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Christina: Coming up on Inside 
California Education:

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Community Colleges

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Actor: Why are you 
pulling a gun on me?

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Why are you pulling a gun on me?

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You don'’t know me, even when I'’m 
standing right in front of you.

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You don'’t see me.

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You see through me, as if I 
don'’t exist.

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Christina: An experimental 
theater group from Los Angeles

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Southwest College creates a 
powerful, online video

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performance about police 
relations with the

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Black community....written 
entirely by the students

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JONATHAN EVANS: And I 
think that's one reason our

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experimental theater lab has 
been so successful.

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It's student-driven, it's 
student-created work.

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Darletta Mitchell: We had no 
choice.

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It had to be told it had to be, 
um, addressed.

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Christina: Discover how students 
who'’ve done time behind bars get

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a second chance at higher 
education at Solano Community

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College in Fairfield...one of 
dozens of re-entry programs

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across California offering a 
path from incarceration

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to graduation.

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Edwin McCaskie: Education is 
very, very important, um, and it

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gives us freedom.

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Celia Esposito-Noy: The fact is, 
is that when folks have done

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their time, they've done their 
time.

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Christina: And discover how 
MiraCosta College created the

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first social work degree program 
that'’s entirely online...

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opening up new careers paths to 
students in San Diego County

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Sean Davis: These are the jobs 
and the careers and the

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positions that are really 
helping our local communities.

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Christina: It'’s all next...on 
Inside California Education:

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Community Colleges

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Annc: Inside California 
Education:

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Community Colleges 
is made possible by:

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College Futures Foundation 
believes nothing is more

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transformative for 
individuals and our society

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than an educational opportunity.

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We partner with organizations 
and leaders across California to

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help students earn college 
degrees regardless of zip code,

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skin color, or income.

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More information at 
collegefutures.org.

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♪♪♪

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♪♪♪

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JONATHAN EVANS: I 
thought at the time

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there was no way for 
theater to survive.

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I thought that we needed to take 
a break and theatrical work

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would literally pause.as the 
streets sort of cleared and

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things became like a ghost town.

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JASON: WHEN COVID-19 HIT IN 
EARLY 2020... LOS ANGELES

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SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHUT 
DOWN THE CAMPUS.

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LAPTOPS WERE HANDED OUT AND 
CLASSES WENT ONLINE.

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SO HOW DO YOU HAVE A THEATER 
PROGRAM WITH STUDENTS ALL

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TAKING CLASSES REMOTELY?

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JONATHAN EVANS: ...but then I 
realized my group, my ensemble

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here at Los Angeles, Southwest 
college, they were stronger

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than that.

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And they saw through that 
difficulty.

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JASON: FOR THE STUDENTS HERE,

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NO STAGE DOES á*NOTá* 
MEAN NO PERFORMANCE.

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IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'’S 
DEATH, AS THE COUNTRY GRAPPLED

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WITH RACE RELATIONS, STUDENTS 
FOUND A WAY TO MAKE THEIR

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VOICES HEARD.

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THEY PRODUCED AN ORIGINAL SHOW 
CALLED '‘THE THREAT.'’ IT'’S A

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POWERFUL, EVOCATIVE ONLINE VIDEO 
PRODUCTION -— INSPIRED BY

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CURRENT EVENTS -— TACKLING 
POLICE RELATIONS WITH

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THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

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Actor: Those 8 minutes and 46 
seconds felt like 8 years, as I

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felt myself going.

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DARLETTA MITCHELL SHERMAN: 
Well, it it's, it's like right

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in our backyard, 
front yard, you know, um,

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up the street on our street. 
So we had no choice.

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It had to be told it had to be, 
addressed.

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Actor: The cop in front of 
him slapped the soda

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out of his hand.

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The cop behind him grabs him, 
slams him face first in the

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concrete and breaks his nose.

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CRAIG MITCHELL SHERMAN: I 
remember driving on my first day

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at work, my grandfather's 
Cadillac six in the morning to

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go to work.

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And I'm pulled over to ask to be 
asked, is this my car?

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And I'm afraid.

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I'm very afraid because you 
don't have to just fear

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the gangs now.

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You fear someone who has a job 
that was supposed to protect

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you, and that might not happen.

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Actors: Too many black people 
are dying.

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Too many black people are dying. 
Too many black people are dying.

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DR SEHER AWAN: Our students are 
from more disadvantaged

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populations.

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We are predominantly serving 
students of color at Southwest.

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Our students are not trained 
theater students.

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They don't come from a 
background of arts and theater.

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They're coming from our 
community pretty much, uh,

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learning those skills with 
Professor Evans through this

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program and to see them share 
their pain and their human

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experiences and their trauma in 
a way that fuels a beautiful

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performance because it's so raw 
and so authentic.

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(choking)

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Actor: You try to kill us.

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Jonathan: That'’s what your body 
wants to do, is let go. Right?

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JONATHAN EVANS: Uh, we have a 
theme or we have a topic every

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year we start with, we usually 
start our projects in July or

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August and the first month of 
the year.

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Of the work is just really 
discussing, what are we trying

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to say this year?

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Or what are we trying to say 
this semester?

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What do we, as a group in an 
ensemble, what do we, as the

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Los Angeles, Southwest College 
experimental theater lab, you

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know, what do we want to say?

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CRAIG MITCHELL SHERMAN: It's 
simple to do something like

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Othello or Romeo and Juliet, but 
we're not living in a time at

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which Romeo and Juliet a play 
like that can just, we can just

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put it on and just, and be real 
with it.

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Not when so much has been going 
on in our world.

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Those are great plays, but we 
wanted to bring reality

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to the stage.

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We want it to be as real as 
possible, and we didn't want to

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be, um, just another group of 
people putting on another play.

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JASON: SHOT ON CELL PHONES AT 
HOMES, SIDEWALKS AND PARKS...

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PART FICTION, PART HISTORICAL 
DOCUMENTARY, PART PERSONAL

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MONOLOGUE... THE THREAT IS WOVEN 
TOGETHER WITH A MIX OF DEEPLY

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PERSONAL PERFORMANCES.

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Actor: He got right in my 
cousin'’s face and asked

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him again: Say boy, where did 
you steal that bike from?

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My cousins said, man, I told you 
that'’s my bike.

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I didn'’t steal nothing, that'’s 
my bike.

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CRAIG MITCHELL SHERMAN: It is a 
piece of innovation, but also

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we were able to make it organic.

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I didn't know what other people 
were shooting.

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And we were sending in hope that 
it will come to get there and

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it came together and 
I was blown away.

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Actor: Had a good job, a good 
job with dental benefits, had

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all my teeth and everything.

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JASON: TYANA HAYWOOD PLAYED THE 
ROLE OF A HOMELESS WOMAN.

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Actor: That officer knocked 
my teeth out and broke my arm,

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and I couldn'’t work no more.

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He took everything from me. 
Everything!

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TYANA HAYWOOD: Yeah I spent a 
lot of time with that character.

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She um, she's from the streets 
her name was, Nina Simone.

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She has a burden to bear and she 
like, most women she's been

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doing what she has to do and 
sometimes doing things that she

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doesn't want to do to survive.

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THE THREAT PERFORMANCE: 
"“I want to live in a world

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where I matter!

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I want to live in a world where 
Kamala Harris is an everyday

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occurrence, the VP of companies 
don't make the headlines...

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JONATHAN EVANS: Many of my 
students could walk onto a set

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tomorrow and be professionals.

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But they don't necessarily have 
to have that goal in mind.

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We're looking for the person 
that's ready to

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say something bold.

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We're looking for the person 
that's saying, I want to be

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a part of a social justice 
ensemble.

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I've got something to say and 
I've got something I feel, and

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I'm not going to hold that back.

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DARLETTA MITCHELL SHERMAN: I 
love the theater.

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Um, and if I get the opportunity 
to do it, to do it

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professionally, I wouldn't pass 
that up.

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It changed my life.

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And I I'm hoping that it will 
change other people's lives just

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by the work that I put out 
there.

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Every time my child 
walks out of the door, I see a

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target on his back.

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DARLETTA MITCHELL SHERMAN: I 
don't want to just entertain

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people only.

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I want to put a thought in 
someone's head that will provoke

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them to action,

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Actors: As James Baldwin 
once said,

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American history is longer, 
larger, more various, more

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beautiful and more terrible than 
anything anyone has ever said

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about it.

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CRAIG MITCHELL SHERMAN: We don't 
hate the police.

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We don't, we actually say that 
in the piece.

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Um, we hate injustice.

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We want to be able to, um, cause 
you to think after you've seen

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our piece, we want you to think.

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We don't want you to go out 
there and just start rioting,

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but we want you to think, how 
can I do better?

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Actor: If you find out later 
that they weren'’t reaching for a

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weapon, then I'’d rather be 
judged by 12 than carried by 6.

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DR. SEHER AWAN: Like our 
students and their pain, it's

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just, it's, it's so real.

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And they put, they leave it, 
they leave it all on the stage.

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THE THREAT PERFORMANCE: "“Because 
today I claim victory

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over police brutality.

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I claim victory over systematic 
racism.

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I claim victory over the mental 
and physical enslavement

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of a people.

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The mental and physical 
enslavement of a people

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of our young black 
boys and black men.

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JONATHAN EVANS: You know, I've 
worked with so many talented

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actors in my career, but never a 
group that will fight

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to be heard.

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And I think that's what really, 
it really touches me.

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I really am. I'm very, um,

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I get very emotional because of 
what I've seen happen here.

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When you see a group of people 
that are willing to fight for

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their lives, for their voices to 
be heard, that's very moving

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to me as an artist.

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JASON: THE INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION 
WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE KENNEDY

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CENTER AMERICAN COLLEGE REGION 8 
THEATER FESTIVAL.

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SINCE IT'’S DEBUT, THE TEAM HAS 
RELEASED ANOTHER VERSION,

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FOCUSING ON THE STORY OF GEORGE 
FLOYD -— KILLED BY MINNEAPOLIS

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POLICE IN 2020.

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"“GEORGE FLOYD"” PERFORMANCE: 
(CHOKING) "“My neck.

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They are trying to 
kill me, man. Mama."”

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CRAIG MITCHELL SHERMAN: 
We're all working together.

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Every color, every creed, every 
human being.

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Because that's what we want.

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We just want unity. 
We want equality.

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We want justice, but that comes 
when we all come together and

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we're all informed.

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THE THREAT PERFORMANCE: "“Big 
Floyd out.

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Christina: Mainstream theater in 
America has long presented plays

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that have characters acting in 
stories that have a beginning,

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middle and end. Experimental 
theater groups, like the one at

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Southwest College, break free 
from that tradition.

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Also called avant-garde theater, 
this style gained traction in

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the 1960s as a reaction to the 
political movements and

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unrest of the time.

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Today'’s experimental theater is 
likewise inspired by current

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events, challenging audiences to 
question their attitudes,

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beliefs and values.

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♪♪♪

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Edwin McCaskie: Redemption is 
possible for anyone,

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uh, no matter what you 
have done, uh, no matter

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what you've been through in 
life, um, there's always hope.

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Kassy P: Don't give up, like 
always be in the positive

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mindset of, I can do this, 
because if you're determined

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to do something, you will do it.

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Jim: Redemption. 
Perseverance. Hope.

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Often hard to find behind bars, 
or among those who'’ve done their

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time and returned to society.

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But for Edwin McCaskie and Kassy 
P...students at Solano Community

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College in Fairfield... 
redemption, perseverance, and

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hope are all qualities embraced, 
practiced, and shared with other

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formerly incarcerated students.

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Edwin: Education is very, very 
important, um, and it gives

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us freedom. 
It really does.

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And, and it equips us and 
teaches us to be able to live

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a more fulfilling life.

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Jim: McCaskie'’s own story is one 
of redemption.

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As a teenager, he was in and 
out of juvenile hall.

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At age 23, he was shot and lost 
his left forearm.

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He was involved in a murder and 
spent 22 years in prison.

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There, McCaskie became a 
certified drug and alcohol

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counselor... and dedicated 
himself to rehabilitation...

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and rescuing others.

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Edwin: I really want to help 
those that are going down that

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dark path, specifically youth 
that are at risk.

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Um, I feel like, uh, I have a 
story and I have a skillset

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that I can help people.

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Jim: Edwin and Kassy are two of 
the more than one hundred eighty

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students who are part of 
Solano'’s SOAR program:

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Students Overcoming Adversity 
and Recidivism.

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All were formerly incarcerated.

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All receive a wide variety of 
support services to help them

258
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stay on their chosen path 
towards graduation, college

259
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degrees, and good careers.

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Shanan: Everybody makes mistakes 
some worse than others.

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I believe in second chances.

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Jim: Shanan Danley, Program 
Coordinator for SOAR, was

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himself once incarcerated.

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He says their services include 
everything from help with

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registering for classes, to 
housing assistance, financial

266
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aid, job counseling, career 
advice, even food supplies

267
00:14:23,833 --> 00:14:26,133
like the groceries these 
students are bagging

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to share with classmates.

269
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Connection...peer counseling... 
encouragement...

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are all part of the package.

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Shanan: The people that they 
interact with on campus.

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The new associates and friends 
that they make.

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People, people need something 
that they can grab,

274
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grab a hold to.

275
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When it comes to the re-entry 
population, they want that

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sense of belonging.

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00:14:52,966 --> 00:14:55,066
They want to feel like they're 
part of something.

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Celia: The fact is, is that when 
folks have done their time,

279
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they've done their time and we 
have to be prepared to support

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them to be productive in our 
communities when they

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are released.

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00:15:06,900 --> 00:15:10,133
Jim: Solano Community College 
President Celia Esposito-Noy

283
00:15:10,166 --> 00:15:13,233
says their program not only 
helps formerly incarcerated

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00:15:13,266 --> 00:15:14,900
students on campus...

285
00:15:14,933 --> 00:15:18,200
it provides online or 
correspondence instruction to

286
00:15:18,233 --> 00:15:20,466
those still serving time.

287
00:15:20,500 --> 00:15:25,266
Unwise use of our tax dollars? 
Just the opposite, she says.

288
00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:28,800
Celia: We know that when folks 
participate in these programs,

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00:15:28,833 --> 00:15:33,533
they have a very low rate of 
returning to prison to jails.

290
00:15:33,566 --> 00:15:36,700
We know that this works and 
that's been proven in a number

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00:15:36,733 --> 00:15:39,333
of programs that are offered, 
not just in this state, but

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throughout the country.

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00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,666
Jim: That fact is borne out by 
the hundreds of re-entry and

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00:15:43,700 --> 00:15:46,900
incarcerated student programs 
across the U.S.

295
00:15:46,933 --> 00:15:50,700
Some of the most successful were 
featured in a 2019 PBS

296
00:15:50,733 --> 00:15:53,900
documentary, College Behind 
Bars.

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00:15:53,933 --> 00:15:59,300
Student: College it helps us 
become civic beings.

298
00:15:59,333 --> 00:16:02,133
It helps us understand that 
we have an interest in

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our community.

300
00:16:03,466 --> 00:16:08,300
That our community is a part of 
us, and we are a part of it.

301
00:16:08,333 --> 00:16:11,900
Jim: In California, 
the UC system has the

302
00:16:11,933 --> 00:16:14,533
Underground Scholars program.

303
00:16:14,566 --> 00:16:17,200
Cal State universities have 
Project Rebound.

304
00:16:17,233 --> 00:16:21,133
Many individual California 
community colleges already had

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00:16:21,166 --> 00:16:24,500
their own re-entry and 
incarcerated student programs.

306
00:16:24,533 --> 00:16:28,400
But recently, a statewide 
network called Rising Scholars

307
00:16:28,433 --> 00:16:30,733
was established by the 
Chancellor'’s office, the

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00:16:30,766 --> 00:16:33,466
Foundation for Community 
Colleges, and other foundations

309
00:16:33,500 --> 00:16:35,800
and organizations.

310
00:16:35,833 --> 00:16:39,466
The network now includes 70 
colleges across the state.

311
00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:42,300
Eloy: Every prison in California 
has a partnership with one or

312
00:16:42,333 --> 00:16:44,700
more of our colleges.

313
00:16:44,733 --> 00:16:47,400
Ten percent of all the men and 
women in prison in California

314
00:16:47,433 --> 00:16:51,666
are enrolled in a community 
college. Great news.

315
00:16:51,700 --> 00:16:54,200
We need to continue to grow 
that.

316
00:16:54,233 --> 00:16:57,133
Francisco: Because we serve more 
veteran students, more students

317
00:16:57,166 --> 00:17:00,133
with disabilities, more 
immigrants, more former foster

318
00:17:00,166 --> 00:17:02,900
care youth or formerly 
incarcerated, more

319
00:17:02,933 --> 00:17:06,433
first-generation students, and 
more low-income students than

320
00:17:06,466 --> 00:17:09,733
any other segments of higher 
education in the world and

321
00:17:09,766 --> 00:17:11,600
we're very proud of that.

322
00:17:11,633 --> 00:17:14,800
Jim: The pandemic has for now 
curtailed in-person instruction

323
00:17:14,833 --> 00:17:18,066
inside most of California'’s 
correctional facilities.

324
00:17:18,100 --> 00:17:21,666
But most instructors say they'’re 
anxious to return...

325
00:17:21,700 --> 00:17:24,133
and incarcerated 
students are still finding

326
00:17:24,166 --> 00:17:26,533
ways to work towards 
their degrees..

327
00:17:26,566 --> 00:17:27,933
like Tabithi Wilson.

328
00:17:27,966 --> 00:17:31,266
He'’s serving time inside Pelican 
Bay State Prison in Crescent

329
00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:35,166
City and taking classes through 
College of the Redwoods.

330
00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:38,733
His goal: a possible future 
master'’s or law degree.

331
00:17:38,766 --> 00:17:43,066
Tabithi: I believe education 
has given us reason to dream,

332
00:17:43,100 --> 00:17:45,700
and not just dream, 
but believe our dreams

333
00:17:45,733 --> 00:17:47,133
are now attainable.

334
00:17:47,166 --> 00:17:50,833
Jim: Noehalani Casperson ...also 
formerly incarcerated ...says

335
00:17:50,866 --> 00:17:54,200
the re-entry program at Orange 
County'’s Cypress College

336
00:17:54,233 --> 00:17:58,266
completely transformed her life 
and her future.

337
00:17:58,300 --> 00:18:01,233
Noehalani: Community college 
gave me hope.

338
00:18:01,266 --> 00:18:04,300
And if I can spend the rest of 
my life giving out hope, like

339
00:18:04,333 --> 00:18:05,800
that'’s what I want to do.

340
00:18:05,833 --> 00:18:09,066
What it shows up as, where it 
looks like, I do know one thing:

341
00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:13,766
education is a door opener, it'’s 
a special key for me to get to

342
00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:17,000
the places I need to be to help 
the people that need the help.

343
00:18:17,033 --> 00:18:20,900
Jim: Students like Edwin and 
Kassy say it'’s about more than

344
00:18:20,933 --> 00:18:23,100
just getting their own degrees.

345
00:18:23,133 --> 00:18:27,100
Both have become "“ambassadors."” 
They, along with these interns

346
00:18:27,133 --> 00:18:30,266
and others, help formerly 
incarcerated students maintain

347
00:18:30,300 --> 00:18:33,666
the resilience they developed 
while "“inside"”...encouraging

348
00:18:33,700 --> 00:18:37,533
them to keep a firm grasp on 
their second chance.

349
00:18:37,566 --> 00:18:41,500
Alicia: If they pass the test or 
if they, you know, get a new job

350
00:18:41,533 --> 00:18:44,900
or they, you know, meet one of 
their goals, they call me or

351
00:18:44,933 --> 00:18:46,800
they text me and they're so 
excited.

352
00:18:46,833 --> 00:18:50,200
So I often get gratitude and a 
lot of thank you'’s.

353
00:18:50,233 --> 00:18:52,233
Celia: And so my hope is 
that we become a more

354
00:18:52,266 --> 00:18:53,600
compassionate society.

355
00:18:53,633 --> 00:18:56,433
When we think about how to serve 
those who are incarcerated, and

356
00:18:56,466 --> 00:18:59,966
maybe begin to look more broadly 
about what a true justice system

357
00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,133
could and should look like in 
this state.

358
00:19:03,166 --> 00:19:06,566
Edwin: I believe that, yeah, the 
system, the way that society is

359
00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,266
starting to see things, people, 
people are starting to see

360
00:19:09,300 --> 00:19:10,600
things differently now.

361
00:19:10,633 --> 00:19:13,500
So to work on ourselves, to get 
out, um, to have this

362
00:19:13,533 --> 00:19:15,366
second opportunity.

363
00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,300
We want to make the best of it. 
We want to give back to society.

364
00:19:18,333 --> 00:19:21,900
We want to be productive and 
helping other people.

365
00:19:21,933 --> 00:19:23,933
Kassy P: There is always hope 
and it doesn't matter how many

366
00:19:23,966 --> 00:19:25,233
times you mess up.

367
00:19:25,266 --> 00:19:27,700
You can always restart.

368
00:19:27,733 --> 00:19:30,933
♪♪♪

369
00:19:30,966 --> 00:19:33,166
Christina: Community 
college courses are offered

370
00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,466
to more than 45-hundred 
men and women in

371
00:19:35,500 --> 00:19:37,733
California'’s 35 prisons.

372
00:19:37,766 --> 00:19:40,566
Those students are held to the 
same standards as if they were

373
00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:42,000
on campus.

374
00:19:42,033 --> 00:19:44,366
The courses are 
transferable, and lead to

375
00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,333
academic degrees.

376
00:19:46,366 --> 00:19:49,800
A Stanford study found 
that incarcerated students earn

377
00:19:49,833 --> 00:19:53,733
higher grades than students on 
campus, with 80 percent earning

378
00:19:53,766 --> 00:19:57,233
a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

379
00:19:57,266 --> 00:20:00,566
The study notes that earning a 
higher education degree reduces

380
00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:04,466
the chance of re-offending, 
helps develop critical thinking

381
00:20:04,500 --> 00:20:07,200
skills, and opens up career 
pathways that can

382
00:20:07,233 --> 00:20:09,333
transform lives.

383
00:20:09,366 --> 00:20:19,366
♪♪♪

384
00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,600
KRISTEN: BEFORE THE PANDEMIC 
FORCED CAMPUSES TO MOVE

385
00:20:21,633 --> 00:20:26,366
ONLINE, MIRACOSTA COLLEGE IN SAN 
DIEGO COUNTY WAS ALREADY SETTING

386
00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:30,433
UP AN ONLINE PROGRAM OFFERED BY 
NO OTHER CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY

387
00:20:30,466 --> 00:20:34,166
COLLEGE ... AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE 
PROGRAM IN SOCIAL WORK

388
00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:38,733
AND HUMAN SERVICES, PROVIDED 
ENTIRELY ONLINE.

389
00:20:38,766 --> 00:20:40,866
Taylor: This gives an 
opportunity to our students, our

390
00:20:40,900 --> 00:20:44,366
local community, to start that 
at least the exploration and

391
00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,033
start getting into the field and 
get some experience at the

392
00:20:47,066 --> 00:20:48,900
community college level.

393
00:20:48,933 --> 00:20:51,433
KRISTEN: IT'’S A CAREER FIELD 
THAT'’S EXPECTED TO GROW

394
00:20:51,466 --> 00:20:54,733
EXPONENTIALLY IN THE COMING 
YEARS ... AS THE NEED FOR SUCH

395
00:20:54,766 --> 00:20:57,100
SERVICES ALSO INCREASES.

396
00:20:57,133 --> 00:20:59,833
THE CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT 
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SHOWS

397
00:20:59,866 --> 00:21:04,166
JOBS IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL WORK 
ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE

398
00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,600
12.9-PERCENT OR ABOUT 4,000 JOBS 
BY 2026.

399
00:21:08,633 --> 00:21:14,000
Sean: These are the jobs and the 
careers and the positions that

400
00:21:14,033 --> 00:21:17,266
are really helping our local 
communities.

401
00:21:17,300 --> 00:21:20,466
KRISTEN: SEAN DAVIS IS A FACULTY 
MEMBER IN THE SOCIOLOGY

402
00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:22,300
DEPARTMENT AT MIRACOSTA.

403
00:21:22,333 --> 00:21:25,766
HE SAW A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, 
AND AN INTEREST AMONG HIS

404
00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,133
STUDENTS FOR TRAINING IN THE 
FIELD OF SOCIAL WORK.

405
00:21:29,166 --> 00:21:32,800
Sean: So I wanted to tell you 
that this is historic.

406
00:21:32,833 --> 00:21:37,566
North County, and MiraCosta 
specifically, has never had

407
00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:38,566
social work classes.

408
00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,600
You are the first students to 
experience that.

409
00:21:41,633 --> 00:21:45,500
KRISTEN: A GRANT PROVIDED BY THE 
CALIFORNIA VIRTUAL CAMPUS ONLINE

410
00:21:45,533 --> 00:21:49,466
EDUCATION INITIATIVE ALLOWED HIM 
TO DEVELOP THIS ENTIRELY NEW

411
00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:53,600
PROGRAM, ALONG WITH TAYLOR 
TIRONA A CAMPUS COUNSELOR AND

412
00:21:53,633 --> 00:21:56,266
SOCIAL WORKER, WHO IS NOW THE 
INSTRUCTOR.

413
00:21:56,300 --> 00:21:59,566
Taylor: This class hopefully 
will introduce you to the field

414
00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,933
of social work to the extent to 
where you can make

415
00:22:01,966 --> 00:22:03,066
an informed decision.

416
00:22:03,100 --> 00:22:05,866
We were able to get an 
instructional designer to help

417
00:22:05,900 --> 00:22:11,966
us create this like really 
innovative and engaging course

418
00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,133
and so I came in with the 
content piece of it

419
00:22:14,166 --> 00:22:15,900
having my background 
in social work.

420
00:22:15,933 --> 00:22:19,900
♪♪♪

421
00:22:19,933 --> 00:22:22,866
Carlos: As a police officer 
you'’re kind of, I'’d say

422
00:22:22,900 --> 00:22:24,200
you'’re kind of like a social 
worker.

423
00:22:24,233 --> 00:22:27,766
Every call that you'’re going to 
go to is different.

424
00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,433
And then working on a college 
environment we deal with,

425
00:22:30,466 --> 00:22:34,866
I'’d say a fair amount of mental 
crisis calls for service.

426
00:22:34,900 --> 00:22:37,733
KRISTEN: POLICE OFFICER CARLOS 
CARRIZOSA HAS A BACHELOR'’S

427
00:22:37,766 --> 00:22:40,766
DEGREE AND A CAREER IN A FIELD 
WHERE SOCIAL WORK IS PART OF

428
00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:42,633
HIS DAY-TO-DAY JOB.

429
00:22:42,666 --> 00:22:45,766
HE ENROLLED IN THIS NEW PROGRAM 
THE FIRST SEMESTER IT WAS

430
00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,066
OFFERED ... FALL OF 2020.

431
00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:51,433
CARRIZOSA FOUND THE ALL-VIRTUAL 
OFFERING MADE IT EASIER TO

432
00:22:51,466 --> 00:22:54,933
ATTEND CLASS DESPITE HIS BUSY 
SCHEDULE.

433
00:22:54,966 --> 00:22:58,633
IT ALSO MADE IT EASIER TO 
CONNECT WITH, AND LEARN FROM,

434
00:22:58,666 --> 00:23:00,766
HIS CLASSMATES.

435
00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,366
Carlos: I think students were 
able to open up more because

436
00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:04,666
they'’re behind a screen.

437
00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:07,766
You'’re not looking at them face 
to face and you can kind of get

438
00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,533
more of a discussion and really 
learn about what'’s happening in

439
00:23:10,566 --> 00:23:12,233
other people'’s lives.

440
00:23:12,266 --> 00:23:14,900
♪♪♪

441
00:23:14,933 --> 00:23:17,766
Alexa: Once I got into the class 
I understood that there'’s so

442
00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:22,000
many avenues I could go with 
social work and that'’s what

443
00:23:22,033 --> 00:23:24,200
excited me about it.

444
00:23:24,233 --> 00:23:26,633
KRISTEN: STUDENT ALEXA LEE WAS 
PLACED WITH THE MENTAL

445
00:23:26,666 --> 00:23:30,566
HEALTH PEER EDUCATOR PROGRAM ON 
CAMPUS, WHERE SHE VOLUNTEERS

446
00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,100
AT A FARMERS MARKET,

447
00:23:32,133 --> 00:23:36,133
DISTRIBUTING FOOD AND 
INFORMATION TO STUDENTS.

448
00:23:36,166 --> 00:23:40,400
Alexa: So, basically we are the 
middle person for students and

449
00:23:40,433 --> 00:23:45,200
resources so we try to link both 
of them together.

450
00:23:45,233 --> 00:23:48,300
KRISTEN: STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE 
THE PROGRAM EARN AN ASSOCIATES

451
00:23:48,333 --> 00:23:52,133
DEGREE FOR TRANSFER, SO THEY CAN 
CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AT A

452
00:23:52,166 --> 00:23:55,766
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY 
CAMPUS, OR BE QUALIFIED TO WORK

453
00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,200
FOR THE COUNTY AS A SOCIAL 
WORKER.

454
00:23:58,233 --> 00:24:01,633
INSTRUCTORS SAY REGARDLESS OF 
WHAT THEY DO NEXT, THIS PROGRAM

455
00:24:01,666 --> 00:24:05,766
GIVES ALL STUDENTS A TASTE OF 
THE MANY PATHWAYS AVAILABLE FROM

456
00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:08,200
A CAREER IN SOCIAL WORK.

457
00:24:08,233 --> 00:24:09,733
Taylor: That'’s what we'’re hoping 
to do for students is

458
00:24:09,766 --> 00:24:13,100
we'’re at the tip of the iceberg 
but let'’s see a little bit about

459
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what'’s below the surface and 
what those opportunities are

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that we as the general public 
may not have exposure to.

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00:24:20,766 --> 00:24:24,033
Sean: Social work is involved in 
a lot of different sectors

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00:24:24,066 --> 00:24:25,333
of our society.

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They'’re basically there to help 
and make sure people have the

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resources they need and connect 
them to any kind of services

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that can better their situation.

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00:24:36,300 --> 00:24:39,700
KRISTEN: ADMINISTRATORS SAY THE 
RESPONSE TO THIS NEW ALL-ONLINE

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00:24:39,733 --> 00:24:42,200
PROGRAM HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.

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00:24:42,233 --> 00:24:45,733
BOTH SEMESTERS HAVE FILLED UP, 
WITH A WAIT LIST.

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00:24:45,766 --> 00:24:48,166
Sean: There'’s a buzz around it 
and I think that people

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recognize that this is something 
that we have needed for a while

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00:24:52,266 --> 00:24:54,833
and maybe we just 
didn'’t know it.

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00:24:54,866 --> 00:24:57,100
KRISTEN: STUDENTS WHO HAVE 
PARTICIPATED SAY IT'’S NOT JUST

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00:24:57,133 --> 00:25:01,600
AN INSIDE PATH TO A GROWING 
FIELD, BUT A WAY OF CONNECTING

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WITH THE WORLD AROUND THEM, 
REGARDLESS OF THE WORK THEY DO.

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00:25:06,933 --> 00:25:10,300
Alexa: It'’s providing us the 
tools and the knowledge of how

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to change what we feel that is 
wrong and what is unjust.

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00:25:16,700 --> 00:25:20,500
Carlos: It'’s understanding that 
everyone'’s an individual and we

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00:25:20,533 --> 00:25:22,733
have to treat them as an 
individual no matter what kind

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00:25:22,766 --> 00:25:25,233
of problem they'’re going through 
and see what we can do to guide

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00:25:25,266 --> 00:25:28,133
them in the right direction.

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00:25:28,166 --> 00:25:30,266
Christina: That'’s it for this 
edition of

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00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:32,600
Inside California Education: 
Community Colleges.

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00:25:32,633 --> 00:25:36,900
If you'’d like more information 
about the program, log on to our

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00:25:36,933 --> 00:25:39,533
website insidecaled.org.

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00:25:39,566 --> 00:25:42,433
We have videos from all of our 
shows, and you can connect

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00:25:42,466 --> 00:25:44,266
with us on social media.

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00:25:44,300 --> 00:25:45,566
Thanks for joining us.

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00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:49,200
We'’ll see you next time on 
Inside California Education

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00:25:49,233 --> 00:25:54,233
♪♪♪

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00:26:18,133 --> 00:26:21,300
Annc : Inside California 
Education: Community Colleges

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00:26:21,333 --> 00:26:23,533
is made possible by:

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00:26:23,566 --> 00:26:26,366
College Futures Foundation 
believes nothing is more

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00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:29,466
transformative for individuals 
and our society than an

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00:26:29,500 --> 00:26:31,533
educational opportunity.

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00:26:31,566 --> 00:26:34,600
We partner with organizations 
and leaders across California

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00:26:34,633 --> 00:26:38,233
to help students earn college 
degrees regardless of zip code,

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00:26:38,266 --> 00:26:40,366
skin color, or income.

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00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,300
More information at 
collegefutures.org.

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00:26:43,333 --> 00:26:45,333
♪♪♪