Community

McClymonds High Presents: “UBUNTU – South Africa Comes to Mack”

Published

9 years ago

March 26, 2015

A group of 17 South African teachers will come to McClymonds High School this Friday for an evening of music, performance, food, culture, and fun entitled “UBUNTU: South Africa Comes to Mack,” organized by the McClymonds Youth and Family Center, Culture Keepers after school program.

Culture Keepers, a program of the McClymonds Youth and Family Center that was funded by Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, has been focusing for the past few years on identity development, mentorship and genealogy.

This year, in addition to that work, Culture Keepers is organizing a group of 20 students and 10 mentors who will travel to South Africa in July for a two -week cultural exchange project.

“I want to go to South Africa because I want to travel! I’ve never been out of the country or out of the state, and I want to open my eyes to new sites,” said senior Alexis Hill.

Said senior Umiika Rose, “I’ve been to China, and I have seen how traveling has expanded my mindset and has given me great confidence by helping me conquer my fears of flying on an airplane.”

Added senior Cierra Marzett, “It’s important for me to go to South Africa so that I can learn more about the people I come from,” In preparation for the cultural exchange, McClymonds’ students has established a partnership with LEAP Science and Math Schools in South Africa and the organization Teach for Africa.

In preparation for the trip, McClymonds has reached out to a South African group of educators who have been visiting the Bay Area.

During the past month, 17 teachers from the LEAP Science and Math Schools have been serving as guest teachers throughout the area as part of Teach for Africa’s Global Teachers Institute: South Africa-USA Educator Exchange Program.

McClymonds and LEAP have a similar academic focus. McClymonds is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineer, Math) school, and LEAP’s primary focuses are science and math, which gives them a lot in common.

The name of Friday evening’s cultural event is UBUNTU, a South African word meaning “humanity to others” or “I am because we are.”

“It is important for McClymonds to host this group of South African teachers for solidarity. We are a Pan-African family and whenever we travel, we are not visitors, we are home,” said Dr. Siri Brown, chair of the African American Studies Department at Merritt College.

Said McClymonds sophomore Hailey King, “This is important because a lot of people in our community would otherwise, not be able to have this kind of experience or opportunity. They always say that youth like us are disadvantaged. Well, a trip like going to South Africa will help give us an advantage in this world.”

“UBUNTU: South Africa Comes to Mack” will be held on Friday, March 27, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in the game room at McClymonds High School in the game room, 2607 Myrtle Ave. in Oakland.

For more information contact Kharyshi Wiginton at the McClymonds Youth and Family Center at (510) 681-8052 or email sendmacktoafrica@gmail.com or go to www.sendmacktoafrica.com.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

9 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.