CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
BLACK SCHOLARS' NEWSLETTER
November 3, 2022
The Black Scholars Newsletter exists to share dynamic, informative, and empowering knowledge that uplifts, encourages, and inspires our community.
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Co-Editors Kayla Brooks and Teylor Graves |
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Paul Carter
Assistant Director, Black Resource Center
By Kayla Brooks
Paul Carter is Assistant Director of the Black Resource Center. He grew up in Los Angeles, in Leimert Park, also known as “Lil Africa” and credits the area for his desire to help Black youth. He attended a predominantly white institution, Pomona college, a small liberal arts school in Claremont, California. It was there that he started his journey of helping Black students get the support and resources that they needed to thrive in college. He was one of not too many Black students on campus, so he decided to become a part of the Black student mentorship program. Eventually, he became head mentor and made it his priority to ensure that all students were paired with a mentor upon stepping foot on campus. After graduating, he worked for a non-profit called Community Coalition where he managed academic and wellness services for youth that were a part of the program. It has always been his passion to work with youth in underrepresented communities, so he valued this position. He also has two podcasts, one with his wife called “Parenting Plus” where they discuss being parents for the first time, and another called “Mood Ring Radio” where he assigns playlists to people based on what emotions they are experiencing on a mood color chart. Paul’s role on campus as he states is to, “Empower Black student success.” He intends to create safe spaces for Black students by giving them resources to navigate college but to also enjoy their college experience. He plans to execute this by merging all departments that share the same goal.
You can check out both of his podcasts on Spotify and YouTube.
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David Ifediba
Graduate Student
Interview by John Broadway
Written by Teylor Graves
John Broadway had the amazing opportunity to talk with David Ifediba about his accomplishments and what he’s currently doing now. David is a first-year graduate student and active member of the Black Student Union at Cal State Long Beach. He obtained a B.A degree in Psychology at UC Riverside in June 2020. Now David is in the process of completing his Masters in School Psychology along with an Educational Specialist degree at CSULB. David decided to center his focus on psychology because as a child growing up he had always been told by his parents, who were both teachers, to put school first. His experience at UC Riverside also contributed to David’s career choice. During his undergrad years, he did a two-year research program called the USA Stem Academy. He did this program in between attending UC Riverside and UC Berkeley, where his research focused on educational disparities, especially pertaining to African American youth. David’s first project was about the impact of discrimination on African Americans and his other project was about how socio-economic and race impacted student involvement. In addition to his research program, David also participated in the USA Stem Academy under the guidance of Dr. Carolyn Murry. His was the lead intern and was in charge of onboarding the new interns and helping them with the in’s-and-outs of the program such as food programs and setting up meetings with parents. David served as a Peer Mentor for thirty students and taught them their rights of passage, practical skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the students learned math, science, and computer engineering skills. David found this mentorship rewarding because he was helping students who looked like him and saw themselves in him. In addition to all of this, David is a substitute teacher at Los Angeles Unified School District. Furthermore, during his college years at UC Riverside, David tapped into the Black community there. In his first year, he dormed in the Pan African theme hall which had Nigerian or African people living there. David truly felt like he found his people! He had attended an all-boys high school in downtown L.A. where the student body was predominantly white with a small percentage of Black people. When people would ask him what he was, David would respond by saying he was Black. It wasn’t until he attended UCR that he found a community filled with other Africans and became in tune with his culture and being prideful about coming from Nigeria where he was born and raised then came to America at the age of four. After coming to the U.S, David lived in Inglewood, CA for ten years, but now him and his family live in Gardena, CA. He did face some challenges with moving from his home country to another one. When David left Nigeria February 13, 2003 and it was a difficult adjustment, he even had a hard time with America’s educational system. He spoke good English, but still had an African accent, so kids at school would tease him for it. Entering into David’s early life, from first to twelfth grade, David received his education at a private school, and he felt truly grateful for growing up in an environment that provides consistent useful instructions, dedicated teachers, and supplied iPads and Chromebooks. When he began substituting at a public school, he saw the complete difference. In response, David’s ultimate goal is to obtain a PhD in Educational Research Methods and create interventions that bridge the gap between public and private school education. He currently works at a charter school called “Teachers and Reserve.” He has the experience of seeing how that school system operates which furthers his ideas on how he wants to bridge the gap between public and private educational systems. Essentially, David believes that every student should have access to free, well-rounded education. He wants to accomplish this by doing research and taking into consideration pay scales, access to resources, location, mentorships, etc.Overall, David Ifediba has served the educational field beyond exceptionally and is still in the process of making his mark on the world while touching students’ lives. From personal and gained experience he is able to create something out of it.
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Black Organization Highlight |
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Kamryn Bouyett
Vice President, National Black Journalist Association
by Sekou Chinyelu
Journalism is the facts being documented without the attempt to influence or persuade. That was the main issue stressed by the National Black Journalism Association club Vice-President Kamryn Bouyett. She didn’t know her calling right away but when she came into it, she quickly realized it was her passion. She had always written journals giving her opinion on subjects and that’s where the journalism bug first began for her. Kamryn had hints that she wanted to go in that direction when she was in high school. One of the teachers told her it would be too much work. Like when Michael Jordan was sent to Junior Varsity from his Varsity high school basketball team to develop more. Experiences like that might turn people away or it makes them greater. Fortunately for us at CSULB Kamryn gravitated toward the latter. Now she’s encouraging more African American students at the university to get involved with NBJA.
Kamryn and I spoke for a little over an hour and I found her to be passionate, down to earth, strongly rooted in her integrity and determined to give genuine journalism a place again in our society. In our conversation we discussed things such as social media and influencers. It is a concern of hers that people that lack the proper information are considered experts. No sound research, no fact checking and no journalistic integrity. Just several people with followers on a particular social media platform passing their opinion off as fact. Her first two years out of high school was during the Pandemic. She continued her education during Covid-19 by attending the local college. When she joined the magazine and newspaper at her community college, she learned more about journalism through that experience. She learned the difference between opinion and fact-based journalism. Now she’s reaching out to other students that want to pick up the mantle and continue building on the NBJA platform.
Now that Kamryn is in her last year of undergrad, she wants to reach out to fellow students to carry on the legacy of NBJA. We don’t have enough representation with Black students in journalism and she hopes to change that. Despite our underrepresentation, she hopes to push the club forward with the help of young African American men and women that want to document the newsworthy facts and history. You can check out NBJA on various social media platforms below. We collectively should participate in the groundbreaking club and let their presence be known on campus to further the cause of excellent scholarly journalism.
Twitter: @csulbnbja
Instagram: @csulbnbja
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Kenrick Sanderlin
Associate Engineer - City of Inglewood
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Long Beach Black Owned Business Highlight |
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Giulia Triassi & Kiara Kensie
HunniBuzz
by Kayla Brooks
It is in the name “Hunnibuzz” created by two Black women that refer to each other as “honeys” and ensures that their news is continuously buzzing. Giulia Triassi and Kiara Kensie are both California State University-Long Beach alumni that rose to business ownership. After having met in a web design class offered on campus, they bonded over their desire to become game changers in the technology design industry. Both being minors in web design, they understood the importance of women of color making their mark in the fields of branding, marketing, web design etc. After graduating, they wanted opportunities where they would have freedom to express themselves without limitations. They created HunniBuzz as a resource for individuals, especially those of color, that are interested in pursuing a career in technology. HunniBuzz exists to provide services to those that do not always have access to the support needed in order to strive in this field. This business offers printing, photography, and design services. They also produce a magazine where their work is displayed. It is informative and features the activism done in their company. Amid challenges like both women having to work full-time jobs and having to remain determined when things fall short, Giulia and Kiara continue to prove that they have what it takes to be the voice of their community. Their long-term goals are to create a non-profit to assist youth, to have Hunnibuzz locations in multiple states, and to assure everyone that supporters of Hunnibuzz are family for life.
Website: hunnibuzz.com
Instagram: @ hunnibuzz
Facebook: @ hunnibuzzlb
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Exploring Food with Cheyanne |
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Our new column, “Exploring Food with Cheyanne” follows Cheyanne Parks TikTok adventures to find the best food spots in Southern California. Cheyanne is a CSULB (California State University Long Beach) alum with a BA in African American and Medieval Studies. She currently works in the Division of Student Affairs as a student assistant and a journalist for the Black Scholars Newsletter. She has a passion for food and travel. In 2019, She traveled to London, UK. She visited areas such as: Westminster, Chelsea, Bloomsbury, and Soho just to explore new cuisines. She is most excited to try new dishes, interview students about what’s on their plates, and to assist Black owned businesses with attracting new customers.
This month Cheyanne explores Fixins Soul Kitchen, Downtown LA 800 W Olympic Blvd a150, Los Angeles, California 90015 Black Owned business
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The 9th Annual African Cultural Extravaganza 2022
Offered by CSULB’s International Education Committee Africa Subcommittee, please join us on Tuesday, November 15th, 2022, from 12:30PM-2PM for a wonderful experience of drumming, food, and learning about study abroad opportunities in the Africa and African Diaspora.
For more information please contact: Dr. Uche Okafor, Department of Africana Studies at Uche.Okafor@csulb.edu
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Long Beach City College’s Dance Program Presents:
Dancesemble In Concert
Join Long Beach City College for their Fall 2022 Dancesemble in Concert Thursday, November 10th, 2022, at 7:00PM and or Saturday, November 12th, 2022, at 1:00PM or 7:00PM. Visit the LBCC website link below or scan the QR code above for ticket purchasing and more information.
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Snow White
South Coast Repertory, “Orange County’s Tony Award-winning Theatre”, is offering the opportunity to see an adaptation of Snow White. Directed by H. Adams Harris and adapted by Greg Banks, this story is a modern version of the Disney tale revealing the events that occurred after her evil stepmother inherited the throne.
To purchase tickets please visit scr.org or call 714-708-5555.
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Please take time out to complete this survey conducted by CSULB’s President and Provost’s Equity Diversity & Inclusion grant. It is in support of a study exploring Black Grad and the experiences of Black graduate students that are a part of the College of Education. Participants that complete this survey will be eligible to enter a raffle to receive $100. The deadline to complete it is November 11, 2022.
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The Black Scholars Community is looking for a Black Alumni Network-Lead Facilitator
Achieve and maintain social, economic, political & educational equality by providing a vehicle to harness and channel the power of CSULB Black Alumni and the community at large.
Purpose of our Black Alumni Network Facilitator:
- Maintain key University Relationships as they relate to the CSULB experience for Black Alumni, Students, Faculty and Staff.
- Be a vehicle for professional and social networking among CSULB Black alumni.
- Lead the effort to create a mentoring connection for current Black students and alumni of CSULB.
- Lead efforts for resources, financial and otherwise to current and potential Black students at CSULB.
- Be a cultural connection in the community and CSULB.
- Promote our alumni’s achievements and contributions to the University, as well as the larger Black Community.
- Celebrate the history of Black Alumni at the University and the contributions.
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49er Industry Chat
Fashionable Career Moves Landed this Psychology Major in the Beauty Industry
Join CSULB alumni Jamila White on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 2:00PM PT for an industry chat on careers in the beauty industry. We encourage all interested in having careers in the beauty industry to participate in this opportunity to hear Jamila detail her experiences working with companies such as L’Oréal, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, etc. as well as her business “Doggy Nibbles” that is an online dog treat business.
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Register To Vote
All CSULB (California State University Long Beach) Black students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to vote! The deadline to register to vote online and by mail is October 24th. To register in person, the deadline is November 8th.
Start your online registration by using the link below:
“Your vote matters. If it did not, why would some people keep trying to take it away?” -US Representative John Lewis
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Alexandria Smith
Black scholar, senior, creative writing major
Alexandria Smith is an English Creative Writing major and senior at CSULB. Writing is her passion, and she enjoys making a symphony with words to craft something new and enjoyable.
Either poems or stories. Whatever the right tune is in writing if strikes a chord for another that’s all joy that’s needed. Outside of writing, she collects either lollipops or comic book trinkets and thrives listening to ambient music.
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Knowledge
I am the Black knowledge
Obtained through centuries of sacrifice
Proudly grow and cultivate withheld secrets
Denied from my grasp, now within the palm of my hand
From these hands, I hold my voice. From my voice, I speak
I am the Black knowledge
Knowledge obtained through centuries of sacrifice
Heads held high, eyes cast pass stars and the moon
Beyond the world beneath my feet
Wings gifted by hands of those before me
I lift high. I am bound to nothing
A mind open. A heart rained with desire
Desire that burns
I am the Black knowledge
A guiding gale
An unfathomable force
Chant voices of wisdom, guiding with praise
Praise given
Praise be
I am the Black knowledge
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This November, join us in learning, honoring and celebrating Native American Heritage
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