The Guardsman, Vol. 174, Issue 8, City College of San Francisco

The Guardsman

Does City College of San Francisco struggle with keeping students?

By Logan Dang ldang27@mail.ccsf.edu

Community colleges were on a steady increase in student enrollment from 2001 to 2012, but have been on a decline since. Data from the National Center for Educational Statistics, based on 5,831 postsecondary institutions, shows the student population increased from 23 million to 29 million from 2001 to 2012, but have seen a steady decline with an overall headcount of 25 million in 2021. Moreover, the decline in student enrollment also is evident at City College of San Francisco.

According to City College’s Argos Institutional Headcount datablock, in 2010-2011, the overall headcount of both credit and noncredit students reached 83,718. However, in recent years, City College has been losing students by the thousands, and most recently in 2019-2020, the total headcount reached 53,601, losing around 36% in student enrollment since 2010.

As every student has their own unique circumstances, the reasons vary for why one is deciding to call it quits. During the pandemic, through Opportunity Insight’s Economic Tracker, showed 30.2% of small businesses closed at the height of the pandemic in March and April 2020, leaving many unemployed. Public

Enrollment continues on page 2

Senate Bill 24 Offers Reproductive Protection to Some College Students in California

By Emma Pratt Email espratt8@mail.ccsf.edu

By Jan. 1, University of California and California State University student health clinics will provide abortion medication on campuses, as mandated by Senate Bill 24.

The bill further protects the right to abortion in California, a timely measure as the constitutional right to abortion was overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

“On a federal level, there's a lot of movement to try to make it [abortion] illegal everywhere, you can never be too safe,” said Angelica Campos, a City College student who works at the Women’s Resource Center and is a student member of the college’s Participatory Governance Council. “Even in Orange County, there are already attacks against reproductive rights there, so you never know,” she added.

City of San Clemente Councilmember, Steve Knoblock, of Orange County, proposed a resolution which would limit access to abortion in San Clemente. The resolution never made it to the city council agenda, according to an Aug. 7 article published in The Mercury News on Aug. 7..

Campos and Shella Cervantes, Women’s Resource Center advisor, recently distributed abortion information cards at student support centers on the Ocean Campus. The cards come from Plan C, a campaign that advocates for access to abortion medication in the United States.

Campos took the initiative to suggest having the cards on SB24 continues on page 2

DSPS Accessible Theater Arts Teacher Sparks Creativity, SelfConfidence and Self-Expression

By Beth Lederer bethlyn2020@gmail.com

Judy Goodman teaches with a purpose and is making a difference in the lives of the disability community in San Francisco. A long-time teacher for the Accessible Theater Arts class in the Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) department at City College, Goodman is preparing her students at the Mission Campus for the highly anticipated end of semester performance, “In the Heights.”

Goodman has adapted and directed Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical for the Accessible Theater Arts class. The two performances are scheduled for December 16 at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. in room 109.

Goodman’s accessible theater arts class was in jeopardy of being eliminated when budget cuts threatened the DSPS department in the academic year of 2009-2010. Twelve years later the class is still going strong with many of the same students in attendance.

Goodman was hired by DSPS in 2006 and became a full time instructor in 2017. She received her masters in theater education from Emerson College. Her training is in theater, dance and visual arts.

The joy that manifests in Goodman’s theater arts classes is contagious. Goodman estimates around 75-80% of her students have participated in her classes for over ten years.

Goodman believes in building community and a sense of trust. “That's the most important thing to me is their self confidence, their personal growth, their enthusiasm for art-form as they are learning theater techniques,” Goodman said.

She wants her students to feel encouraged and to feel safe to try new things. “Self

RAMS ARE GOLDEN GATE BOWL CHAMPS

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Graphic by Cindy Chan/The Guardsman

DSPS student Heather Ostrau rehearses a song from the musical, "In The Heights" accompanied by pianinst Paul Griffith at The Mission Campus, room 109. San Francisco, November 18, 2022. Beth Lederer/The Guardsman.

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educational institutions weren’t prepared and moved into a rough transition into online learning where not all students had reliable computers or internet access. In-person learning may have its benefits, but having a dependent and a career can deeply affect whether or not a student decides to continue with their education.

In a recent study conducted in 2021 by the University of Florida, 33% of students reported having issues with their schedules regarding work and family obligations. A

“I have a friend who applied for an internship at Google or one of those tech companies. He kind of found his own job and once he got the internship, he dropped out.”

number of students lived far away from campus, making it difficult for them to attend classes.

As there are many individuals who’ve become successful without a college degree, teenagers and young adults are willing to take a risk to become an entrepreneur or find online learning resources to learn skills to apply for a major firm. A nursing student named Martell Coleman said, “I have a friend who applied for an internship at Google or one of those tech companies. He kind of found his own job and once he got the internship, he dropped out.”

Students also struggle with tuition costs. Residents of San Francisco are eligible for “Free City” or free tuition at City College, but not all students may qualify. Many students find the cost of living expenses in San Francisco very high and

Many students find the cost of living expenses in San Francisco very high and struggle to pay rent, utility costs, healthcare, child care, and food expenses.

struggle to pay rent, utility costs, healthcare, child care, and food expenses. The financial aid provided may not provide an adequate amount to support them to continue school.

Textbooks are one huge cost factor when selecting courses for any college, costing hundreds of dollars in some cases. However, City College's program, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, offers vouchers for textbooks, transportation, and counselor meetings. City College and other colleges provide resources for obtaining financial aid that you can find in the financial aid office along with scholarships; however, there are certain issues that students have with City College.

As Coleman said, “I think it’s more of a management issue with CCSF. They cut a lot of the art classes and lost $7 million that no one knew where it went. To me, I think they need to be more transparent, more accountable, and make sure funds are being used properly.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions resorted to online activities, but that proved to be much more difficult. While there are benefits to working and learning from home, students found online learning difficult. A number of students, according to Coleman, had problems with their computers, which led City College to supply Chromebooks. “They ended up using Google Chromebooks that the school supplied them and they said

those are pretty good.”

However, even with one’s computer and internet issues resolved, it is also the role of an instructor to motivate their students. Students of a biological psychology class expressed their concerns with online learning. Michelle Lam, a student at City College, said, “The professor isn’t on top of things. Takes too long to respond to the class, the due dates are confusing, and at the beginning of class, no one could access the textbook because the site was bugging out. We were stuck doing nothing essentially for two weeks.”

Other students mentioned unhelpful instructions and said it was difficult to be motivated. Guidance is an important factor to maintain motivation. Lawrence Lanahan from the Hechinger Report, a nonprofit news organization, reported that Maricopa community colleges struggled with enrollment during the pandemic because students weren’t properly guided to resources that they needed such as financial aid, ID card obtainment, understanding the path toward a specific degree and other issues.

At City College, students felt informed to a certain degree. Jose Burgos,

movies, so it was very different.

“The VA center here was a great help to spend time studying with other people who shared the same experiences as me,” Burgos continued. “They also helped me register with classes and others guided me to other resources.” Burgos said it was challenging to find a schedule of events though, such as athletic events and student recreational activities. “There’s no visualization of things to do, places to go, and other activities,” he added.

But other students provided a more positive outlook about City College.

“There’s a lot of gems within the school; the nursing, CNA, LVN, and EMT departments are amazing and I was always wellinformed about them,” Coleman said.

Elizabeth Hoang, another City College student, said, “I have established a nice relationship with faculty members and felt that I was supported here during my time here in person.”

In-person learning may have its benefits, but having a dependent and a career can deeply affect whether or not a student decides to continue with their education. In a recent study conducted in 2021 by the University of Florida, 33% of students reported having issues with their schedules regarding work and family obligations. A number of students lived far away from

In-person learning may have its benefits,

a former veteran and now a City College student said, “When I graduated from high school, I joined the military so I never really had the college experience. All I had was what they showed on TV and in

student decides to continue with their education.

campus, making it difficult for them to attend classes.

Editor-in-Chief Casey Michie

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Editor-in-Chief JohnTaylor Wildfeuer

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Illustration by Cindy Chan/The Guardsman

“There’s a lot of gems within the school; the nursing, CNA, LVN, and EMT departments are amazing and I was always well-informed about them,”

but having a dependent and a career can deeply affect whether or not a

the Ocean Campus. “The way I see it is, just because it's not there, not to take a radical stance, but if the program is not already existing [at City College], it's kind of pushed off like, ‘oh, there's no need,’” Campos said.

As a student and worker in the Women’s Resource Center, Campos has encountered the health needs of students. “A few times I’ve had students come and ask, ‘Do we have pregnancy testing?’ and those kinds of services, so I think in that general area, there are people looking for reproductive health-related treatment here at the college,” she said.

An estimated 865 to 1,109 community college students in California seek abortions each month, according to a 2021 study published in the Journal of American College Health. The number at UC and CSU campuses is about 500 students per month, according to the ACLU.

Since community colleges aren’t under the mandate, City College hasn’t been granted the funds that UC and CSU campuses have for abortion medicationrelated expenses. Senate Bill 24 grants each UC and CSU campus $200,000 for equipment and staffing, and another $200,000 for 24-hour telehealth services. The bill also provides funding for UC and CSU colleges through private donors, to be administered by the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

“They [student health center] would have to access the funds because it comes with funds to make it happen, and in general, we do not have enough funds to serve all of our students, we need more,” said Maggie Harrison, chair of the Women’s and Gender Studies department. “The financial part would be the limitation,” she added.

City College’s Student Health Center declined to answer questions and said that all media requests must go to the Vice-Chancellor, who did not respond to questions by the time of this story’s publication.

especially since they aren’t going to give us funding through the law.”

Under the bill’s legislation, students will have to pay for the abortion medication itself. Senate Bill 24 only funds its availability on campuses.

The legislation text writes that the risks associated with traveling to get an abortion “negatively impact academic performance and mental health,” and by providing abortion medication on campuses, these risks can be mitigated.

“I think it’s good for supporting students who might not have as much access to it outside of campus, and just making it more accessible so people are really able to take advantage of the support. And I

New arts and sciences building approved for construction at City College

pus, and just making it more accessible so people are really able to take advantage of the support.

think it’s really cool that it's going to be through school now, so people who may be too young or may not have documentations are able to reap the benefits,” said Livi Grace, a student at City College who is studying early childhood development to become a teacher.

Campos agreed. “I think we really need it [abortion medication],” she said.“I think we need that service, because like I said, we already have pregnancy testing, we already have these kinds of basic services, why not add one more thing to help college life be easier, because sometimes you can’t go to any of the hospitals in the city and try to get back to class in time.”

By Ann Marie Galvan Email agalvan1@mail.ccsf.edu

Construction for City College’s new STEAM building was approved by the California Division of the State Architect (DSA). Funded by Proposition A, an $845 million bond passed by voters in 2020, the groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15, at 9:30 a.m., according to Brigitte Davila, president of the board of trustees.

The currently unnamed STEAM building, which stands for “sciences, technology, engineering, arts, and math,” will be a multidisciplinary classroom building that will bring updated facilities and resources to campus, with bigger rooms to accommodate larger classroom sizes. The impact report submitted to the city by City College in 2020 states that the STEAM building will be four to five stories and will be built “on the west side of Frida Kahlo Way.”

nia,” Trustee Thea Selby said in a video released by City College. Originally built in 1935, about 70% of the buildings on Ocean Campus need renovations according to the board of trustees, as reported by The San Francisco Chronicle in 2020.

The STEAM building is one of a few new proposed buildings for the campus. Other buildings include a new student success center, a performing arts center, and a child care center. “Conlan Hall is going to be torn down. The new student center is going to go there. Counseling, financial aid, everything’s going to be in that one,” Rizzo said.

front, so from the street you can see the Diego Rivera mural. We expect that when we give campus tours, they’ll meet there, at the performing arts center.”

The glass, according to Davila, will be a “special glass” that won’t fade Rivera’s mural, and “whether you’re inside the building or outside, you’ll be able to see this absolutely incredible piece of art that City College owns,” she said.

The new performing arts building will also be equipped with the proper equipment to accommodate students in their educational pursuits. “They’ll have practice rooms,” said Madeline Mueller, chair of the music department, in the college’s release video. “We aren’t able in the music department to offer a transfer degree because we don’t have the proper facilities,” she added.

Under the bill’s legislation, students will have to pay for the abortion medication itself. Senate Bill 24 only funds its availability on campuses.

“We’re playing catchup with this pandemic,” Cervantes said. “I haven’t been in conversations about access to this [abortion] medication yet. I don’t know how ready we are to work on that yet,

“It’s easier to get those services in your community,” she added.

Several Women’s and Gender studies courses WGST 25, WGST 54, and WGST 55, “offer a curriculum that addresses reproductive rights, reproductive freedom, and reproductive justice,” Harrison said. Health department course HLTH 25 is also valuable in this area. “If you want to learn about women's health, particularly related to reproduction, I think the women's health classes would be a great resource for students,” Harrison added.

“Our facilities are really old and inadequate. The lack of heat, the leaky roofs. These [new] facilities are going to be great. It’s like it’s going to be the Ocean Campus reborn. It’s going to transform the campus,” said John Rizzo, vice president of the board of trustees.

“We’re one of the oldest community colleges in Califor-

A new performing arts center is also slated for construction, although the plans have not yet been submitted to the DSA, according to Rizzo. Planned to be directly across the Science Hall, it will also be next to the new STEAM building “because the arts inform the sciences, and vice versa. Both are very creative areas,” Davila said.

The performing arts center will also be the new home for the Diego Rivera “Pan American Unity” mural that is currently on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

“That’s going to be the centerpiece of the campus,” Rizzo said. “It’s going to have a glass

It’s currently unknown if construction will begin by the end of the year. “I think it’s possible,” Rizzo said. “It depends on what you define as construction because they start staging and moving in, and they put in trailers for engineers and the managers.” He added that the campus may see workers put up construction fences.

With plans to tear down Conlan Hall, administration will also need to find a new home.

“I think it’s good for supporting students who might not have as much access to it outside of cam-

CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO STEAM COMPLEX. Image courtesy of Rudolph and Sletten.

CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO STEAM COMPLEX. Image courtesy of LPA Design Studios.

DSPS continued from page 1

expression is very important to me, whatever project we do, I’m looking for ways to personalize it and make it more meaningful and age appropriate,” she said.

Throughout the class period, Ane Voong who has attended the theater arts classes since 2005 and has taught her own yoga class at the ARC, feels free to be self expressive. She executed beautiful lines, in a ballet-like dance as she gracefully glided throughout the spacious, wheelchair accessible room 109.

Goodman is rehearsing with her Friday class for the performance “In The Heights.” Most of the students participate fully. Their eyes concentrate on the scripts and are fully engaged. Goodman also looks at their attention span and receives enjoyment from her students wanting them to be engaged without being prompted.

There is a huge amount of diversity within the class in how much the students can participate. It is a collaborative effort between Goodman, the support staff, the students and the caretakers.

class in how much the students can participate.

There are some students who have limited mobility and others who have intellectual disabilities. In the Friday class, most students can read from a script although if they are lacking in those skills, support staff is available and eager to help them with the lines.

The classes are very well thought out and run very efficiently. For many of the students, there is comfort knowing there are classes to look forward to each week.

Both virtual and in person theater classes start with the opening circle where it feels like a joyous celebration, a dance party. This may be the funniest part of the class and the most inclusive. The Friday class danced to Van Halen’s “Jump,” Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop That Feeling,” and Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off.”

In the opening circle, each student gets to have the spotlight put on them. The whole class is supportive, clapping for their classmates as the student enters the circle to showcase their creative expression. There are shouts “Go Danny, go Paul, go Raymond, go Kerry, go Tyler, go Sally, go Anna, go Jessica.” Getting into the opening circle is not easy for everyone although every student contributes what they can. The students with limited mobility go into the circle and dance, maneuvering their wheelchairs or their caretakers lift them and walk them into the circle where they can be spotlighted.

The students show compassion and patience for each other's disabilities. This was demonstrated when one student got emotional during the opening circle. She started to cry thinking about her birthday that was soon approaching. The whole class went into an impromptu singing of “Happy Birthday” with the guidance of Goodman and the volunteer pianist, Paul Griffiths.

Goodman receives respect and admiration from her students. They respond positively to her teaching style, giving her full attention. The scenes move swiftly as many students are pushed to leave their comfort zone. Each class she aims to complete four or five scenes.

Goodman believes in her students' potential. “I see growth in their ability to portray a part other than themselves, project their voices and overall selfconfidence to perform on stage,” she said.

Monday and Friday theater classes have a different format. On Mondays, the class is done virtually.

Hannah Thomason, Assistant Supervisor-Adult Day Services for Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center(PRRC) is a supporting staff in the virtual class and likes seeing the students participate in a meaningful and creative way.

Lanier Green is a middle aged student, who takes theater arts classes virtually on Zoom. Thomason describes Green as someone who has been attending PRRC for the last 46 years. He takes a variety of classes both virtually and at PRRC that focus on encouraging self expression and promoting personal achievement. For Green, taking classes leads to greater independence.

Green said, “Dancing and movement are my favorite parts of the class.”

For Green and many other participants, the quality of their lives are improved by having these classes available to them. “I look forward to it,” Green said.

For Green and many other participants, the quality of their lives are improved by having these classes available to them.

In the Friday afternoon class, Goodman leads the class in voice exercises where they practice projecting their voice and articulating their words. The class repeats after Goodman, “Dominican Republic, barrio, fashion designer, abuela.” The class shows enthusiasm for this exercise. For many students, saying the more difficult words is a good challenge.

Paul Griffiths has a multitude of titles. He is the volunteer pianist in the class whose piano playing uplifts and energizes the class. He is also a support staff and transports a few students to the theater class from the agency, Work Link.

Griffiths enjoys seeing the growth of the students. “The program is really good for giving people confidence in reading and public speaking. You can see people blossoming. It’s amazing to watch the play all come together. I love to contribute something myself personally. The music kind of knits everything together.”

There is a lot of enthusiasm in the opening act when the whole cast says, “Welcome to Washington Heights”

Goodman, Griffiths and the students added a little San Francisco flair to the musical with their original song, “In the Heart of the Mission.” Goodman wrote the chorus and the students contributed individual lines about the Mission. Griffiths composed the music.

To get ready for the big performance the students practice singing, dancing, learning the rhythm to a song, reciting a rap poem and rehearsing different acts.

When asked about leading roles, Goodman said, “It’s all

DSPS students rehearsing for the adapted musical "In The Heights". From left to right, Jin Ping Guan, Heather Ostrau, Karla Sanchez, Gary Gregerson, Calvin Fitch, Anna Downing, Kris Moser, Judy Goodman, Sally Lowell, Danny de La Rosa, Tyler Quach, Raymond Phan, Julio Dominguez. Performance is on December 16 in room 109 at The Mission Campus. San Francisco, November 18, 2022. Beth Lederer/The Guardsman.

There is a huge amount of diversity within the

Accesible Theater Arts teacher, Judy Goodman at Mission Campus, Room 109 with Moser family, Anna Downing, Kristine Moser-Downing, Richard Downing. San Francisco, November 18, 2022. Beth Lederer/The Guardsman.

DSPS students are preparing for the adapted musical "In The Heights". Performance is on December 16 in room 109 at The Mission Campus. San Francisco, November 18, 2022. Beth Lederer/The Guardsman.

DSPS students Julio Dominguez, Raymond Phan, Gary Gregerson, Danny De La Rosa, Ane Voong, rehearse for the big performance "In The Heights" on December 16 at The Mission Campus, room 109. San Francisco, November 18, 2022. Beth Lederer/The Guardsman.

DSPS students Regina Patterson, Kerry Yee, Vernae Gallaread rehearsing for the adapted musical "In The Heights". Performance is on December 16 in room 109 at The Mission Campus. San Francisco, November 18, 2022. Beth Lederer/The Guardsman.

ensemble based and all students play multiple parts.”

There is a lot of enthusiasm in the opening act when the whole cast says, “Welcome to Washington Heights” and then the narrator says, ”This is the story of a family, a community of unity.” Then in unison, projecting their voices, the whole ensemble repeats it back.

As Goodman is figuring out a scene, an “aha” moment occurs. Goodman said to the class, “Isn’t it so much fun to sing together in person after so much time on Zoom?”

Both Kris Moser and Richard Downing accompanied their daughter Anna to class. Downing lifted Anna from her wheelchair and brought her into the circle during the opening circle. Downing was good at projecting his voice and appeared to enjoy participating in the rehearsals for the musical.

Moser brought Anna into the circle during her scenes. Anna’s talker is programmed to say her lines. In the class everyone gets to participate. When it was Anna’s turn, Moser directed Anna to touch the square on the screen. Anna participated to the best of her ability which was a source of pride for Anna and her family.

“Free community classes are so vital for socialization, community building and preventing isolation. Isolation is often a precursor to health problems,” Fitch said.

City College’s historic Community Health Worker Program changes lives

Bob Fitch, who taught for DSPS for 20 years, visited the drama class at Mission campus. “Free community classes are so vital for socialization, community building and preventing isolation. Isolation is often a precursor to health problems,” Fitch said.

Vernae Gallaread, another student in the class, said her favorite part of the class was, “We just don't have to be ourselves, we get to play different characters.”

Student Kerry Yee said, “I get to see everybody from different agencies. I like seeing all my friends, I get to not be myself. I get to be a different character. I get to leave the house. This is my favorite class.”

Goodman’s class demonstrates that when students are given the chance to succeed, with the right accommodations as provided by the DSPS department, true magic can happen in the classroom.

By Ellen Yoshitsugu Email egiese@mail.ccsf.edu

A Community Health Worker (CHW), or Promotor de Salud, is a trusted community member, paid or unpaid, who provides a bridge for their community to the health care system and related social services. The CHW certificate program in City College’s Health Education Department has been preparing CHWs for decades.

Institutions have realized that not only are CHWs “cost effective,” they are more effective than the medical system alone.

“CHWs are frontline agents of change, helping to reduce health disparities in underserved communities,” according to the Health Disparities Initiative of the National Institutes of Health.

Students come to the CHW program by diverse paths. As a child, program manager Andrew Ciscel was the main medical support person for his mother who had multiple sclerosis. Becoming a CHW felt right to him.

Some students were health professionals in their home countries, and with a CHW certificate they can continue working in health care while they improve their English, according to Ciscel. Or students can apply for a permanent job with the SF Department of Public health (SF DPH).

Inspired by the support her family got at the University of California San Francisco medical center during her great grandmother’s last days, Angelica Navarez said, “I felt like I needed to give back.” Navarez, who is the Associated Students President for John Adams campus, volunteers as a health advocate at SF General Hospital while continuing her public health studies.

Nevarez said that people think, “I can’t go to the doctor, I already have this medical bill,” or “I’ll just drive myself because the ambulance is $700,” or “I’ll just handle this at home because they might ask me for my paperwork.” As a CHW she helps connect them to services.

For example, when her clients complain of rodents or mold in their homes, she fills out

the forms, recaps with the client, and relays that information to SF DPH, saying “we need someone to come out here because this is impacting the client’s asthma.”

CHWs, because they share their client’s lived experiences, “have an urgency to get things done,” and an “empathy that you can't train,” she added.

Coming out of prison after 20 years, another CCSF program graduate, Joe Calderon, first encountered Transitions Clinic Network (TCN) as a client, and now works there as a Senior CHW and National Trainer. The nonprofit, founded in San Francisco’s Bayview district, helps individuals with chronic conditions navigate the medical system as they return to the community from prison.

“I spent all those years in a box,” said Calderon.” I had the opportunity to address a lot of my shadows and learn to understand my own triggers. And I learned how trauma is one of our community's shadow enemies that's not being addressed.”

He said that if trauma is addressed early and correctly, then many people have the chance to make better choices, “knowing that there's nothing wrong with me, but that there's something that happened to me.”

Today he seeks to empower the community around healthcare and to make amends for the harm he caused, “prior to me knowing who I was.”

“I realized that I was a community health worker, long before I was getting paid for it.”

City College offers related certificate programs such as Addiction and Recovery Counseling and Healthcare Interpreting. They also offer two year and transfer degrees. Units earned towards certificates transfer as electives to four year colleges.

Following recent budget cuts, the CHW program retains most of its electives as areas of emphasis such as elder or youth advocate, HIV and hepatitis care, or health impacts of incarceration, all within the CHW certificate.

One of the oldest in the U.S, the City College program is a respected leader in the growing

field. They literally wrote the CHW textbook, now in its third edition, and trained more CHWs than any other institution.

The value of CHWs in dealing with misinformation and mistrust became obvious during the pandemic. According to Beth Freedman, Health Education department chair, SF DPH hired all their students, saying, “Please send us your students! We need them!”

The CHW model is already widely used internationally. In Costa Rica, public health workers known as ATAP (Asistente Tecnico en Atencion Primaria) are an integral part of their medical system, according to Atul Gawande in a 2021 New Yorker article. “In the United States and elsewhere, public health and medical care are largely separate enterprises. Costa Rica shows the benefits of integrating the two - it spends less than we do and gets better results.”

CHWs are usually funded through grants. Of the four cohorts currently in City College’s program, three are grant funded through arrangements with Sonoma County, the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium and The Homeless Prenatal Program.

But recently millions of dollars have been allocated to hire tens of thousands of CHWs across California as part of a

major multi-year overhaul of the state’s Med-Cal system, California Advancing and Innovating Med-Cal (CalAIM), currently underway.

So counties and other providers can now bill the federal government for hiring CHWs, thus greatly expanding the workforce.

Deeply involved in the rollout of CalAIM at the state level, Calderon advocates not only for CHWs, but also to ensure that justice-involved persons can join the CHW workforce.

The roughly 650,000 people who leave prison every year in the U.S. face many thousands of discriminatory laws sharply limiting their participation in all aspects of society, Calderon said.

“Without employment, you have hopelessness,” he continued, and without hope people return to what they already know.

For real change, the community must be at the table defining the problem and identifying solutions, Calderon said, and the new state CHW certification process must be inclusive, adopt some kind of fair chance for the formerly incarcerated and include a reasonable way to appeal decisions.

“The status quo has never helped the communities that I come from,” he added.

Angelica Nevarez, CHW program graduate and AS President for John Adams campus. Photo Courtesy of Angelica Nevarez.

SF General Hospital Health Advocate badge. Photo courtesy of Angelica Nevarez

Shocking Violations Revealed by Former Worker at AquaBounty Fish Farms

By Janna Velasquez pazworldwide@gmail.com

Would you eat sick fish or genetically modified fish? You may have already, as AquaBounty, the first corporation to gain approval to create a genetically engineered animal to be used for human consumption, has been mixing the genetics of Chinook Salmon and Ocean Pout into an Atlantic salmon, causing rapid growth, heightened aggression, and significant diminishment of nutritional content. Built on the lie of “food scarcity” caused and driven by corporate greed, AquaBounty, based in Massachusetts, raises its creation in land-based farms, one in Indiana and two facilities in Canada. AquaBounty plans to expand, beginning with a new mega-plant in Pioneer, Ohio.

A report released by #BlockCorporateSalmon on Oct. 25 exposes AquaBounty for committing numerous worker, consumer, animal, and environmental safety and health violations. Not only have these “franken-fish,” as the genetically engineered fish have been coined, been proven to be less nutritious and cause severe toxic contamination to the environment, animals and people, these new creatures risk competition with and contamination of already endangered native salmon populations upon escape or release.

Salmon is and has been a sacred keystone species to many Indigenous people all around the world for thousands of years. These people are Salmon People, whose livelihood, culture, and

creation myths center salmon. The #Blockcorporatesalmon campaign works in coalition with numerous other activist and indigenous groups, including the Muckleshoot of the Pacific Northwest, to restore and protect wild salmon and its habitats.

The damning evidence was

collected by former worker at the Indiana facility, Braydon Humphry, who was fired shortly after reporting violations to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The photo and video provided shows

The damning evidence was collected by former worker at the Indiana facility, Braydon Humphry, who was fired shortly after reporting violations to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

worker safety violations; product quality and consumer health risks; containment breaches and effluent water pollution; animal abuse; and unsustainable practices. These revelations have implications not only for AquaBounty, but for pseudo sustainability of farmed and genetically modified fish.

Celia LoBuono Gonzalez, member of #Blockcorporatesalmon campaign, emphasizes that solutions to these atrocities, in addition to halting the production of genetically engineered salmon, must stop the corporate production of salmon altogether, in addition to removing dams and centering and sharing resources with indigenous-led groups, some of which that offer curriculum that can be provided to educational centers, such as schools, universities, churches, and community centers. LoBuono Gonzales leaves us with hope, stating that, with indigenous-led efforts, there have been “promising estimates on regeneration of native salmon populations.”

LoBuono Gonzales leaves us with hope, stating that, with indigenous-led efforts, there have been “promising estimates on regeneration of native salmon populations.”

Salmon is and has been a sacred keystone species to many Indigenous people all around the world for thousands of years.

School of Karafuto Trout, by divedog via Adobe Stock.

Graphic by Cindy Chan/The Guardsman.

Morrissey returns to Bay Area to play at historic Fox Oakland Theater for delighted fans.

By Tyler Lyn Sorrow tylerlynsorrow@gmail.com

Picture it – Oakland, Nov. 18, 2,800 fans pack Oakland's iconic Fox Oakland Theater to see Morrissey in a sold out show. The venue is a glorious testament to the history of Oakland and American design that’s become a favorite with artists. Opened in 1928, it was originally called The Bagdad, and it reflects trends and fascination with the Far East from the time period when “talkies” were just hitting the scene. Twin gold leafed deities flank the stage at the theater and were it not for the modern light-

ing, equipment and fans crowding the stage, Morrissey could have been mistaken for one of his influences from the 60’s. His familiar quiffed hairstyle is a little more silver these days, but then again so am I. Morrissey is frequently labeled as a crooner although he doesn’t fit the definition, just as notable influence Frank Sinatra did not. Instead he’s known for his dramatic and energetic showmanship that hasn't changed from his early days as a lyricist and singer of The Smiths. These days Morrissey floats somewhere between Lounge Singer, MidModern Pop and early Brit Indie

Rock. His sound and lyrics have grown in complexity since then but still exhibits strong elements of overt violence and melancholy blended to create what feels like a pocket in time.

Though he may have been in his salad days, his lyrics from that time flirted with elements of Victorian Gothic Romance, traditional folk storytelling and anti-establishment authoritarianism. These elements have made him popular among Chicanoes and as our society becomes more familiar with acknowledging the ownership of the land we occupy his popularity may grow even further.

On this evening though, Morrissey seemed a bit peaked lending credence to rumors he’s been sick. Once or twice I thought I heard the sound of his voice cracking but despite recent rumors he thrilled fans with the characteristic energy and charisma they’ve come to expect from one of his live shows. Many fans were wearing tour shirts from the 80’s and 90’s that seemed like they lost their original color sometime in the early 2000’s; it demonstrated the legacy of love they have for this man.

Morrissey performed many of his most popular songs from both his solo career and his days

with The Smiths. A chorus of fans sing-along to “Girlfriend in a Coma,” “Everyday Is Like Sunday” and “I Am Not a Dog on a Chain” from his last album. He told the crowd about his his next one titled “Bonfire of the Teenagers,” and said, “It’s the best work of my career after the hardest year of my life.”

If that’s the case “Bonfire of the Teenagers” is sure to go over well with fans and the New Year is shaping up to be a bright one for both the poet and his loving listeners.

Illustration by Tyler Lyn Sorrow/The Guardsman

San Francisco HolidayEvents

By Lateisha Howe lhowe5@mail.ccsf.edu

With the Holidays on the way, there is a little something for everyone. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza or don't celebrate anything, here are some holiday events that even the Grinch would participate in.

Holiday markets:

Nothing says the holidays are here more than a good holiday market to stroll through. Pick up last minute presents, sip on some hot cocoa or mulled wine and take in the festivities.

12/8: The annual Clementine Holiday Stroll 5- 9 pm over on Clement Street in the Inner Richmond. 12/8: Bernal heights Holiday Stroll 5-9 pm

12/9: In the black marketplace, Fillmore 10-6 pm:

12/9: Booker T. Washington Community Service Center Winter Fest 4-8 pm.

12/10: Holiday Makers Market (Ortega and Pacheco) 10 am -3 pm : 12/10: Lakeside Landing Holiday Fair 12/10: West Coast Craft Fair

12/10: La Cocina Holiday Market, Tenderloin 12/10-12/11: Holiday Cultural Crafts Fair, Japantown 12/11: Harvey Milk Center Holiday Craft Fair 12/16: Holiday Night Market and Block Party, Fillmore 12/17: The UICC Holiday Boutique & Artisan Fair 2022

12/18: Miracle on Mission St., SOMA

12/18: Ferry Building Holiday Art Pop-Up Shop 2022, Embarcadero

Lights, Celebrations, and Block Parties:

12/2-12/11 Let’s Glow SF: 10 nights of light, animation, and music with bay area and worldwide artists. At the following locations: One Bush Plaza, The Hobart Building at 582 Market Street, The Pacific Stock Exchange at 301 Pine Street, and Station J at 222 Leidesdorff st.

12/9: Holiday light celebration Salesforce Park 5-7pm at 425 Mission street.

12/10: Parol Lantern Festival 3pm- 8 pm at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

12/10: Halo-Halo Holidays: A festive, outdoors Filipino Holiday Crawl in SOMA pilipinas. 11am-4pm.

12/11: Santa Lucia Celebration at St. Francis' Episcopal Church 10am-12 noon.

12/11: EastCut Winter Fest 3-6pm at The Crossing 250 main street

12/15: Bayview Winter Wonderland 5-8pm at Bayview opera house 4705 3rd street.

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12/16: Fillmore Free Holiday Block Party w/Kids Wonderland & Live Music! 5:30-9pm at Gene Suttle Plaza San Francisco 1508 Fillmore Street

12/18-12/25: Union Square Menorah Lighting: 2-6 pm first lighting ceremony on the 18th. 20th to 22nd 5pm. On the 23rd, 2:30 pm (shabbat). 24th 8 pm. 25th at 5:00 pm. Please arrive before for music and gathering.

12/18: Castro Winter Wonderland Block Party & Contests 11am-5pm at Noe street at Market street

12/31: the Asian Art Museum’s 36th annual New Year Bell Ringing Ceremony. This year’s program will be held virtually for a second year as holiday gatherings continue to be reinvented and renewed. (bell will be struck 108 times)

For The Pups:

There are more puppies than children in SF, so treat your furbaby to something special this holiday season with a howliday party.

12/17: Howliday Party (for the dogs) with Jeffrey's Natural Pet food 12-2 pm at North Beach Store. (1841 Powell Street).

12/18: Bring your dog to Palm House's Second Annual Doggy Christmas Party. 2-6pm at 2032 Union Street.

Wreath and Craft Making Events:

12/10: Wreath-Making at the Botanical Gardens 10am-12pm

12/11: Harvey Milk Center Holiday Craft Fair 11 am-4 pm.

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12/13: San Francisco Public Library Holiday Cupcake Decorating 2:30-4 pm at Golden Gate Valley Meeting Room.

12/14: San Francisco Public Library Winter Paper Crafts 3:30-4:30 at North Beach Library.

Timeless Events:

With plane tickets so high, you don’t have to leave the comfort of the Bay to experience a bit of Scottish fiddles or roam through ‘London’ and or be taken back in time with the ballet classic, The Nutcracker.

12/9-12/10: Handel's Messiah 7:30 pm at Davies Symphony hall.

12/9: The Fire’s Very Scottish Christmas St. Patrick Stage UICC 8 pm (doors open at 7:30):

12/10-12/11: The Great Dickens Fair The A-Z of Tea

12/10: SF Ballet's Nutcracker Inspired Chair Dance & Oral history Virtual event.

12/15: Holiday Concert by the San Francisco Forest Choir 12-1pm at 190 lenox way.

12/17: Film: Scrooged at SF public library 3-5 pm at Park Meeting Room.

12/18: Santa’s Cable Car Ride 12-4pm at 2800 Hyde Street.

Volunteer:

12/9: Holiday Food Pantry at Portola Volunteer 11am-1pm. Family Connections Centers at 2565 San Bruno Ave.

12/21: Giving Tree Volunteer 10am-4pm at 5016 Mission street.

HappyHolidays to all