On Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 10th), a man carjacked a vehicle from a student in the east parking of Highline Community College using a sword and toy gun.

According to police, the man, who had just committed an armed robbery nearby, demanded that the student drive him away from the campus. When the student refused, the man opened the car door and lunged at the student with a short sword. The student exited his vehicle unharmed and the man drove the car away.

The Des Moines and Kent police departments responded and reports are that an arrest was made at an off-campus location.

If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Highline College Campus Safety Office in Building 6 or call 206-878-3710 ext. 3218. You may also contact the Des Moines Police Department at (206) 878-3301.

In the meantime, here are some Safety Tips provided by Highline College:

1. Call the Campus Safety Office or call 911 if you see people behaving suspiciously such as loitering in the parking lots or near isolated locations such as secluded walkways, doorways, or other areas where visibility is limited. The Campus Safety Office is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
2. Generally, it is advisable to surrender property to an assailant rather than resist. You should then call 911 to report the incident.
3. We recommend that you consult the personal safety tips that can be found at the Campus Safety website: http://www.highline.edu/admin/safety/personalsafety.htm

It’s not too late to be part of the first Poverty Bay Arts Festival in September. The deadline for artists and businesses to signup to participate has been extended to this Friday, July 30.

Sponsored by the Des Moines Arts Commission and the Associated Students of Highline Community College, the one-day arts festival will be held throughout the downtown Des Moines Marina District. It will showcase the incredible pool of local talent and feature the works of professional, college, secondary school and elementary school artists. Art will be displayed at various businesses and special venues.

For further information, contact Cora Morrison at desmoinesflorist@gmail.com or Vickie Bergquist at Vickie@vickieinsurance.com.

Highline Community College has been recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education, a top news source about colleges and universities, as one of the “Great Colleges to Work For” in their recent survey of colleges and universities nation-wide.

The survey was conducted at 277 colleges and universities and involved more than 42,000 employees. The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies from each institution, and a survey administered to faculty, administrators and professional support staff.

Highline was recognized in five categories, including:

• Professional/Career-Development Programs
• Teaching Environment
• Job Satisfaction and Support
• Work/Life Balance
• Confidence in Senior Leadership

Highline is also one of the 39 institutions selected for The Chronicle’s Honor Roll, an honor that recognizes the top colleges and universities in their size categories – small, medium and large. Highline won in the medium-sized category.

Highline Community College’s Athletics Department is holding its annual T-Bird Classic golf tournament, on Friday, June 11th at Elk Run Golf Club in Maple Valley.

The tournament benefits the Highline Community College’s Athletics department.

Cost is $110 per person, and the fee includes cart, green fees, beverages on the course and dinner after the tournament.

Participants have a chance to win cash and vacation prizes, and sponsorship packages from $200-$5,000 are available.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline College’s Ahletic Department’s T-Bird Classic

WHEN: Friday, June 11; Check-in begins at 10 a.m. with shot gun start at 11 a.m.

COST: $110 per person

WHERE: Elk Run Golf Club, 22500 S.E. 275th Place, Maple Valley, 98038

INFO: For more info, check out the Athletics Department’s website: www.highline.edu/stuserv/athletics/

The Hospitality Services and Women’s Programs at Highline Community College are sponsoring a “Clothing Closet” for graduating students. The event will be held in the student union on May 28th and will go all day or until the clothing is gone.

Project coordinator Donna Longwell says, “I saw a need for some of my students to acquire clothing for a job interview. Because I ran a clothing closet of such in Bremerton, it was easy to put on a one day event for our students. We have a huge need on this campus and all are very generous. We collect the clothing for a few weeks and then display them like a small store. Folks come in and shop and go out with one or two nice outfits, shoes, jewelry etc and feel better about themselves. This helps them have more confidence as they look for work.”

This is a great opportunity to do a little spring cleaning and free up room in your closet! The college is collecting clothing appropriate for professional wear for both men and women.

If you have clothing to donate or would like more information, please contact Donna Longwell at 206-870-3777 or dlongwell@highline.edu.

Highline Community College’s Marine Science and Technology (MaST) Center is getting ready to say goodbye to Georgette, a Giant Pacific Octopus that has been calling the center home since November, at a free ceremony during the MaST Center’s Water Weekends at 1pm Saturday, June 5.

The special “release” event is free and open to the public and features cake and refreshments (but happily, no edible octopus).

“To protect Georgette and the octopus population in the Puget Sound, we are releasing her back into her native habitat in time for her to adjust, grow and finish maturing,” said Kaddie Lawrence, director of the MaST Center. “We hope that she will remain in the local population near Redondo Beach for divers to see.”

The Giant Pacific Octopus is one of the 80 species of marine life that call the MaST Center’s nine observation tanks and two touch tanks home. Georgette is being released because the octopus has outgrown the center’s tanks and to minimize the MaST Center’s impact on the local marine life.

“Almost all of our animals at the MaST Center come from the wild and it is important to minimize our impact on the environment,” said Rus Higley, an instructor in Highline’s Life, Ocean and General Sciences department. “By allowing the octopus to be returned, we have only a minimal impact on the octopus population.”

The MaST Center is located at 28203 Redondo Beach Dr. S. in Des Moines. Parking is available on the street or in the municipal parking lot across from the MaST Center.

For more information, call (206) 878-3710, ext. 3135, e-mail mast@highline.edu or visit www.highline.edu/mast.

Here’s a pic of Georgette with a few of her MaST friends:

Story by Brenda Anders
Photos courtesy Gene Achziger

WOW!  What an amazing display of diversity.  Going to Highline Community College’s “GlobalFest 2010″ was like traveling around the world, no passport required!  Students were eager to share information about their unique traditions, games and entertainment. There was delicious ethnic food and interesting displays of many countries. Many of the groups had artifacts and props on loan from local ethnic community organizations.

My favorite part was when the different groups performed. The story began with a journey to “Planet Highline.” We were led by four girls, each with their own ideas, to different countries within “Planet Highline.”  It was funny, entertaining, and enlightening. There was so much talent on that stage!  I left feeling inspired and connected to something bigger than myself.

You have one more chance to see some of these talented students in action next Thursday, May 20, 6-8pm. Culture Fest performances will be held at Wesley Terrace’s Auditorium and the general public is welcome to attend. Tickets are $8 and are available at the Des Moines Senior Activity Center, just east of the post office on 216th, or at the door.

For more information call 206-878-1642.

Here are photos courtesy Gene Achziger:

Highline Community College’s Spring Festival 2010 is coming Friday, May 21st from 9am – 1pm, and is intended for local high school students, current HCC students and the entire community, and will include a college fair, workshops and food and entertainment.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline College’s Spring Festival 2010.

WHEN: Friday, May 21st from 9 am to 1 pm.

WHERE: Highline Community College, located at 2400 S. 240th Street in Des Moines.

INFO: This is for Local High School students, current Highline students, and the community, and will include:

• College Fair 9-11:30am (Bldg. 8): Reps from over 20 colleges and universities will be on campus
• Workshops 9:50-11:25am (Various Classrooms): College and Career related – paying for college, powerful resume writing, campus life and much more
• Food & Entertainment 11:30am-1pm (outside of Bldg. 8): $3 barbecue lunch or cafeteria options, live music and interactive activities

More info available at the college’s website here.

Highline Community College International Students and Local Seniors at WLB Advertiser Wesley Homes are sponsoring Culture Fest, on Thursday, May 20th.

It’ll be held from 6pm – 8pm at the Wesley Homes Des Moines Terrace auditorium, located at 816 South 216th Street.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Culture Fest, sponsored by Highline Community College International Students and Wesley Homes.

WHEN: Thursday, May 20th from 6pm – 8pm.

WHERE: Wesley Homes Des Moines Terrace auditorium, located at 816 South 216th Street.

TICKETS: Tickets are $8, and admission will include:

• International foods samplings
• Entertainment from around the world
• Culture booths from many countries
• Free shuttle from Des Moines Activity Center

INFO: Visitors are encouraged to “surprise us by wearing the costume of your heritage” but that’s not a requirement.

The Des Moines Activity Center is a sponsor, and all proceeds from this event benefit senior programs and services for the Des Moines and Normandy Park communities.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call (206) 878-1642.

Highline Community College’s “Unity through Diversity Week” is coming April 26 through May 1st, and the theme this year is “Institutions, Power and Privilege.”

One of the more interesting offerings will be the third annual “Drag Show” Tuesday evening, April 27th from 6pm–8pm (and no, we’re not talking about car racing here…).

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline College’s Unity through Diversity Week: Institutions, Power and Privilege

WHEN: April 26-May 1, 2010

WHERE: Various locations around campus; see schedule below for specifics:

SCHEDULE:

Monday, April 26:

• Racial Microaggressions and Experiences of Students of Color in Higher Education Lecture by Dr. Miguel Ceja 11:00-11:50 Building 7 (Co-sponsored by the Learning & Teaching Center): Racial Microaggressions are defined “subtle, innocuous, preconscious, or unconscious degradations, and putdowns” (Pierce, 1995). Using critical race theory as a framework, this talk will explore the educational experiences of students of color in higher education. Furthermore this talk will examine the campus racial climate in an effort to understand the concept of racial microaggressions and their adverse effect on students of color. Dr. Ceja is an Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at California State University, Northridge.
• Enhancing and Strengthening the Campus Racial Climate: A Collective Effort Workshop facilitated by Dr. Miguel Ceja 1:30-3:00 HSU- Mt. Constance room: Workshop for faculty/staff (Sponsored by the Learning & Teaching Center): In this interactive workshop participants will have the opportunity to discuss issues of diversity in higher education and propose recommendations for developing and sustaining a healthy campus racial climate for faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Miguel Ceja is an Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at California State University, Northridge

Tuesday, April 27, 2010:

• The Color of the Race Problem Is White Lecture by Dr. Robert Jensen 11:00-11:50 Building 7 (Co-sponsored by the Learning &Teaching Center): In The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B. DuBois suggested that the question white people so often want to ask black people is, “How does it feel to be a problem?” This program turns the tables and recognizes some simple facts: Race problems have their roots in a system of white supremacy. White people invented white supremacy. Therefore, the color of the race problem is white. White people are the problem. White people have to ask ourselves: How does it feel to be a problem? Following the ideas in his book The Heart of Whiteness, Jensen argues that — even decades after the significant achievements of the civil-rights movement and with an African-American president — it is still appropriate to describe the United States as a white-supremacist society, in terms of how we think and how we live. Through an analysis of contemporary racial ideology, Jensen presents a framework for critiquing the naturalizing of power and privilege in other arenas of our lives (gender, class, nationality, and ecology). How have we come to accept so easily systems of domination and subordination? How did we become resigned to hierarchy? How can we challenge the unjust and unsustainable nature of the systems in which we live? Robert Jensen is a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin and board member of the Third Coast Activist Resource Center in Austin. His articles can be found online at http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~rjensen/index.html.
• Beyond Race, Gender, and Class: Understanding the Roots of Privilege Dr. Robert Jensen Workshop for faculty/staff 1:30-3:00 HSU- Mt. Constance (Sponsored by the Learning &Teaching Center): Many corporate, governmental, and educational institutions in the contemporary United States articulate a commitment to diversity and multiculturalism. The discussion of race, gender, and class has been institutionalized in many of these institutional settings. Such changes signal progress, but do they indicate that U.S. society has made a serious commitment to a more just distribution of wealth and power? Has this multicultural moment led to an ongoing critique of the deeper systems of authority in the culture? Using the concept of privilege in race, gender, and class, this workshop will raise questions about systems and structures of power that can allow us to go beyond polite “diversity talk” to discuss what would be needed to transform our society and promote justice and sustainability. Any serious effort toward those goals must confront the structures of power in the contemporary United States that produce such profound inequality. Robert Jensen is a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin and board member of the Third Coast Activist Resource Center in Austin. His articles can be found online at http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~rjensen/index.html.
• 3rd annual Drag Show 6:00-8:00 HSU- Mt. Townsend (Co-sponsored by the Gay/Straight Alliance): Come to Highline Community College‟s 3rd annual Drag Show event. Performers from both the Drag Queen and Drag King communities will show their best talents and entertain you for an evening you don‟t want to miss.

Wednesday, April 28:

• ALIVE & FREE: Eliminating the Disease of Violence Presentation by Marquis White, Leletha Williams, J’Quai Holiday 12:10-1:13 Building 7 (Co-sponsored with Honor’s Colloquy): Violence is a public health issue and a social disease. Alive & Free is the prescription to eliminating the disease. Alive & Free, a nationally recognized youth development and violence prevention organization works with communities to eliminate the “risk” factors of violence by dealing with emotional residues and breaking unhealthy norms. Presentation will focus on the individual and systemic roles of violence.
• Caucus Discussion, Topic: Youth Violence, Facilitated by Thomas Tobin; 1:30-2:30 Leadership Resource Room- HSU- 3rd floor Come to this caucus discussion where we will be investigating the causes of and solutions to youth violence.

Thursday, April 29:

• Searching Routes and Roots for Songs of Ghosts Talk by Quynh-Tram Nguyen, School of Social Work- UW-Tacoma 10:00-10:50 HSU- Mt. Constance room. In the tradition of storytelling this interactive lecture aims to reveal an insider‟s perspective in migrant invisibility in North America landscapes. Quynh-Tram Nguyen is a faculty member in the School of Social Work at UW-Tacoma and Doctoral Candidate in the PhD Social Science Program, Taos-Tilburg University. Her public scholarship focuses on performance-based community work where creative tension between the local and „global‟, between the familiar and unfamiliar, the being at-home and the being on-the-move takes place.
• Backstage Racism: How Nice White Students Perpetuate the Racial Hierarchy Lecture by Dr. Leslie Houts Picca 11:00-11:50 Building 7 (Co-sponsored by the Learning & Teaching Center): It’s more comfortable to view racism as “bad acts committed by bad people.” Dr. Picca‟s lecture draws upon her research on 626 journals of racial events kept by white college students at twenty-eight colleges in the United States. Dr. Picca co-author of the book “Two Faced Racism: Whites in the Backstage and Frontstage” (Routledge, 2007 with Joe Feagin) examines and explains the racial attitudes and behaviors exhibited by whites in private settings. Picca earned her Ph.D. from the University of Florida, and is now a Sociology professor at the University of Dayton in Ohio. She has publications in the areas of racial relations, and adolescent sexuality. Her research on racial relations has been nationally recognized, and she has been interviewed by CNN, the Associated Press, Congressional Quarterly, National Public Radio, Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, among others. She is also the proud mother of three daughters ages 4, 2, and 10 months.

Friday, April 30:

• Safe Zones Workshop Facilitated by Joshua Magallanes, Multicultural Services & High School Programs 10:00-11:30 Building 2; Although grossly understudied, research indicates that Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender/Questioning (GLBTQ) students hear derogatory words such as “fag, homo and gay” an average of 26 times per day. In K-12 education, colleges and universities, 85% of teachers oppose integrating GLBTQ topics into the curriculum (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network 2003).The Safe Zones education program is part of a national program that focuses on basic GLBTQ concepts, definitions, theories and building skills to confront homophobia and heterosexism. This interactive workshop will focus on campus climate for GLBTQ communities and allies and strategies to address individual and institutional forms of homophobia.
• Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? 12:30-2:00 Building 7 (Co-sponsored with Movie Fridays) In sickness and in wealth- how does the distribution of power, wealth and resources shape opportunities for health? Unnatural Causes is the acclaimed documentary series broadcast by PBS and now used by thousands of organizations around the country to tackle the root causes of our alarming socio-economic and racial inequities in health. Viewing and discussion facilitated by Melissa Ponder and Natasha Burrowes.

Saturday, May 1:

• 2nd annual Teaching Equity Conference May 1, 2010 9:00-3:30 pm Highline Campus; This year’s event is being held in collaboration with CWU’s Power of Diversity project and The Center for Excellence in Education’s Future Teacher’s Conference. The professional development experience for future educators and those interested in teaching will provide important information for participants regarding successful pathways to becoming a teacher and the need for all educators to be culturally competent. There will be panel discussions throughout the day in addition to workshops, information tables from local colleges/universities, and entertainment. More information at: http://www.teachingequity.com/.

For more information on this year’s event, download the program here (PDF file). To view presentations from last year, click here.

On Thursday (Mar. 4), Highline Community College’s Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL) announced that it had received $250,000 to provide additional job training opportunities for positions in the international trade sector.

“As our economy continues to change and adjust so too must our workforce,” said U.S. Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA). “This funding will help do just that by training Washington state workers for a career in a growing sector of our local economy – international trade.”

The project — part of the final version of the 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act signed by President Obama on Dec. 16, 2009 — will lead to a 20 percent increase in the number of trained ITTL workers in Washington state.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Smith secured funding for the project that will also improve the image of international trade throughout Washington state and create awareness of career and training opportunities that lead to family wage jobs.

“In these tough economic times, it is more important than ever to ensure that our workers have the skills they need to compete in the 21st century economy,” Murray said.

Positions in the ITTL sector include managers, logisticians, cargo and freight agents, shipping and receiving clerks, locomotive engineers, drivers and warehouse workers. Washington state will need nearly 77,000 new employees in ITTL by 2018, according to estimates based on data from the state’s Employment Security Department.

For more information about the Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics, visit www.ittlwa.com.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include:

• Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice
• Entrepreneur Junki Yoshida
• Washington state poet laureate Sam Green
• And yes, even WLB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We'd like to officially introduce a new regular column, "Feel Good Friday," written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!"]

by Dave Markwell

The other night my six year-old daughter and I attended a concert at Highline Community College. My ten year-old son was performing with the Parkside Elementary orchestra as they opened for a Des Moines Arts Commission Music Series show. He plays viola.

I have come to understand that the learning curve for instrument mastery is decidedly not steep. The slight twitch my dog, Diego, is now afflicted with, no doubt the result of the unnatural sounds piercing my son’s bedroom door, will testify to this. While the process is slow and sometimes painful, there is progress and as the group came together and played their pieces, it was actual music and it was great. Their focused and serious faces read their music as they played powerful works. Occasionally, a shrill missed note would find its way to my spinal cord, followed by an eye-raising wince from the assailant, but overall they sounded pretty good and I was proud.

As proud as I was of my son, my daughter, on the other hand, on several occasions, narrowly avoided a very public strangulation.

“Just sit still, PLEASE!” I loud-whispered and repeated as a mantra throughout the concert.

Now, I had no allusions that bringing a six year-old to a classical music show would be entirely trouble-free, but as the bouncing, talking, swinging, fiddling, fidgeting and kicking ramped up, I was considering very bad things.

Fortunately, as it sometimes will, fate intervened.

As my son’s performance wrapped up, the headline group, The Sirens, came out and began to play. They are a trio who play piano, flute and oboe. I don’t ever recall hearing an oboe before, certainly not like this. This woman played notes that I did not know existed. They touched me and gratefully must have touched my daughter as well. For three wonderful minutes, she sat on my lap and we listened to a song that we could feel. There is an emotion in the oboe that surprised me. The music swept over us and it was beautiful. I looked around the room and saw my son sitting next to his buddy several rows away from us, because if there is anything uncooler for a fifth-grader than a classical music concert, it is sitting with your dad and little sister at a classical music concert. I understood and was not hurt, too much. I enjoyed the true magic of the moment and was genuinely moved.

This was until my daughter woke up with a simultaneous flailing back head-butt to my face and swinging heel crotch-kick. The wonderful moment was over in an instant. It was just too good to last. As a stifled a yelp, I collected our things and knew it was time to go.

“Go get your brother.” I said as I made my way to the door and stepped out into the cool Des Moines rain.

I tipped my head to the sky and smiled and knew that the brief, pure moment was worth all of the hassle, struggle and even the crotch kick. The beauty of a single moment is worth all of it, every time.

Highline Community College’s Marine Science and Technology Center will be hosting former weatherman Andy Wappler this Saturday, Feb. 27th from Noon – 12:45pm at their Redondo Beach dock location.

Wappler now works for Puget Sound Energy, and he’ll be talking about how our region is meeting its energy challenges, examining how our energy choices affect the environment — including local waters.

Andy will talk about the newest developments in wind power and solar energy, as well as energy efficiency. He will also go over simple steps we can all take to use less energy, and protect local waters.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Puget Sound Energy’s Andy Wappler will speak about energy

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 27th from Noon – 12:45pm

WHERE: Highline Community College’s Marine Science & Technology 
(MaST) Center, which is located on Redondo Beach in Des Moines at 28203 Redondo Beach Drive S., Des Moines, WA 98198.

COST: Free

INFO: From a press release:

Please join….Andy Wappler Corporate Communications Manager, Puget Sound Energy

Puget Sound Energy’s Andy Wappler will look at how our region is meeting its energy challenges, examining how our energy choices affect the environment — including local waters.

Andy will talk about the newest developments in wind power and solar energy, as well as energy efficiency.

He will also go over simple steps we can all take to use less energy, and protect local waters.

Saturday February 27, 2010 from 
12:00 – 12:45
pm

Highline Community College
 MaST Center, located near the Redondo Beach Park.

For directions and more information on the MaST Center please visit http://mast.highline.edu/

Highline Community College Business instructor Jeff Ward has earned a statewide honor for his leadership and achievements in “eLearning,” also known as electronic learning.

No, it’s not for teaching people about electronics, it’s for helping teach classes online.

Ward, of Lake Forest Park, provides one-on-one support to faculty and encourages them to explore and expand their use of technology in the classroom as Highline’s Faculty in Residence for Technology and Distance Learning.

“With online learning we have erased geographical boundaries. I can have students in class from all over the world, and their different experiences and backgrounds enrich discussions and give topics a more global perspective,” Ward said. “Alternative delivery of classes such as online and hybrid courses are better able to meet the diverse needs of our students – working parents, returning students, full-time workers, etc.”

The Leadership & Innovation in eLearning Award from the eLearning Council of Washington’s community and technical college system recognizes up to two individuals annually for achievements in electronic learning.   The honor comes with a $200 cash award and a grant for all-expenses paid trip to participate in the spring Pacific Northwest Higher Education Assessment, Teaching & Learning conference from April 28-30 in Vancouver, WA.

For more information on the Washington State eLearning Council, visit www.sbctc.edu/college/e_elearning.aspx.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green and Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this here blog and three-time National Emmy winning Writer for “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

The 2010 Des Moines Arts Commission’s Waterland Music Series continues with a performance by “Sirens Trio” of the Oregon Chamber Players at the Highline Community College Music Department at 7pm on Tuesday, Feb. 23rd.

The chamber music performance will be preceded by a very special performance by the Parkside Elementary School Orchestra.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Waterland Music Series featuring “Sirens Trio”

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 23rd at 7pm

WHERE: Highline Community College (2400 S. 240th Street, Des Moines, WA) in the Artist-Lecture Center (Building 7).

COST: The entire evening of music is only $15/adult or just $5/student. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, 1000 220th St. and Des Moines Florist, 721 S. 219th in Des Moines.  Tickets will also be available at the door.  Call the Des Moines Parks & Recreation at (206) 870-6527 for ticketing or concert information.

INFO: The venue is an intimate setting with ample parking.

The evening will begin with a short 15-20 minute program provided by the Parkside Orchestra from the Parkside Elementary School in Des Moines.  This concert is hosted by the City of Des Moines Arts Commission and the Highline Community College Music Department.

Single tickets are available for $15/adult and $5/student (elementary-college).  Group discounts are available.  For $30 patrons may request any combination of three tickets for the remaining Waterland performances.  Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, 1000 220th St. and Des Moines Florist, 721 S. 219th in Des Moines.  Tickets will also be available at the door.  Call the Des Moines Parks & Recreation at (206) 870-6527 for ticketing or concert information.

The Sirens Trio was formed in 2005 by three professional musicians who loved performing together and bringing enjoyable and exciting chamber music to audiences.  The evening will delight you with the sounds of Rebecca Olson, flute, Victoria Raez, oboe and Maria Manza , piano.

These musicians have continued that tradition of delightful music-making in such diverse venues as The Old Church in Portland, the Brookings Chamber Music Series, The Magenta Theater, and Oregon State University.

Erin Sneller from Oregon State University writes:   “Thank you for performing on our Music à la Carte concert series. Your chamber trio delighted our audience! The repertoire you performed was an enjoyable mix of traditional and contemporary, and your interesting comments about the compositions really enhanced the experience for our listeners. I sincerely hope that the Sirens are up for a return engagement in the near future!   BRAVO! ”

Jaynie Roberts, the Artistic Director of the Magenta Theater Company says, “…I just wanted to tell you how lovely the concert was tonight. Such beautiful music floating through the air – it was just delightful! I have never heard our piano sound so lovely before! ….The ambiance you created in the auditorium was exquisite. So very, very charming… Thank you for a delightful evening! The Sirens are amazing!!”

The final concert in this series will be Cul An Ti (Celtic Music) on Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

Series information is available at www.desmoineswa.gov/artscommission.

Become a fan of the Des Moines Arts Commission on Facebook for Des Moines Arts updates!

More information, including audio samples, available at the Sirens Trio website here.

Since it’s Valentine’s Day week, there’s no better time to learn about the “Science of Love,” and Des Moines’ own Highline Community College is here to help with a seminar this Friday, Feb. 12th from 2:20pm to 3:10pm.

Here are the lovely details:

WHAT: Science of Love

WHEN: Friday, Feb.  12th, from 2:20pm – 3:10pm.

WHERE: Highline Community College, Building 3, Room 102, located at 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines

COST: FREE and open to the public.

INFO: Psychology professor Ruth Frickle presents this special Science Seminar that looks at what is love and the different kinds of love, attempting to answer such questions as:

• What is love?
• Does it really exist or is it a myth?
• Are there different kinds of love?
• Can love last?

For more info, visit http://flightline.highline.edu/scienceseminars.

Highline Community College is now accepting nominations for its “Distinguished Alumnus Award,” its most prestigious award for alumni.

This award is meant to honor a former Highline student who has made outstanding contributions through community service, noteworthy professional achievement and/or recognized leadership.

Nominations are due by April 16, 2010.

Previous winners have included:

• Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, who attended Highline in 1968–69, was the first recipient of the award in 1990
• Other past honorees include Junki Yoshida, CEO of the Yoshida Group
• Washington state’s first poet laureate Sam Green

Last year’s recipient was Dr. Linda Petter, a family practitioner in Tacoma and author of “Common Medical Sense,” who was honored for her outstanding work in the health care field. She has a regular feature at 7:45 a.m. Sundays on KOMO-AM 1000.

Nominees will be asked to submit a résumé and personal profile that will be reviewed by a campus selection committee. The person selected will be invited to accept the award and participate in Highline’s commencement exercises on June 10, 2010.

Please send your nominations via e-mail to ayoung@highline.edu or hard copy to:

Melissa Sell
Resource Development Office
Highline Community College
PO Box 98000 MS 99-248
Des Moines, WA 98198-9800

For more information, call (206) 870-3774, e-mail rstephen@highline.edu or visit www.funds4highline.org.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes.

As many of our Readers also know, Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer also attended Highline College, where he worked on the student newspaper The Thunderword. Another alum is one of his then-classmates, prolific local Playwright and current HCC Journalism Professor TM Sell.

Highline Community College is holding a workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 9th for not-for-profit organizations on how to pursue grant money.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Community College workshop on the entire grant-getting process.

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 9th from 9:00 a.m. – noon (module 1) and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (module 2)

WHERE: Highline Community College – Des Moines Campus

COST: $59 per module; $110 for both modules

INFO: Designed for not-for-profit organizations new to pursuing grants, this workshop provides an overview of the entire grant-getting process. In particular, it addresses: assessing the applicant organization’s readiness to apply for a grant, researching funding prospects, cultivating relationships with prospective/current funders, writing the grant application, and what to do after its submission. The focus of the workshop is on foundation grants.

REGISTER: Contact Highline Community College at 206.870.3785 or via http://flightline.highline.edu/cel

AGENDA:

• The Grant-Getting Process (or Don’t Wait ‘Til The Day Before It’s Due to Work On The Application)
• Grant-Getting Readiness: You Need More Than A Need For Money
• Funder Fundamentals: Researching & Cultivating Relationships With Funders
• Work Plans And Other Ways to Save Your Sanity
• Completing The Grant Application
• Make Your Application Stand Out
• Summary of Key Concepts

About the Instructor: Lisa Arnold is a consultant to not-for-profit organizations, has worked for over 20 years in the nonprofit arena, and has a Master’s Degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago. She has produced and/or taught numerous fundraising and other workshops for nonprofits throughout Puget Sound. These include a six-day training series in conjunction with the Gill Foundation (production); and workshops at the Evergreen State College, the University of Washington, Highline Community College, and South Seattle Community College.

Highline Community College’s StartZone is offering free tax preparation workshops and filing assistance to self-employed individuals in King County with total household income of less than $50,000.

Workshops being Feb. 10th, and eligible individuals will receive assistance from a trained and professionally supervised volunteer who will help complete and file 1040, Schedule C, applications for the Making Work Pay and Earned Income tax credits, and other forms.

For more information about eligibility requirements, individuals are encouraged to attend a tax preparation workshop. Workshops will be offered:

• Wednesday, Feb. 10th: 6-9pm
  
• Wednesday, March 10th: 6-9pm
  
• Saturday, March 13th: 9:30am – 12:30pm
• Saturday, March 27th: 9:30am – 12:30pm

To register, call (206) 878-3710, ext. 3388, or e-mail startzone@highline.edu.

StartZone’s Business Tax Center is funded by the CFED in partnership with the United Way of King County.

StartZone is a program that helps women, people of color, immigrants and persons with a disability start or grow small businesses in Southwest King County. For information, visit http://startzone.highline.edu.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes. Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green and WLB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer.

The Highline Community College Foundation received a $60,000 donation from lifelong resident Justine Richards to help provide emergency assistance to Highline students who are struggling to pay for their college education.

Emergency assistance may include funds to pay for books, supplies, child care or transportation. Funds will be distributed through Highline’s Financial Aid office based on a student’s need.

The endowment is named in honor of donors Justine Richards, of Des Moines, and her deceased husband, Gene J. Newman.

Richards is a lifelong resident of the Des Moines area and taught business classes for the Highline School District for 40 years. She has been a longtime supporter of Highline Community College.

Newman graduated from Lynden High School in Lynden, Wash., and the University of Washington. He served in the 10th Mountain Division (86th Infantry Regiment) during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal at Monte della Torraccia Ridge in Italy on Feb. 27, 1945.

He spent 60 years as an electrical engineer building cranes, designing hydroelectric plants and other projects. His ashes are interred at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.

For more information on the HCC Foundation and how to donate to help needy students, call (200) 870-3774 or visit www.funds4highline.org.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening and weekend classes.

Alumni include former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Washington state poet laureate Sam Green as well as Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this here blog.

Between Jan. 19th and 22nd, Highline Community College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Week will feature nationally known authors and scholars discussing a variety of topics, including diversity, politics, education, sports and the legacy of Dr. King.

This year’s event includes an exhibit featuring local social activists and revolutionaries who played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement in Washington state. The exhibit is on display throughout the week in the Highline Student Union.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Community College’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Week

WHEN: Jan. 19th through Jan. 22nd at various times

WHERE: Highline Community College’s main campus. Highline’s main campus is located midway between Seattle and Tacoma at South 240th Street and Pacific Highway South (Highway 99); address: 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.

COST: Free and open to the public

SCHEDULE:

TUESDAY, JAN. 19th:

Dream Fulfilled? The legacy of Dr. King in an Obama age
A lecture by Dedrick Muhammad
9:00 – 9:50am,  10:00 – 10:50am Building 7

Dedrick Muhammad is a Senior Organizer and Research Associate for the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute of Policy Studies. His presentation will examine the current socio-economic status of African Americans, the progress that has been made since the time of Dr. King, and the prospects of African Americans under the Obama presidency

Cradle to Prison Pipeline
Celestine Lanier-McClary, Black Child Development Institute
11:00-11:50am, Highline Student Union Building 8, Mt. Constance Room

Children of color are entering the Criminal Justice at an alarming rate! In 2001, it was said that 1 out of every 3 African American preschool child has a chance of going to prison in his lifetime (CDF 2006). This workshop will explore the link between education and the criminal justice system and also examine the risk factors as it relates to people of color in the criminal justice system. During this time participants will begin to better understand this pipeline and start to create strategies for dismantling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline.

MLK Exhibit
Highline Student Union Building 8, Mt Constance Stage
Open all day/evening, Jan 19-22 Come view a display of local social activists and revolutionaries who played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement in Washington State.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30th:

Why are Poor People Poor?
A workshop by Dustin Washington and John Page, American Friends Service Committee and People’s Institute Northwest
9:00 – 9:50am,  Highline Student Union Building 8 – Mt. Constance Room

Explore the roots of class inequality with two community organizers and leaders in the Seattle Area. Dustin Washington and John Page are from the Community Justice Program at American Friends Service Committee and do extensive work around anti-racism and social justice advocacy.

Workshop: Environmental Justice and You!
Presented by Community Coalition to Environmental Justice (CCEJ)
10:00 – 10:50am, Building 7

We hear about the environmental movement, but what we don’t hear about much is the Environmental Justice (EJ) movement. With the EJ movement, they take into consideration how certain populations are targeted and polluted on purpose, specifically people of color and/or low income communities. In addition, environmental injustice is impacting people not just locally, but globally as well. Come to this workshop to hear more about the EJ movement, discuss the root causes of environmental injustice such as racism and profits before people, and how you can get involved and make a difference.

Music and Liberation: A panel discussion
12:10-1:10pm, Highline Student Union Building 8 – Mt. Constance Room

Join us for a panel discussion with local activists and musicians. Explore how social change, activism and music intersect. The artists will represent different genres of music that include Hip Hop, R&B, Folk, Reggae and Latin.

Music and Liberation: A Caucus Discussion
1:30-2:30pm, Highline Student Union, Building 8 – Leadership Resource Room

Join a follow up discussion of how music was, can, and is used for activism.

THURSDAY, JAN. 21st:

Inter-Minority Racisms and Cross-Racial Identifications: The Role of Hip Hop in Shaping Contemporary Asian/Black Relations in the U.S.
Lecture by Nitasha Sharma followed by Q &A session
9:00-10:30am,  Building 7

In this talk, Professor Sharma will analyze the political potential of hip hop for framing Asian/Black relations in the U.S. Americans often view Asians and Blacks to be distinct minority groups with little in common; however, history and politics reveal otherwise. Drawing from her fieldwork on 24 South Asian American hip hop MCs, DJs, record label owners, and journalists, Dr. Sharma will discuss how some Asian American youth call upon hip hop to articulate their racial identities and politics. Within the context of Asian anti-Black racism and Black anti-immigrant sentiment, perhaps hip hop offers a space and form for some youth to create cross-racial connections across these divides.

Nitasha Sharma is a professor in African American Studies and Asian American Studies at Northwestern University. Her ethnographic research focuses on Asian/Black relations through hip hop culture and the multiracial experience. She is the author of “Hip Hop Desis: South Asian Americans, Blackness, and a Global Race Consciousness.” Her latest project analyzes the negotiations of mixed race Asian/Blacks in Hawaii.

Poetry Workshop
11:00-11:50am, Building 2

Engage in this workshop for new and existing poets and discover how poetry can be used as a platform for expression.

Open Mic Poetry
Laura “Piece” Kelly &  Freshest Roots
7:00-9:00 pm, Highline Student Union Building 8 – Mt. Constance Room
An evening of poetry open to anyone wishing to share their poetry in a like-minded environment.  Co-sponsored by Freshest Roots.

FRIDAY, JAN. 22nd:

Freedom When? Race and Labor, Then and Now
Lecture by David Roediger, followed by Q & A Session
10:00 – 11:30 am, Building 7

Dr. David Roediger has a doctorate in History from Northwestern University and teaches African American Studies at the University of Illinois. Dr. Roediger’s talk looks from periods of slavery and conquest to current workplace traditions, to suggest that keeping people apart has been a consistent key to overworking and underpaying them.

Movie Fridays: SLAM
Facilitated by Aaron Reader
12:30-2:00 pm, Building 7
Slam is a 1998 independent film starring Saul Williams and Sonja Sohn. It tells the story of a young man whose talent for poetry is hampered by his social background. It won the Grand Jury Prize for a Dramatic Film at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. Co-sponsored by Movie Fridays.

For more information contact Natasha Burrowes at 206-878-3710 x 3256 or via email.

SPONSORS: HCC’s Center for Leadership & Service, Multicultural Services and Learning & Teaching Center

MLK Week Committee Members:

• Natasha Burrowes, Chair
• Darryl Brice
• Naiomi Etienne
• Jodi Golden-White
• Yoshiko Harden
• Heather Johnston-Robinson
• Aaron Reader
• Gayatri Sirohi
• Barbara Talkington
• Gerie Ventura

If you need accommodations due to a disability, please contact Access Services at (206)878-3710, ext.3857(voice) or (206) 870-4853 (TTY) no later than January 5, 2010.

Highline Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with day, evening, online and weekend classes.

With the most diverse population of any college in Washington state, Highline takes a multicultural approach to education for the success of all its students and the prosperity of its surrounding communities. Alumni include Scott Schaefer, Publisher/Editor of this website former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida and Washington state poet laureate Sam Green.

The Washington State Independent Living Council will sponsor a public forum to discuss amendments to the 2008-10 State Plan for Independent Living on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd at Highline Community College.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Washington State Independent Living Council’s public forum to discuss amendments to the 2008-10 State Plan for Independent Living

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 2nd from Noon to 2pm

WHERE: Highline Community College Outreach Center (Building 99, Room 132), located at 2400 South 240th Street, Des Moines, WA 98190. Enter parking lot off Pacific Highway/ Highway 99

INFO: Due to economic stimulus development funds, changes must be made to the independent living plan.

To promote accessibility, a live stream of the CART/captions will be available to participants in remote locations via the website: http://www.streamtext.net/text.aspx?event=SILC. The site will be available shortly before the beginning of the meeting.

You may also call in at 1-877-216-1555 and enter the pass code: 815648 # to participate in the forum

For parking information, please contact the college at: 206-878-3710, ext. 3218 (V).

The college is served by the following Metro Bus lines: 116, 174, 175, 121, 122, 131, and 132.

There will be CART and ASL interpreters on site.

Highline’s Marine Science & Technology 
(MaST) Center’s fall speaker series continues with the next session on Dec. 5th, from Noon to 1pm, featuring New Tools to Inform Nearshore Restoration with Doug Meyers.

Meyers, director of science for People for Puget Sound, will share the results of a comprehensive analysis for the restoration of Puget Sound’s nearshore ecosystem. This 10-year, multi-agency investigation combined cutting edge physical and social science to identify spatially explicit disruptions to natural ecological processes in the last 150 years.

Here are the details:

WHAT: MaST’s “Science on the Sound” speaker series

WHEN:  Saturday, Dec. 5th, from Noon to 1 p.m.

WHERE:  Highline Community College’s Marine Science & Technology 
(MaST) Center, which is located on Redondo Beach in Des Moines; address: 28203 Redondo Beach Drive S., Des Moines, WA 98198.

COST: Free

INFO: Science on the Sound is a semimonthly seminar that features experts discussing issues pertinent to the Puget Sound and the region.
Upcoming speakers for Science on the Sound include:

• Nov. 21st: Introduction to Footloose Disabled Sailing; Bob Ewing, one of the original founders of the Footloose Sailing Association, shares amazing success stories of people with disabilities who discover the wonders of sailing. Ewing encourages people to join the sport to help them move beyond disability and into empowerment.
• Dec. 5th: New Tools to Inform Nearshore Restoration; Doug Meyers, director of science for People for Puget Sound, shares the results of a comprehensive analysis for the restoration of Puget Sound’s nearshore ecosystem. This 10-year, multi-agency investigation combined cutting edge physical and social science to identify spatially explicit disruptions to natural ecological processes in the last 150 years.

For more information, visit the MaST website here.

Highline Community College’s Marine Science & Technology Center (MaST) is hosting their annual holiday open house on Tuesday, Dec. 8th from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.

More than 400 people attended last year’s event.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Holiday Open House at the MaST Center

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec 8th from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

WHERE:  Highline Community College’s Marine Science & Technology (MaST) Center, located at 28203 Redondo Beach Drive South in Des Moines

COST:  FREE!

INFO:  Visitors can check out the center’s aquarium and aquatic life while awaiting the arrival of the Argosy Christmas Ship Festival at Redondo Beach. The festival includes decorated ships and a performance by the Dickens Carolers. Hot drinks and snacks will be provided.

Also, the Argosy Christmas Ship will be at Redondo Beach between 8:50-9:10 p.m.

More info available at the MaST website: www.highline.edu/mast.