CSULB Black Scholars' Newsletter

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH

BLACK SCHOLARS' NEWSLETTER

December 7, 2022

The Black Scholars Newsletter exists to share dynamic, informative and empowering knowledge that uplifts, encourages, and inspires our community.

Co-Editors Kayla Brooks and Teylor Graves

Staff Highlight

Kathyann King

Administrative Support and Special Events Coordinator for the CSULB Upward Bound Program

By Kayla Brooks and Kathyann King

Kathyann King is the Administrative Support and Special Events Coordinator for the (California State University-Long Beach) CSULB Upward Bound Program. She was born and raised in Speights town, Barbados and immigrated to the United States fifteen years ago. Initially, she obtained her associate degree from Los Angeles Harbor College. Kathyann’s perseverance and tenacity amidst various challenges have allowed her the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and a master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy (nonprofit organization emphasis). In 2014 Kathyann joined the CSULB family and in 2017 she began her role at Upward Bound, providing academic and supportive services for students and parents. Among her most memorable experiences are having parents confide in her and helping them find ways to support entire family units. These experiences led to the implementation of the “Parent Pop UP Pantry” with her office serving as a resource’s reception center and service place for those in need of resources. Kathyann takes pride in having built connections with people that have joined the program and credits her relationship with her sons for her passion. In her words, her boys “keep her young,” and one of her greatest joys in life is being a mother to them. She states that raising them has taught her the importance of “talking to your kids instead of talking at them,” a message she has shared with other parents. Kathyann wants to use her experience to inspire others to keep striving amidst adversity. It is her plan to continue to work towards that goal.

Student Highlight

Diamond Byrd

Executive Vice President of CSULB ASI, Masters Student

This is part one of the Black Scholars Community and Alumni Newsletter Student Highlight interview with CSULB Black Alumni Community journalist, Imani Moses and CSULB Executive Vice President, Diamond Byrd. In the first half of the interview Diamond explains how she was able to manage being in the military while obtaining her bachelor's degree and offers advice on how to form a community during your first year on campus. Part two of Imani and Diamond's video will be uploaded in our January issue of the newsletter when we return to campus. Please stay tuned as you do not want to miss hearing this insightful and powerful conversation between these two women. Have a Happy Holiday!

CSULB - Black Alumni - Diamond Byrd & Imani Moses

Black Alumni Highlight

Richmond Kodua

Vice President of Vault Mortgage Company

This is the interview of Tiffany and Curglin Robertson and Vice President at Vault Mortgage, Richmond Kodua the Black Scholars Community and Alumni Newsletter Alumni Highlight. During this interview Richmond talks to Tiffany and Curglin about his career, the importance of networking, and how grateful he is that he attended CSULB.

Exploring Food with Cheyanne

This month Cheyanne visits the campus Farmers Market. Located in front of the Student Wellness and Recreation Center, the Farmers Market has hot food vendors, produce, and other essential items. They accept multiple forms of payment including Apple Pay digital wallet, cash, and SNAP/EBT.

https://www.tiktok.com/@thatgirllchanell/video/7161544902508088622

Black Owned Business Highlight

Krysta Cue of Cue Bakeshop

by Imani Moses

Kyrsta Cue is the owner of Cue Bakeshop and has a background in hospitality in restaurant management. Owning a restaurant has been a long-time dream of hers since she was a little girl. She started her business in 2012 when she was in her senior year of college at San Diego State University selling desserts out of a mini cart. A friend of Kyrsta saw her passion as an entrepreneur and as a class project her friend created her created the Cue Bakeshop brand. Cue’s Bakeshop offers a variety of desserts such as chocolate chip cookies with and without walnuts, vegan chocolate chip cookies with and without walnuts, snickerdoodles, double chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, sea salt chocolate chip cookies, encourage mint cookies, fudge brownie and matcha blondie. The most popular items are chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, vegan chocolate chip with walnut and match blondies. Kyrsta’s favorites are the chocolate chip w/ walnut, snickerdoodles, and fudge brownie with walnuts.

Kyrsta also has a non-profit called Protect the Cookie and she expressed that this is for anyone that is transitioning from a domestic violence relationship, a survivor from a domestic violence relationship or someone who is an advocate or ally and wants to join in helping young women/teens and folks of other identities. The vision of protect the cookie is to provide jobs, safe space, and transformative resources to women* transitioning, stabilizing, and rebuilding their lives pre and post domestic violence. She also emphasizes that they preserve in protecting all cookies. Some advice that Kyrsta offers is to have an anchor in this world of having someone or something that is safe for you. Humble yourself and get the resources/ find a group that will support you, and entrepreneurship, find someone who has a similar likeness in business and mindset as you. Finally, Kyrsta says to have faith, keep going, press forward and believe that!

To find out more about Kyrsta Cue and her business, you can find Kyrsta at @cuebackshop on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and can send her an email at www.cuebakeshop.com to find out where she will be located for pop events, the campus farmers market, and private bookings.

Cue Bakeshop is located at Atlantic & E 46th Street S, Long Beach, CA 90807

Follow CueBakeshop on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at cuebakeshop.

Other Items of Note

The 9th Annual African Cultural Extravaganza 2022

The Long Beach Branch NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) needs your help! In support of Environmental and Climate Justice the NAACP has created a survey to receive more information about our community’s feelings towards environmental and climate change.

To support, please take the survey below the image.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VTLCZB8

Did You Know?

Damon Dunn talks to attendees at the Men’s Success Initiative at CSULB.

(Thomas R. Cordova / Staff Photographer)

Written by Teylor Graves

Did you know longstanding concerns about the enrollment, retention, and success of men of color in community colleges have been exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. While community college student enrollments overall declined 13% during the pandemic, declines for Black and Native American men were notably higher at 26% and 24%, respectively.

In response to the decrease of colored men’s enrollment, retention, and success rate, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and The Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL) has set up accomplished strategies to aid men of color that are already working in the field. To name a few, some of these strategies include requiring all high school seniors to complete and submit an application to a public postsecondary institution in the state, support statewide efforts that reduce or eliminate cost as a barrier to access, and investing in dual Enrollment Programs that targets boys of color. This organization is making a change and breaking down the educational barriers that will lessen the decline of colored men dropping out of college or being enrolled to begin with. For further information, there is a link that directs you to the website page. This will bring much awareness to colored men who struggle with school and provide useful details.