no previous experience working for a computer company, it would have been very difficult for me to get an internship without already having connections to the computer field. Despite performing at the top of my courses, I felt I was losing the race as the peers around me were receiving internships in their parent's companies. To improve my ability of attaining an internship, I took a Python course on Rapid Prototyping since I knew that Python was becoming a very important language in software development. With that coursework and the help of connections from IDEAL, I was fortunate enough to land my first summer internship in the computer industry.
For the past two months I've had the privilege of interning for Open Source Applications Foundation. I've been working as a Software Quality Assurance Intern, helping with the creation of high-quality, bug-free code. While I've been here, I've also been able to gain experience that I will use for the rest of my life. From my vantage point, I am able to witness first-hand the process necessary for creating a high-quality piece of software. By opening this door of opportunity, IDEAL has exposed me to a wide range of knowledge I would have never experienced. It is this knowledge I hope to one day be able to apply to my own computer company.
IDEAL invests in high-caliber, underrepresented students by providing resources and support to maximize their educational experiences and leadership opportunities during college and beyond. IDEAL scholars like Anthony are presently involved in internships and summer educational programs all over the country.
Learn more about IDEAL Scholars here.
Mixed Heritage Student Leadership Retreat
This August 16th 19th, the Campus Awareness & Compliance Initiative (CACI), a MAVIN Foundation project in collaboration with Level Playing Field Institute, will host the 2nd Annual Mixed Heritage Student Leadership Retreat. Building on the success of last years retreat, this will be an opportunity for mixed heritage and transracially adopted students from across the nation to develop valuable leadership and organizing skills, share ideas with students from across the nation, and help build a national mixed heritage student community.
During the three day retreat outside Seattle, Washington, Level Playing Field Institute and MAVIN Foundation staff will lead workshops and work with 30-40 students to help them start or strengthen existing mixed heritage student organizations. Through this partnership, Level Playing Field Institute demonstrates a commitment to fostering leadership in the mixed heritage community so students can create a voice for themselves on their campuses and beyond.
The Campus Awareness & Compliance Initiative (CACI) seeks to support the full inclusion of mixed race and transracially adopted students at U.S. colleges and universities. We achieve this mission through trainings, resources, activist opportunities, and research.
Boom, Bust, Recovery, and Your Worklife
From the peak of the high tech boom in the late 90s to the bust and slow recovery, Level Playing Field Institutes founder, Dr. Freada Kapor Klein, has conducted extensive quality of worklife surveys with Silicon Valley and East Coast start-ups. In 2002, Level Playing Field Institute received control of the endeavor, and the project is currently completing its sixth consecutive year.
Level Playing Field Institutes quality of worklife surveys address a broad range of topics, from satisfaction with ones daily work, co-workers, manager, and benefits; to perceptions of diversity; experiences of inappropriate conduct; and corporate climate and values. Participants are also given multiple opportunities to answer open-ended questions in their own words. Thanks to our customized anonymous survey software, participants can share their honest, unedited opinions about the pros and cons of working in the high tech start-up world.
Companies which participate in the annual survey project, receive a customized report with company-specific data and recommendations, as well as aggregate data about all participating companies. Companies that have participated for all six years can track the changes in their culture and employees attitudes across the rollercoaster ride of start-up life.
Aside from providing valuable information to participating companies, specific survey data about the factors that influence employees to leave their current jobs, the types of barriers they faced at their workplace, and the role of management in workplace issues have also shaped Level Playing Field Institutes workplace research interests. Building on the worklife survey and our HOW-FAIR research, we have recently embarked on a study which will examine why women and people of color leave corporate and professional workplaces. Look for updates on the Level Playing Field Institute website (www.LPFI.org) and in future editions of this e-newsletter.
