The Women's March and Women and Gender in the Middle East

I wish I'd had hundreds of flyers for CCSF's course Women and Gender in the Middle East so that I could have given them out at the Women's March today.  Between the time I visited Roni Abusaad's Governments & Politics of the Middle East and headed for the Women's March, I couldn't print out the beautiful flyer made for and by the IDST Department or the crude signs I made because my printer wouldn't work.

So my hands were free, and I used them to take pictures of the signs, some of which made reference to women in the Middle East, notably the Palestinian girl  Ahed Tamimi. who was arrested after footage of her slapping an Israeli soldier was streamed and Israeli authorities accused her of inciting violence.

Offerings--Free to SF Residents--at CCSF--Beginning This Month

I just put this on Facebook, but this blog spot doesn't cut it off and depend on friends' looking further!  I give credit to Lauren Muller, who wrote this copy:

Looking to expand your mind in the new year? To gain personal enrichment? or seeking UC/CSU transferable units for your favorite high school student?

City College of San Francisco has multiple fun Saturday and Evening Classes. Free for SF residents.  49$ a unit for all others.  Register at www.ccsf.edu  Register Now! Classes start January 16

IDST 14: American Cultures in Literature and Film (Monday nights)

https://ccsfidstdepartment.wordpress.com/2018/01/04/idst14americanculturesinliteratureandfilm/

IDST 14: American Cultures in Literature And Film ccsfidstdepartment.wordpress.com Visit the post for more.

DSGN 105: Collaborative Design/ Design Thinking (Wed. Nights)

https://ccsfidstdepartment.wordpress.com/2018/01/04/dsgn-105-collaborative-design/

DSGN 105 Collaborative Design ccsfidstdepartment.wordpress.com Visit the post for more.

POLS 45: Politics of the Middle East (Saturday Mornings)

https://ccsfidstdepartment.wordpress.com/2017/12/12/governments-politics-of-the-middle-east-pols-45/

Governments & Politics of The Middle East Pols 45 ccsfidstdepartment.wordpress.com  Link to pdf Pols-45-Sp-2018

Why I Decided to Share My Crummy Talking Pictures on How Doing Outreach for CCSF Changed My Perspective on SF

After working for hours on what I call "talking pictures"  (pictures with me talking--about as low-tech as the talking pictures in the late 1920's), I put it aside in early December because I realized it was crummy.

I started working on something else.

But tonight I realize that what I am now working on is crummier than what I put aside, so I'm going back to the less crummy and sharing it after all!

Here's the link.


https://youtu.be/rnCm-Golw58  

Eco-Peace in the Middle East--from CCSF Campus to Glide Memorial

Deborah Levy let us teachers--current and retired--know about a special event on the CCSF campus.
Eco-Peace in the Middle East. 

She wrote, "The three co-directors (from Jordan, Israel, and Palestine) of a terrific  organization called Eco-peace will be speaking, and  leading at least some conversation.  Talking about water availability and access to clean water - very concrete topics - can offer an opportunity for 

positive discussion and relationship-building, across (but not ignoring) political differences."

I couldn't make the presentation on campus from 11:00 to 12:30 because I had to be at a CARA meeting at 1:00 in another part of town.

But there was a second presentation at Glide Memorial in the evening, so I attended that.

The announcement read "Water rights, Environmental Protection and Peace in the Middle East A presentation by three co-directors of Ecopeace Middle East

Yana Abu Taleb
Gidon Bromberg
Nada Majdalanby

but Nada Majdalanby was denied a visa.

 http://www.ecopeaceme.org/

Sponsored by CCSF Concert & Lecture Series * Dept of Interdisciplinary Studies * CCSF Sustainability Committee * Critical Middle East / SWANA Studies Persons requiring disability-related accommodations for this event should contact Disabled Student Programs and Services at (415) 452-5481.

More later!

Sunday Streets with CCSF and Connecting with CCSF Molloy Star, Gabrielle Chun

I met an incredible couple at Sunday Streets off the Great Highway in June 2015, when I was working on the Enrollment Campaign for CCSF.  The couple, Ron and Christina Chun,  had met at City College in 1982 in  psychology 101 course, which I consider a success story, and they told me about their daughter's good experiences at CCSF, which I wrote up.

When I asked for an update recently (as I'd also done in 2016), Ron Chun told me all about their son Christian's many activities and successes and told me that their daughter Gabrielle was home for a year to take more City College courses, which she can transfer to her theater school, Molloy, in NYC.  He also sent me this link of Gabrielle Chun singing "Let Me Be Your Star" at the Asian-America Pageant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sub7Q3M1EhQ

I commented, "Very impressive!  A gorgeous young woman singing with incredible strength and self-confidence.  I think we should let her be OUR star!"

The Tenderloin Times and CCSF Connections

Last night I went to a gathering at the Tenderloin Museum, where we "donors"  (sounds like an arm and a limb) were served drinks and hors d'oeuvres.  (Not sure there was any tender loin, but maybe...)  We had from 5:30 to 7:00 to look around the museum, where issues from The Tenderloin Times 1977-1994 were on display.

Then there was to be a panel of journalists on the topic "From Broadsheet to Broadband:  Community Media in the Digital Age."  They each spoke for five minutes about how technology is re-defining how we connect to media and the concept of community.

I got a good seat and eaves-dropped on the group I assumed would make up the panel.

I recognized Andrew Lam from the time I took my class to see him on the Ocean Campus.  But there was another man whose face I knew, but I didn't know from where.

Finally it dawned on me that he was Juan Gonzales, the chair of the CCSF Journalism Department as well as the founder of El Tecolote, a bilingual newspaper now 47-years old. 

The man on Juan's right in the photos here is Rob Waters, a former editor of The Tenderloin Times.  The man you see on the far right was the moderator, Brad Paul, housing advocate and former Cadillac Hotel tenant.

Here they are when Rob Waters was speaking and the others were seated for the panel.

Sara Colm, former editor; Andrew Lam, author; Carrie Sisto, Tenderloin Editor of Hoodline; Juan Gonzales, founder of El Tecolote and Chair of CCSF's Journalism Department.

David Talbot, co-founder of Salon, 48 Hills op-ed writer, former SF Examiner editor, former SF Chronicle columnist, and author, was a special speaker.

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Jenny Hammer's Song for Nadia

Jenny Hammer's song for Nadia is beautiful written and beautifully sung.  (I've put the recorded version online on YouTube.  https://youtu.be/AAMRlVrsCug )

 I didn't know Nadia very well, but I think this song can resonate with people in terms of other people who affect our lives even after they've passed on.

Jenny Hammer's Song for Nadia 10/08/17

 There’s one fewer in our midst;

Her absence brings us grieving

Yet a solace knowing this:

All she’s left before her leaving--

Left us with her visions, light, and song.

Altered, thus, the rest of us go on;

So she stays, changing ways and is not gone.

Fly across the waters.

Arc across the sky, beyond the moon, beyond the sun.

Join the ancient others;

Your dance of life’s not done.

Your dance of life’s not done.

Child of muses, child of dreams!

Matter is not what is seems.

It’s the flutter, not the wings 

That’s the lasting of all things.

You flew and still you fly.

You flew and still you fly.

You flew and still you fly.

You flew and still you . . .

Fly across the waters.

Arc across the sky, and then continue past the sun.

Join the ancient others;

You flew and still you fly.

You danced, you sang, and I, now

Fly across the waters.

Arc across the sky, beyond the moon, beyond the sun,

Joining all the others

To celebrate this one.

We celebrate this one.

All celebrate this one and

Fly.

Fly across the waters.

Arc across the sky, beyond the moon, beyond the sun.

Join the ancient others.

Your difference is not done.

Your difference is not done.

Your difference is not done.

Oh, fly.
Fly.