CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
BLACK SCHOLAR'S NEWSLETTER
January 10, 2024
The Black Scholars Newsletter exists to share dynamic, informative and empowering stories that uplift, encourage, and inspire our community.
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To get more announcements, and stay up to date with community events and opportunities follow us on Instagram @Csulbblackscholars
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By Chloe Thomas
A speaker once gave me some great advice, “don’t compare your chapter 1 to someone else's chapter 15.” As we begin 2024, a new chapter is starting for everyone. Some of us are building upon 2023, and others are starting from scratch. Both are beautiful positions to be in. It’s important to reflect upon the hard work that has already been done. Everyone’s starting point for 2024 will be different. What’s important is not what you have but how you grow.
Most people have already made their New Years Resolutions or built vision boards of changes they want to see made. We want to eat healthier, work out more, spend more time with friends, spend less money. For the first few weeks of the year, we aim to improve our lives in every way possible. Then we burn out. We slow down and start to lose resolve for those resolutions that seemed so important during the holidays. Maybe some of us keep up with them and are better off for it. However, the sad truth for most of our resolutions is that they don’t last. We start off strong and then cast aside our new practices when we get swept up by life. Whether it be moving, changing careers, health challenges or any other obstacle, somehow the lifestyle improvements we were once so determined to make become easily forgotten. Then we look up in December and wonder what became of all the changes we wanted to make. Especially when we see those who were able to maintain their new habits.
Instead of the endless cycle of making resolutions and forgetting them. I’d like to encourage you to fall into a new pattern of thinking. Take 2024 one day at a time. Look at where you are now, acknowledge all the success you’ve had in 2023 and appreciate it. Congratulate yourself on the growth you’ve had in the past year. Make a note of what you’re starting with and the areas you want to continue growing in. At the end of the year look back and see how far you’ve come, maybe you’ll surprise yourself and have enhanced parts of your life you didn’t imagine changing.
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Diane Burkholder
Watch this interview to meet Diane Burkholder, a CSULB alumna who graduated in 2003 with a degree in sociology. Diane shares much about her role as a social justice coordinator and how Cal state Long Beach led her to becoming an organizer.
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Scroll down to read the summary
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Diane Burkholder is a CSULB alumna who graduated in 2003 with a degree in Sociology. Today she works in two roles, her longest being an Equity and Inclusion Consultant for universities, health care, and social service organizations. She also works as a Social Justice Coordinator for the Upward Bound Program which includes teaching a college readiness program that explains social justice practices to high schoolers. After finishing community college, Diane decided to transfer to Long Beach because she had family ties here that gave her a soft spot for the city.
Her favorite memory at Long Beach was going on the multicultural retreat cosponsored by student services and counseling. This 3-night retreat provided her with the opportunity to talk to others about race, identity, and finding a place to belong. She realized that this is where she started doing anti-racism work and what set her on her path to being a social justice advocate and organizer. She leaves our students with three pieces of advice. Her first is to understand that they don’t have to have it all figured out by the time they graduate. She then says to “pay attention to the college connections that you have because a lot of them will be lifelong.” Lastly Diane advises everyone to “be flexible for life and where life takes you” and enjoy the journey that it will take you on.
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Living the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa |
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By Chloe Thomas & Tracy Kelly
In December 2023 we had the pleasure of attending several Kwanzaa celebrations and learning more about this holiday, created to celebrate our culture and provide us with principals that we can live by year-round. Dr. Karenga had a pre-Kwanzaa celebration via zoom and The Black Democrats held a celebration in person. Both were incredible learning experiences that really helped build a connection to the holiday.
There was also the Kwanzaa Experience hosted by the Black Health Equity Library Work Group at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library. This community event presented a taste of the Kwanzaa holiday and each of its principles. Welcoming over 100 students, families, and neighbors in the Long Beach community to join together in learning about and celebrating the African American and Pan-African holiday. It was heartwarming to see the place packed with so many people of all ages participating in a community event that honors our ancestors and reinforces community bonds.
Kwanzaa was created by our very own Dr. Maulana Karenga, chairman of Africana Studies at California State University, in 1966. It is based on seven principles; Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. To begin this celebration Queen Hollins was invited to perform libation. During which water was poured in offering on a plant as she spoke acknowledgments about the community, and over the successes and struggles of Pan-African people in relation to these seven principles. She invited one of the children to assist her in this process and had them pour water at the end of each acknowledgement. This was a beautiful moment as Queen Hollins noted the importance of youth involvement and having them engage with and participate in traditions early to garner respect and encourage the continuation of these traditions.
Celebrations include feasts, music, dance, and poetry, all of which were incorporated into this model experience of Kwanzaa. The children could participate in crafts and painting a Kwanzaa mural. There was a drum circle and line dancing, and a feast of soul food which led to the day ending with an opportunity to reflect on the principles and recommit to them as central cultural values. Prior to attending these events we understood little about Kwanzaa and its principles, now we proudly recognize how we've been practicing these principles daily by building and supporting the Black Scholars community. Though Kwanzaa is once a year, the principles are honored year-round and live in the hearts of those who celebrate, and everyone is invited to continue the tradition in their day-to-day lives.
In the new year, let’s continue to build and support our community using the seven principles of Kwanzaa every single day. Uplifting each other, our students, our businesses and encouraging those that go above and beyond for us is the perfect way to honor our ancestors as we continue the work that they started.
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Principe 6: Kuumba (Creativity)
To always do as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Principle 7: Imani (Faith)
To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
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Principle 1: Umoja (Unity)
To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Principle 2: Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
Principle 3: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibilities)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together.
Principle 4: Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Principle 5: Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
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Gala Honoree - Alumna of the Year |
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Watch this interview to meet one of our Gala Honorees Cecile Harris- Walters. Cecile has a well accomplished career and dedicates much of her time to serving the community. Listen to Cecile share about her time in school, being a community leader, and advice for students and Black Scholars.
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Cecile Harris-Walters is a CSULB Alumna who has attained both a bachelor's in business administration and a master's degree in public administration from Cal State Long Beach. Alongside her sister she was the first in her family to graduate college, coming from a family with a history in various trades. Her mother was a licensed cosmetologist, and her father a technician, he was the one who encouraged her to pursue higher education. Cecile recalls spending her time working part-time as a cashier while in school and is grateful for the financial aid and support she received. Later she moved to California and began working with the city of Long Beach. After getting married and having her two sons, she returned to school and earned her master’s degree in 2009.
A few years later in November of 2012, Cecile was diagnosed with breast cancer. During her journey with cancer she was fortunate to have full healthcare and time off. She then became a mentor with Women Guiding Women to work towards educating women and supporting those that didn’t have the resources she had. Prior to her diagnoses Cecile had dedicated herself to living a healthier life and she continues that resolution. Today she has completed 19 years of the Long Beach half marathon, 5 years with Conquer the Bridge in San Pedro, and continues to bike and hike the hills of Signal Hill. She recognizes herself as a cancer thriver because of these successes and her ability to move forward and continue to thrive daily.
A few of Cecile's role models were professors from Cal State Long Beach, members of The American Business Womens Association, and of course her parents and sister. Maya Angelou is another of Cecile’s role models and she lives by the followig quote; “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” She shares that this quote is a big part of being a civil servant. To her being a community leader is being actively involved and listening to your neighbors while helping them reach resources available to them. As a civil servant and community leader Cecile works with her community to make it a better place.
Having depended on it herself, Cecile states adequate and efficient financial assistance as one of the most important factors for the educational success of people of color as well as having knowledgeable mentors to coach and advocate for you. She defines excellence as reaching your full potential and being a lifelong learner. Encouraging those who want to be Black Scholars to do so by using their platforms and ensuring that if they are the first to do something that they are not the last. She leaves current students with the final advice of practicing self-care; despite busy schedules it is important to maintain mental health and give yourself permission to do so.
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Black Owned Business Highlight |
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Essie Evans of Shirley's Temple
By Imani Moses
Essie Evans is the owner of Shirley’s Temple located in Signal Hill, California. Essie grew up in Allentown Pennsylvania and when she decided to pursue her college degree, she moved to the West Coast where she received her bachelor's degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills in Sociology, and her master's degree in human resources from Colorado State. Fun fact about Essie; she played roller derby.
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Shirley’s Temple is a non-alcoholic mocktail bar and cafe. Having family members who were alcoholics inspired her to create this business as a safe space for folks who don’t drink to go out and have fun. Her main goal in creating her business was to change people's idea of what fun is by hosting activities like open mic night, comedy, and karaoke to slowly change the narrative of what it means to have fun.
Some challenges she faced as a Black woman and business owner were not having many mentors and role models to look up to. Not having many Black women entrepreneurs represented in the bar and restaurant industry, especially in California, she has been figuring things out on her own. Without knowing what resources are available to her or what steps are needed to get started, it has been an on the go learning experience. She would love to see her business growing in the future by first outgrowing the space and be able to provide the space to do more fun community activities. So far, the biggest accomplishment is being the first non-alcoholic bar in Los Angeles County.
Being a Black Scholar to her means showing the younger generation we are more than rappers, and singers. We are doctors, lawyers, architects, and showing other Black Scholars that reaching for a higher goal is achievable. A piece of advice that was given to her and that has stuck with her is, “try different things.” When you first start school, you may not know what you want to do. She also wants folks to know that it is never too late to complete a milestone in life, even if you have a certain degree in mind, you are not stuck with it. Your degree gives you a foundation and you can move on and try something else.
No matter what route you choose to take in life, be sure to make connections along the way because those connections will help you get to where you want to go. Continue to make sure you socialize with your peers because you never know where that connection could lead you and it can create a domino effect and can contribute to your journey.
To get more information about Shirley's Temple please use the following.
Address: 420 E. 28th st, Signal Hill, CA
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Black Alumni Scholarship Gala |
Tickets and Sponsorship Opportunities for the Black Alumni Scholarship Gala are available! Use the link below to purchase your tickets and we’ll see you at the Gala on May 5th.
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Want us to highlight someone you know? Send us the names of people or organizations you think should be recognized and we’ll share their accomplishments in our monthly newsletter. Submit the form below. Newsletter Highlights Form
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Join the Black Scholars Team |
The Black Scholars team is looking for a Co-editor to help with the monthly newsletter. This is an unpaid volunteer position, with great experience for students interested in pursuing a career in journalism, marketing, communications or related fields. If you're interested in applying, please email us at blackscholars@csulb.edu
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Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship
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Eligibility;
- Rising sophomore or first-year transfer
- GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Plan to pursue a doctoral degree in the humanities
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Applications Open; Jan 8th
Applications Close; March 1st
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Date; Saturday, January 13th
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Anaheim Street.
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The MLK day parade is an annual event honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King through arts, remembrance and meaningful perspectives. After the parade, guest are welcome to join the celebration with live entertainment, a kid’s zone, food, and vendors at Martin Luther King Jr Park (1950 Lemon Ave.) |
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Enjoy a concert filled with fresh renditions of classic as well as contemporary hits performed with a jazzy Doo wop twist! Brought to you by the stars of Broadway’s Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical. This brand-new show celebrating some of the greatest music in American pop and rock history is sure to be fun for anyone in the audience.
Use discount code; BASG when ordering your tickets for $10 off up to two tickets.
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Date; Sunday, January 14th
Time; 2 p.m.
Location; Carpenter Performing Arts Center
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Applications Open: January 22
Applications Close: March 13
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Black Alumni Scholarship Fund |
The Black Alumni Scholarship Application opens January 22nd 2024 and will close March 13th. To apply join the Black Resource Center and fill out the form on Beach Scholarships. A link can be found on our link tree or in the bio of our Instagram. For any questions please contact Black Scholars at blackscholars@csulb.edu or DM us @csulbblackscholars.
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The Carpenter Center is hosting a free Arts for Life Community Connections concert featuring the Nationally acclaimed Native American jazz vocalist, actor, activist, and educator Julia Keefe (Nez Perce). Julia and her quartet honor the legacy of Indigenous contributions to jazz with a performance of fresh originals and swinging jazz favorites! |
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Date: Friday, January 26th
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Carpenter Performing Arts Center
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Applications Close: Feb 19th
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CELP Scholar Program -
Community, Equity, Learning, Persistence
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The Aquarium of the Pacific’s CELP Scholar Program seeks to broaden participation in marine sciences, help more students find their own community in STEM, and support students’ persistence in the field. Check out the website for more information.
Eligibility;
- Enrolled in a community college, undergraduate, master's or PhD program in Southern California through at least December 2024.
- Studying any STEM field related to ocean and coastal environments, marine conservation, or informal science education.
- Able to complete a W9 or W8 to the Aquarium for award processing.
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Leadership at the Beach is a one-day leadership event, hosted by the Lois J. Swanson Leadership Resource Center (LRC). This conference is open to ALL CSULB students, to provide students with the opportunity to develop their leadership qualities, skills, and an understanding of leadership within interpersonal contexts. |
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Date: Friday, February 23rd
Time: 8:30am – 3:30pm
Location: USU ballrooms
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Applications close; Sunday, March 3rd
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The CSULB Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Program offers historically underrepresented groups intensive, hands-on research and training opportunities designed to prepare them to excel in doctoral programs, as well as health-related research careers. Any questions regarding the BUILD/U-RISE application can be directed to jointapp@csulb.edu.
Eligibility;
- Students need to be a US Citizen legal permanent resident, or DACA.
- Interested in pursuing graduate studies and a career in health-related research.
- Full-time undergraduate student at CSULB at the start of the program & have between 1 – 4 semesters remaining before CSULB graduation as of June.
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