Uncategorized

Cal State East Bay Took in 74 Students in Wake of Hurricane Katrina

Published

11 years ago

September 15, 2015

Aug. 29, 2015, marked a decade since Katrina, one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States, made landfall in southeast Louisiana.

Thirty colleges on the Gulf Coast were affected by the hurricane and devastating floods that followed. Fourteen were shut down, with damage estimated at $1.5 billion, and more than 100,000 students were forced to take the semester off or enroll elsewhere.

The California State University system responded by bringing in more than 300 of those students — and CSU East Bay opened its doors to the biggest number.

“The California State University wants to make sure that the educational goals of students are not interrupted by this devastating hurricane,” said now retired CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed at the time. “We will do what we can, as fast as we can, to help out these students and their families.”

“We just had to say, if you were admitted to a school that was affected, just come, and we’ll find the place for you — and they came. A lot of them came,” said Dr. Diana Balgas, special assistant to the vice president of student affairs and director of assessment at CSUEB.

In total, 74 students displaced by Katrina were welcomed to attend Cal State East Bay without transcripts or the ability to immediately pay fees.

They were also exempt from paying non-resident tuition.

“We wanted to show our support for these students in the wake of such a disaster,” said Stan Hébert III, associate vice president and dean of students. “Our efforts included mentoring, clothing donations, housing, textbook scholarships and more to help normalize their transition to our university.”

Jenerro Lockhart earned his BS and MBA at Cal State East Bay after Hurricane Katrina forced him to leave his former school, Southern University at New Orleans.

Jenerro Lockhart (BS ’08 Biological Science, MBA ’11 Business Administration), who was born and raised in New Orleans, was among the first to arrive. Southern University at New Orleans, where he was enrolled, was underwater. Heartbroken and knowing it would be years before the university could rebuild, Lockhart turned his attention toward Cal State East Bay, which he had visited during a recent trip to California to visit a friend. Within weeks of the hurricane, he made the 2,000-mile journey west with only $60 in his pocket.

“I had visited the campus before and kind of wondered what it would be like to go there,” Lockhart said. “I thought that it would be an opportunity to keep my mind from going all over the place and stressing about home and family and stuff, so I decided to just enroll.”

“We worked very quickly at assembling a team of individuals in key areas: admissions, financial aid, and housing,” said Balgas, whose role was to create the Katrina Scholars Program to coordinate services. “We all put our heads together to figure out what we could do and what our response would be, so when we said, ‘Yes! Come to East Bay,’ we had a team in place that could easily serve those students.”

Balgas recalls that some students came with only the clothes on their back, along with immense feelings of worry and guilt about what they had left behind. The students navigated rising floodwaters and closed roads to get out of Louisiana and Mississippi. One student took a boat, then a plane ride, and then hitchhiked on a big rig to get to Cal State East Bay.

“When I evacuated, I packed a few things for a temporary evacuation,” said Kelli Patterson (BA ‘08 Liberal Studies). “When I learned that the school was closed, and we couldn’t even return to gather personal belongings, reality sunk in. I’ll admit I was pretty lost in what to do next.”

“At first it was about survival, family, basic necessities, but then it wasabout looking at their future opportunity and what college meant for them,” said Balgas.

Clothing and fundraising drives were organized and several thousand dollars were raised, mostly in the form of gift cards. Mervyn’s, a Hayward-based department store chain, sponsored a shopping spree and the CSUEB African American Faculty and Staff Association hosted a reception in honor of the incoming students.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Uncategorized

New Protections for Ticket Buyers: Gov. Newsom Signs Assemblymember Isaac Bryan’s Bill

OAKLAND POST — Assembly Bill 1349 expands state regulation of original ticket sellers, resellers and online resale marketplaces. The law targets deceptive sales practices, ticket-buying software and speculative listings — tickets advertised for sale by sellers who do not possess them or have authorization to sell them.

Published

6 days ago

October 4, 2026

Post News Group

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights). File photo.

By California Black Media Staff

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Sept. 27 authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) that strengthens consumer protections for Californians purchasing tickets to concerts, sporting events and other live entertainment.

Assembly Bill 1349 expands state regulation of original ticket sellers, resellers and online resale marketplaces. The law targets deceptive sales practices, ticket-buying software and speculative listings — tickets advertised for sale by sellers who do not possess them or have authorization to sell them.

“Buying a ticket shouldn’t come with hidden risks or unfair practices,” Newsom wrote on social media after signing the measure.

Under AB 1349, ticket sellers are prohibited from listing tickets before they have been officially released unless they have authorization or a legally enforceable right to receive them. Online marketplaces must also take reasonable steps to prevent speculative ticket sales on their platforms.

The law prohibits sellers from using bots, multiple accounts, email addresses or internet protocol addresses to circumvent ticket limits, presale restrictions, electronic queues and other controls. It also bans websites and advertisements designed to mislead buyers into believing they are purchasing tickets from an authorized seller, venue or event organizer.

Sellers who violate certain provisions and fail to provide a promised ticket may be held liable for twice the ticket’s contracted price. Buyers may also recover nonrefundable expenses incurred while attempting to attend an event, along with reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs.

Pastor Tecoy Porter Sr., president of the National Action Network’s Sacramento chapter, said the law establishes needed accountability.

“Buying a ticket to a concert or show shouldn’t mean entering a marketplace where the rules are stacked against you. This year, we worked with a coalition of consumers, civil rights advocates, community groups, and businesses to make AB 1349 stronger. Consumers deserve enforceable rules that protect them. We thank Assemblymember Bryan for his leadership, and we will keep working to make ticketing fair for every Californian.”

Jose L. Barrera, national vice president for the Far West Region of the League of United Latin American Citizens, also praised the measure.

“Californian families deserve certain protections when they buy tickets. Assemblymember Bryan listened to communities across California and delivered a bill that puts fans first. We thank him and Governor Newsom for making it law.”

Post News Group

Posts by Post News Group

Uncategorized

Zakiya Jendayi Arrested, Locked Out of Home by Sheriff’s Deputies

OALAND POST — On Tuesday, deputies followed Jendayi as she left her residence of 13 years to file documents in her case at the Appellate Court. Deputies arrested her upon arrival and transported her to Santa Rita Jail.

Published

6 days ago

October 4, 2026

Post News Group

By Tanya Dennis

Yesterday, more than 10 Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to take possession of Zakiya Jendayi’s home on behalf of a court-appointed administrator. Jendayi was arrested at the courthouse and transported to Santa Rita Jail around the same time.

Jendayi, who has been embroiled in a probate court battle to retain the inheritance bestowed on her by a longtime friend and colleague who passed away in 2013, had received a notice of eviction last month.

With help from neighbors, friends and clergy, she was able to fend off the eviction from 3614 Randolph Ave. in Oakland and even obtained a reprieve when her bid to file bankruptcy was approved by a county court.

But Philip Campbell, the court-appointed administrator, had already placed Jendayi’s home in his name in October 2025.

On Tuesday, deputies followed Jendayi when she left her residence of 13 years to go to the Appellate Court to file documents in her case. Deputies arrested her upon arrival and transported her to Santa Rita jail.

Undersheriff April Luckett-Fahini said Jendayi was arrested for “safety reasons.” At this time, it is unknown what charges were used for the arrest.

In Jendayi’s absence, Campbell came to her residence accompanied by deputies, had the property taped off with yellow crime tape, and had the locks changed.

Afterward, Campbell requested a police escort to his car amid several angry neighbors who had been advocating that officials pause the eviction pending Jendayi’s appeal.

“Zakiya Jendayi is a respected Black elder in our community,” said Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas, who has been working with Jendayi to prevent her eviction. “It’s outrageous that she was arrested. There needs to be more justice and equity in our probate system.”

Post News Group

Posts by Post News Group

Uncategorized

Ask California: Golden State Releases New AI Chatbot

Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced the prototype as part of the state’s broader effort to use artificial intelligence to make government services easier to access. The launch follows his March 2026 executive order directing state agencies to responsibly implement generative AI while protecting privacy, security and civil liberties.

Published

3 weeks ago

September 22, 2026

Post News Group

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California has launched AskCA, a new artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed to help residents find and navigate state and local government services through a single online platform.

Developed by the state’s Office of Data and Innovation, AskCA is designed around major life events rather than individual government agencies. Californians can use the tool to find information about finding a job, starting a business, accessing family services and recovering from disasters.

“When a Californian needs help, they shouldn’t have to become an expert in government to find it,” said Newsom. “We’re using the best technology California has to offer to make the government more efficient, effective, and more engaged.”

The state is now seeking Californians age 18 and older to participate in the pilot and help test and refine AskCA’s responses. Officials said subject matter experts across state governments are helping inform the chatbot’s answers, which are designed to draw from verified government sources and provide actionable information.

The prototype grew out of California’s response to the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Early testing included more than 140 fire recovery leaders and Altadena wildfire survivors, a dozen job seekers and more than 100 general users.

Jeffery Marino, director of the Office of Data and Innovation, said the tool is intended to remove the need for residents to understand how government agencies are organized before they can get help.

“Californians should not have to understand how the government is organized just to get basic help,” Marino said.

AskCA’s technology will also be used in a new job-skills matching feature that the California Department of Human Resources plans to launch Sept. 30 on CalCareers. Job seekers will be able to upload a resume and receive potential matches to state job classifications.

The state said the CalCareers pilot will not store personal information or require users to have a CalCareers account. California plans to continue testing AskCA as officials evaluate its accuracy, performance and usefulness before expanding the system.