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Nothing pretty about human trafficking

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More than 17,000 individuals are illegally trafficked into the U.S. each year, mostly women forced into the sex trade.   But there are untold numbers of Michigan teens also being swept into this modern-day form of slavery, with the Internet providing a huge assist.

The National Human Trafficking Resource Center received 700 phone calls from Michigan in 2015, resulting in 152 cases against human traffickers.  That was the year Laura Swanson graduated from MSU and began working on her film, Break the Chain, chronicling human trafficking in Michigan.

Thanks to Student Life and Leadership, you have two chances to see the film this month and one chance to talk about it with Swanson, the film’s producer and director.  Either way, educating yourself about human trafficking is the best thing you can do to help stop it.

Tuesday, Jan. 24: Human Trafficking Awareness Event: Break the Chain film viewing, preceded by a discussion with its producer, Laura Swanson, noon to 2:30 p.m., Skylight Café, P-Building.

Wednesday, Jan. 25: Human Trafficking Awareness Event: Break the Chain film viewing, preceded by a speaker from The Alabaster Gift,  a local organization dedicated to helping victims of human trafficking, 11 a.m.to 2 p.m., K301, South Campus.

Attendance at either event can earn you credit toward a cultural competency credit through Macomb Multicultural International Initiatives: http://www.macomb.edu/future-students/campus-life/MMII/cultural-competency-certificate.html.

Only two more months till Spring Break!

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Hey Macomb students: welcome to the winter semester! Whether you’re new to our campuses or are returning for your second, third or whatever semester, we are so glad to have you here!

And in case you didn’t know or forgot, Macomb offers you a variety of free resources to help you succeed:

Stay tuned to this blog for more news you can use. And if none of this has chased away your Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) blues, just remember spring break is just two months away. I’m thinking Cancun or Cabo, how about you?

sun

London is calling

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Looking for something a little more sophisticated for your next spring break? From what I’ve seen, London is lovely in March.

There’s Big Ben, Tower of London and Westminster and St. Paul’s cathedrals. There are pubs and parks and Abbey Road, where you will find the most famous zebra crossing in the world.  There is even a nighttime Jack the Ripper tour that will shame your local haunted house.  And as a special treat for all you English majors, Charles Dickens’ house is right around the corner from your hotel.

The trip is led by Phil Barrons, retired humanities professor, and a payment plan is now available through the Cashier’s Office. Contact pbarrons@yahoo.com for more information.

And take it from me, Portobello Road, with its brightly-hued shops and the world’s largest antiques market, is not to be missed.

Digital defenders are the new superheroes

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It’s cloaked in the name Information Technology – Networking Specialist Program, but its no secret that it could make you in more demand than a superhero.

Macomb’s Information Technology – Networking Specialist Program (Cybersecurity) Program can build upon the programming or gaming skills you already have.  You will learn how to defend an organization from hackers, computer viruses or cyber attacks, while preparing to become one of the most sought-after experts in information technology.

“With a background in military security, I knew cybersecurity was, without question, the way to go,” says Don DeVolder, an Army veteran currently interning as a systems coordinator with the Department of Defense and preparing to transfer to Eastern Michigan University. “The classroom and online/hybrid courses at Macomb have been a perfect fit for me to not only learn, but to quickly apply those skills elsewhere.”

In addition to Eastern and Walsh College, a Department of Homeland Security-designated Center of Academic Excellence, credits earned in the program also transfer to many other colleges and universities in Michigan.

Take the first step to becoming a digital defender – go to http://www.macomb.edu/future-students/choose-program/information-technology-networking-specialist-network-security-professonial/index.html now!

Happy Fall Semester!

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Consider all the reasons you have to smile as you head back to campus:

Welcome Back events: Aug. 22-23, with free food, giveaways, vendors and the chance to win a Kindle or Amazon Fire TV Stick, South K Building Patio and the Center P Building Quad, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Libraries: Resources for all your research needs, helpful librarians and The Mug for COFFEE!

Reading and Writing Studios: Consult with these pros and watch the words flow.

Learning Centers: These tutors have been known to reduce stress and promote healthy attitudes.

The Hub and Skylight Café: Let’s do lunch!


Student clubs and activities to keep things interesting: Pokemon Go anyone?

Mama Mia! at the Macomb Center Oct. 11 -13: Ticket discounts for Macomb students!

Fall leaves, apple cider, warm donuts and Halloween. It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

You made it to Thanksgiving break – Nov. 22-26!

Bringing hope and education to Kenyan schoolchildren

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I am always in awe of Rochelle Zaranek, Macomb social work professor, for her tireless efforts on behalf of the disadvantaged. This time, she and two of her former students are spending the next few weeks studying Swahili and packing their suitcases with 900 backpacks and assorted school supplies before heading to Kenya at the end of July.

This brave trio needed six vaccinations and a stash of motion sickness pills before heading to a country where nearly half the population lives below the poverty line and clean drinking water is nearly nonexistent. “But this is something I have always wanted to do,” says the always humble Zaranek. “I know it will be a culturally enriching and beautiful experience.”

Accompanying their former professor on the trip, which is organized by Kensington Community Church, are Ethan Paschall, a doctoral student in psychology at Eastern Michigan University, and Kristine Mannino, a graduate of New York’s LIM (fashion) College and a Big Apple fashionista, no less. With their valuable cargo, much of it donated by Macomb faculty and students, they will visit three schools/orphanages supported by the Pokot Outreach Ministries (POM) that are caring for some 800 children in Kenya’s Pokot region, many of whom have lost one or both parents to disease or violence.

“Their only hope of ever getting out of poverty is through education,” relates Zaranek, who I have had the honor of accompanying on one of the many local service learning projects she takes her students on. “I will be working with social workers to assess the students’ educational needs and when we return, I will be applying for a (Macomb faculty) grant to provide ongoing support.”

Among other things, Zaranek hopes to introduce a peer-to-peer project in which her social work students regularly engage in communications with the six social workers responsible for the three schools/orphanages, located in an arid region of Kenya where drought and famine are commonplace and main roads are rugged at best.

“These social workers don’t have access to many resources,” offers Zaranek, “and my students want to get involved. They want to help.”

 

 

RTA hopes its mass transit plan moves you enough to comment

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Here is a chance to get a look at the master transit plan created by Southeastern Michigan’s Regional Transit Authority (RTA) to provide “seamless connections across Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Wayne counties” and tell the RTA what you think about it.

Your College is one of the sites in Macomb County that the RTA will be holding free public meetings throughout the summer to introduce the plan and solicit comments. The meeting at Macomb will be on Wednesday, June 29, 4 to 7 p.m., in the John Lewis Student Center – K-301.

If you plan to attend, RTA asks that you register at http://rtamichigan.eventbrite.com. If you can’t attend the meeting at Macomb, or one of the others scheduled in Macomb County, you can still view the master transit plan and comment at www.rtamichigan.org. Comments may also be directed by email to masterplaninput@rtamichigan.org.

Sense of purpose defines Most Distinguished Grad

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Every so often, I meet someone who is definitely on the road less travelled. And such is the case with John Der-Ghazarian, Most Distinguished Graduate/commencement speaker for May 2016.

Der-Ghazarian is transferring to Rochester College to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology before entering Saint Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pennsylvania to prepare for the priesthood.

“One reason I am planning on entering the seminary is because I see a lot of people hurting,” says Der-Ghazarian. “I want to be involved in their lives and help them. I have the desire to do what a priest does and be there for a parish family.”

Der-Ghazarian earned the Most Distinguished Graduate and commencement speaking honors through a winning combination of good grades, great essay and a personable interview with faculty and staff judges. For his speech theme, he borrowed from his former soccer coach and encouraged his fellow graduates to “Leave it all on the field.”

“In other words, push yourself to the limit, strive for excellence,” Der-Ghazarian told his audience, “and put every fiber of your being into everything you do.”

Home schooled with his seven siblings, Der-Ghazarian credits his mother and father for showing him how to “leave it all on the field” through their hard work and perseverance. “My mom put her all into teaching us and my dad (also a Macomb grad) put his all into making ends meet,” said Der Ghazarian in his speech. “They left it all on the field so that our family could have a better future.”

Macomb awarded more than 1,600 associate degrees at the end of its winter semester and celebrated those accomplishments at its 95th commencement on May 13. Der-Ghazarian says that addressing those 3,000 graduates and their family and friends was “surreal and amazing.”

I’m betting his parents, who were sitting in the audience, felt the same.

End the semester on a sweet note

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I know the end of a semester can be anything but pleasant. There are exams to study for and term papers to finish and that midnight rant on RateMyProfessors.com to worry about. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

The Learning Centers and Reading and Writing Studios (located in the libraries on South and Center campuses) invite you to celebrate the end of the semester with some sweet treats and a side of stress relief this coming Wednesday and Thursday, May 4 and 5.

On Wednesday, you will find gummy bears, baked goods and help with those MLA and APA guidelines to counter any end-of-the-semester anxiety. On Thursday, coffee and a PB&J bar (build it yourself) are sure to lift your spirits, as well as your blood sugar levels, with a citation doctor on duty to help with last minute touches to that A+ paper. Both days, there will coloring books, origami and raffles to calm any pre-exam nerves.

And don’t worry, there’s no way your professor will know that rant was you.

Thinking of making Wayne State your next home?

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There isn’t a yellow brick road leading to Wayne State’s downtown campus, but it is every bit of a gem as the Emerald City. Located in Detroit’s cultural district, the campus is in walking distance of museums, galleries, theaters, restaurants, not to mention Lions and Tigers, but no bears, oh my. And you have a chance to experience it for free before hanging up your backpack.

Wayne State’s University Bound program is exclusively for community college students planning on transferring to a four-year college or university. It includes an overnight stay in a Wayne State residence hall and workshops introducing you to the resources that would be available if you attended the university. You will also gain insight into the major(s) you are considering and learn about all of the cultural and extracurricular activities on and around Wayne State’s campus. Concert at the Fox anyone?

This free opportunity is brought to you by the Center for Advanced Automotive Technology (CAAT), which is housed at South Campus and funded by a National Science Foundation grant.

This year’s University Bound for community college students will be held May 16-17. Enrollment is limited to 40 students and those interested must register by May 1 at http://www.macomb.edu/resources/university-center/attachments/UniversityBoundWSU.pdf or contact sherwoodp@macomb.edu.