e-Newsletter: November 2008
Dr. Art Wong as new LPFI Board Chair
I am pleased to introduce my colleague and friend, Dr. Art Wong, as LPFI’s Board Chair. Art is a founder of the IDEAL Scholars Program, and we served together on the Executive Board for the College of Letters and Science at UC Berkeley. Dr. Wong's civic leadership reflects his deep commitment to education and college access.
Art himself is a Cal alum, as he earned a degree in History from UC Berkeley before completing his M.D. at George Washington University. Art was a board-certified practitioner of emergency medicine, and he has been a twenty-year fellow at the American College of Emergency Physicians. While serving as the Director of Emergency Services at UCSF Mount Zion Hospital, Art combined his business and medical skills as the CEO of the Emergency Physicians Medical Group. He subsequently led the Meriten Emergency Management Company in a similar capacity, and today continues to work with healthcare providers as a consultant. Art has also been deeply involved in our community as a board member of the San Francisco YMCA, the Huckleberry Youth Program and the San Francisco Day School.
As founder of LPFI, I will continue to serve on the board and work closely with our programs to continue the vision we started 7 years ago. It's an exciting time to continue the work for racial justice.
My best,
Freada
SMASH Scholar writes home to LPFI
One of LPFI's SMASH graduates, Vincent, is now a freshman at Middlebury College in Vermont. One hundred percent of SMASH graduates are now enrolled in college, and we are tracking their continued achievement. Here's part of a recent email update from Vincent:
"Classes are going well for me so far. I just had midterms last week. Though I did well on my biology midterm, I have a feeling that computer science did not go too well. Maybe I should have taken Trevor’s tech class at some point over the summer at SMASH! Other exams went great. There is also so much to do here. The food is so delicious, the campus is gorgeous, my professors are lively, and my average class size is 15 students. I am involved in meditation and also sing in an a capella group. I feel so supported by my peers and professors. I can’t imagine myself at any other place."
Thanks for helping us encourage students like Vincent to excel!
New Workplace Tool to Mitigate Bias
Everyone has biases and many of us spend countless hours in front of our computers --two elements that inspired one of LPFI’s latest workplace projects. Research shows that seeing materials that challenge biases can help people counteract negative stereotypes. A leading social psychologist at Harvard keeps positive images of different groups of people to combat her own implicit biases!
In light of this dynamic, Workplace Programs is currently creating screensavers and other multi-media products that feature contributions and achievements of traditionally underrepresented groups. We are tailoring screensavers around different industries, demographic groups, and themes—for example, African American inventors. Our goal is to partner with companies to deploy screensavers tailored to their workforces. If your company is customized screensavers to mitigate bias, please contact [jacqueline AT lpfi DOT org].
Fairness Matters Gala a success!
Many thanks to all the sponsors, table hosts, donors, and guests who attended the 2008 Fairness Matters Gala on October 17. This third annual fall fundraiser helped us ensure that we can continue supporting LPFI education programs. We were all moved by the videos of SMASH scholars making their own documentaries and of the words of an IDEAL Scholar who shared how LPFI was the "miracle" she needed to pursue her education. We were also pleased to have dinner host Judy Wade help honor Lux Honorees Dr. Tyrone Hayes and Justice Matters Institute. Thanks to all who made the evening sparkle.
