News

Fremont Students Design and Build Classroom

Published

7 years ago

April 22, 2019

Phong Hoang (far left) and Drew Prober (far right) surround students in their MC3 Design and Build class as they take a break from constructing a classroom. Elvira Rivera Soto stands third from the left and Bill Luna stands next to her, to her right. Photo by Zack Haber

During this 2018-2019 school year, about two dozen Fremont High School seniors are building a new classroom for future students and teachers to use. “I love that I can get pieces of wood and turn them into so many different things,” said Elvira Rivera Soto, who has enjoyed studying wood working since her sophomore year. “Last year’s senior class designed the room, and this year we’re the ones who are building it,” she said.

The project is a year-long class called MC3 Design and Build co-taught by design teacher Phong Hoang and woodworking teacher Drew Prober. Students begin most classes by checking in at Hoang’s quiet classroom full of computers. Then some students move next door to Prober’s classroom filled with the sounds of hammering and sawing while others work just outside, at the construction site of the new room.

“What they’re building is different than a regular classroom because it’s an indoor-outdoor hybrid space,” said Prober. The room will be filled with plants and partially roofed with a large, open area to allow sunlight to stream in. Starting next school year, teachers will be able to sign up to hold their classes in the room if they wish. While classrooms are usually dark and enclosed, Prober sees the room his students are building as “a spacious, green, light-filled” area.

“When you’re in a classroom, you feel confined,” said Bill Luna, another Fremont student who’s working on the project, “so it’ll be nice for students and teachers to have something new and a change of pace.” For design teacher and Fremont High School graduate Hoang, his role at the school and in the project have special significance. “When I went to Fremont I felt that I didn’t get what I needed,” Hoang said.

“So when I came back to teach I wanted to be a part of a movement that taught students skills that would offer them more career choices when they finish high school.” Due to the close proximity of their rooms and the links between their subjects, it didn’t take long for Hoang and Prober to collaborate.

They ran an after-school class together called Design Build where nearby residents would give students projects, like building a bed frame or a stand, that students would then design and build.

After two years, the teachers asked Fremont’s administration if they could expand the after-school class into a regular class. The new class offered them the chance to delve into the two-year project to build a new classroom.

In addition to learning the hard skills, like using a saw and holding a hammer, Hoang and Prober are also happy that the project is teaching students soft skills like teamwork, time management, and applied mathematics. And they’re excited about them taking the skills they learn to apply toward their life, which has begun to happen.

“I’ve seen students use the skills they learn in my or Prober’s classes to rebuild or redesign their garage,” said Hoang. The students and the teachers both see the project as special and different from their other classes. To them, the grades are secondary to the project they’re creating. “It’s a project that is bigger than a grade,” said Prober. “It allows students to see the connection between what they’re doing and how that affects their environment.”

Zack Haber

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Oakland Post: Week of December 10 – 16, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 10 – 16, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Oakland Post

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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#NNPA BlackPress

LIHEAP Funds Released After Weeks of Delay as States and the District Rush to Protect Households from the Cold

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 1, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills. The release follows a shutdown that stretched 43 days and pushed agencies across the country to warn families of possible disruptions.

State officials in Minnesota, Kansas, New York, and Pennsylvania had already issued alerts that the delay could slow the processing of applications or force families to wait until December for help. In Pennsylvania, more than 300,000 households depend on the program each year. Minnesota officials noted that older adults, young children, and people with disabilities face the highest risk as temperatures fall.

The delay also raised concerns among advocates who track household debt tied to rising utility costs. National Energy Assistance Directors Association Executive Director Mark Wolfe said the funds were “essential and long overdue” and added that high arrearages and increased energy prices have strained families seeking help.

Some states faced additional pressure when other services were affected by the shutdown. According to data reviewed by national energy advocates, roughly 68 percent of LIHEAP households also receive nutrition assistance, and the freeze in multiple programs increased the financial burden on low-income residents. Wolfe said families were placed in “an even more precarious situation than usual” as the shutdown stretched into November.

In Maryland, lawmakers urged the Trump administration to release funds after the state recorded its first cold-related death of the season. The Maryland Department of Health reported that a man in his 30s was found outdoors in Frederick County when temperatures dropped. Last winter, the state documented 75 cold-related deaths, the highest number in five years. Rep Kweisi Mfume joined more than 100 House members calling for immediate federal action and said LIHEAP “is not a luxury” for the 100,000 Maryland households that rely on it. He added that seniors and veterans would be placed at risk if the program remained stalled.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore used $10.1 million in state funds to keep benefits moving, but noted that states cannot routinely replace federal dollars. His administration said families that rely on medical equipment requiring electricity are particularly vulnerable.

The District of Columbia has already mapped out its FY26 LIHEAP structure in documents filed with the federal government. The District’s plan shows that heating assistance, cooling assistance, weatherization, and year-round crisis assistance operate from October 1 through September 30. The District allocates 50 percent of its LIHEAP funds to heating assistance, 10 percent to cooling, 13 percent to year-round crisis assistance, 15 percent to weatherization, and 10 percent to administrative costs. Two percent is used for services that help residents reduce energy needs, including education on reading utility bills and identifying energy waste.

The District’s plan lists a minimum LIHEAP benefit of $200 and a maximum of $1,800 for both heating and cooling assistance. Crisis benefits are provided separately and may reach up to $500 when needed to resolve an emergency. The plan states that a household is considered in crisis if it has been disconnected from energy service, if heating oil is at 5 percent or less of capacity, or if the household has at least $200 owed after the regular benefit is applied.

The District’s filing notes that LIHEAP staff conduct outreach through community meetings, senior housing sites, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, social media, posters, and mass mailings. The plan confirms that LIHEAP applicants can apply in person, by mail, by email, or through a mobile-friendly online application and that physically disabled residents may request in-home visits.

As agencies nationwide begin distributing the newly released funds, states continue working through large volumes of applications. Wolfe said LIHEAP administrators “have been notified that the award letters have gone out and the states can begin to draw down the funds.”