Volume 31 • Summer 2010

From City to : A PSSP Alumna changing the lives of children

PSSP Alumna Kimber Bogard imber Bogard considers it her poorest and least developed countries. can support the operation of their K civic duty to make a difference They identified the critical needs as partnership. Fluent in French, Kimber K and effect change. Right now, health care, nutrition and education has been able to speak with children she has her sights on the poorest and decided upon an integrated model and parents to learn first-hand about children in Haiti. Kimber, an expert of high quality schooling and health their needs. With the strong input of in early childhood development, is service delivery that is sustainable Mila, they are adapting their model of a imbued with a determination to use her and replicable. Through their nonprofit school/health clinic to the culture and experience to make a large long-lasting organization, called Partners for a practices of Haiti’s people. impact. Bright and Healthy Haiti, they seek to work across borders and sectors to The January earthquake increased the Working through a partnership she enable currently underserved Haitian urgency of the work. Fifty percent of created with a Haitian-born physician, children to become bright and healthy Haiti’s schools were rendered useless which works with a team of extraordinary citizens of the world. and health care needs have risen professionals, she is seeking a better significantly. While Kimber and Mila at life for Haiti’s children. This undertaking, The organization works on a simple first were hurrying to develop schools which involves frequent trips to Haiti, is concept — children cannot learn if and open operation in a tent if need be, of course, in addition to her regular job they are hungry or unhealthy. Kimber they realized time was needed to create and life with her own family. envisions a new generation of Haitians who think globally and act locally, Continued on page three In an interview, Kimber said that a something that the current educational defining moment was meeting Dr. Mila system cannot foster. Gauvin, medical Director of Preferred Health Partners in . They met Kimber has made many visits to Haiti in through their daughters, who attended the last year, visiting schools, health the same school in New York. When clinics and hospitals and meeting they found they shared similar beliefs with people and organizations that and had complementary expertise, in 2009 they formed a partnership to help children in Haiti, one of the world’s

During her March visit to Haiti, Kimber Bogard photographed children and families from an orphanage in Jacmel, a city highly impacted by the January earthquake. Partners for a Bright and Healthy Haiti intend to replicate their school/health clinic model in Jacmel. (more photos on page three) A view from the director’s chair by Elaine M. Walsh, Ph.D.

n every issue of News & Views, found their niche in the public beginning to flourish. Five scholars I we highlight the career and sector and are making a difference have been hired by their placement I public service achievements of professionally and through service agencies and will begin contributing as alumni. In this issue, we chose to efforts. Kimber, Susan, Sophia and employees this summer. Six scholars capture more detail from alumni to Amarilys are examples of why our will pursue graduate degrees in law, better illustrate their successes and program continues to be important social work, education, urban planning give justice to their public service and relevant to the future of our and anthropology in the fall. This past work. We applaud their efforts and communities. Our society is better off year’s cohort is leaving the program commitment to the field. because of these women. with a stronger work ethic, self- confidence and assurance of their Our alumna Kimber Bogard, featured On page sevenw, I am happy to share career path and goals. on the cover, defines public service. with you key findings from our recent She has had an unwavering focus on alumni survey. This tool is yet another I remain very thankful to all of our making an impact in the early childhood way to see the success of the program donors, many of whom are alumnae. On development field to help all children model as alumni report the influence page six, I am honored to acknowledge thrive. Her motivation to give back and we had on their career achievements in every individual, organization and use her years of education and training the public sector. It is my hope that foundation that made a donation to to improve the lives of Haitian children more alumni will reinvest their time in support our scholars since June 2009. makes me proud to call her an alumnae. the program and volunteer as mentors, Your contribution is an investment in a I am thrilled to feature her on our cover guest speakers or join our advisory generation determined to find a new as an exemplary public servant, doing board. Their shared experiences way serving the community. Our her civic duty, as you will read in are invaluable to our current class program prospers due to our supporters, the article. of scholars. mentors, agency partners and dedicated faculty. Thank you. We also highlight alumnae Susan Chin, As this newsletter goes to print and the Sophia Clark and Amarilys Estrella on program year ends, the public service pages four and five. These women have careers of our 2010 scholars are

dedicated to OUR missioN

The Public Service Scholar Program, a leadership program, seeks to improve our cities and the lives of people by preparing talented undergraduates for careers in the public and nonprofit sectors. Housed in the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning at , the 18-credit, full academic year program gives these students, especially women and minority- group members, an opportunity to explore public service through internships in government agencies, legislative offices and nonprofit organizations. Scholars participate in academic seminars on city government and public policy. The PSSP receives external funds to support the program, including funding for stipends for our scholars. Without this help, our students could not participate. Major funding for the PSSP is provided through the generosity of the Ann S. Kheel Charitable Fund, Helena Rubinstein Foundation, the Estate of Dorothy Epstein, and the United Way of , along with generous support from New York Assembly Members Herman D. Farrell, Jr., Micah Z. Kellner, Deborah Glick, Richard N. Gottfried, and Brian P. Kavanagh, New York State Senator Liz Krueger, and New York State Senator Eric Schneiderman.

2 From NYC to Haiti Continued from front cover a full-service school providing health, knew her career path would be in early education and race and ethnicity. She nutrition, and education services. They childhood development. It was not until is also a consultant to organizations, plan to create the first of their projected her time in the Public Service Scholar such as Yale University Schools of the three schools in Port-au-Prince in the Program and through her internship 21st Century and the W.K. Kellogg summer of 2011. They will work to at Child Care, Inc. (this later became Foundation, that seek assistance with improve the model in terms of quality Center for Children’s Initiatives) that program development or research and cost effectiveness and then she realized her ability to influence strategies to improve education for replicate it twice. A research project policy and affect the lives of many children. She somehow finds time to will be part of the model and the children would depend on working lend her support and expertise as an results should encourage replication at the intersection of research, policy advisory board member for the throughout Haiti and in other countries. and practice. nonprofit organization Homes for the Homeless, in addition to serving as It is a vast project and Kimber is Kimber pursued this track with vigor, a board member at the Center for thankful to the more than 50 acquiring the education and experience Children’s Initiatives. professionals from various disciplines — to get closer to her goal of changing they live in the and risk trajectories for underserved Kimber is a mother of two young elsewhere — who are contributing to the children. She obtained multiple degrees children. Her family is her priority, thus organization and making suggestions in psychology, most recently a Ph.D. in she is challenged with balancing work, about the model. Everyone involved is a applied developmental psychology from service efforts and family. She explains volunteer, including Kimber and Mila. Fordham University. She has won such that the key to her juggling act is They will soon strategically approach esteemed awards such as a fellowship staying organized on a daily basis foundations identified as prospective from the Clark Foundation to work full- and carving out uninterrupted time partners in the development and growth time in a nonprofit organization while adequate for the different tasks outside of the organization. completing a master of arts degree. the home. Her family takes precedence. She was a graduate fellow and Putting Through her other activities, she says, When asked why she is undertaking Children First Fellow, awards given by she hopes to instill values of philanthropy such a monumental project, Kimber the Foundation for Child Development in her children so that they grow up to says it is her civic duty. “I have trained while she was at the Teachers College be global citizens. much of my life to do just this,” she at . She was honored says. “It is the duty of anyone with the with the Presidential Scholarship at In her interview, Kimber made it a point educational and career experience such Fordham, which covers all tuition costs to explain that her experience as a as mine to inform policy.” It is not a choice, for her Ph.D. Public Service Scholar first showed her Kimber believes, but her responsibility. how policy could influence many Now working as the associate director children and have a large-scale impact When Kimber began her undergraduate of the Institute of Human Development on lives. This realization helped define education at Hunter College in 1995, she and Social Change at New York her dual career path and has led to her University, Kimber facilitates grant work in Haiti and vision of offering the proposals for faculty affiliates concerning PBHH model to the world. the community, and generates research proposals involving early childhood

3 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Making an impact in public service

‘06 ‘96 Amarilys Estrella people, while promoting the values and Sophia Clark Amarilys Estrella says her defining responsibilities of global citizenship in Sophia Clark’s public service work took moment came when she was a Public the Jewish community. off when she was an undergraduate at Service Scholar working as an intern at Hunter College. She viewed the Public the American Jewish World Service. She After graduating from Hunter College, Service Scholar Program as an had the opportunity to work with a she accepted a grants-administrator opportunity to mesh her desire to pursue woman who had faced threats in her position at her organization, becoming a law career with public service work and home country because she had publicly responsible for managing international was not disappointed. She is now a challenged a multi-national corporation grants and the transferring of money lawyer and has not stopped volunteering on the ground it was exploiting her to 36 countries. In 2008, she was since her time in the program. community’s natural resources. She was promoted to manager of the grants forced to seek asylum in the United department, with a budget of over $15 States. Amarilys spent many days million. In March 2010, Amarilys became discussing how to raise awareness of the the program officer overseeing grants in issues faced by her community. Amarilys Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Her says she remembers wondering how this work includes coordinating technical woman had “the will and strength to assistance opportunities for grantees, continue to fight for her community’s helping to establish grant-making policies rights under such adversity.” At that in the region, and collaborating with moment, she knew she would devote her other programs, including advocacy, life to the field of human rights. volunteer service programs and communications. PSSP Alumna Sophia Clark With a job in hand after graduating from Hunter, Amarilys had to determine the Sophia says she often jokes that she is direction of her career. She wanted to “too poor to save the world.” She wants pursue international issues and enrolled to do more service work, but carving out in a graduate program for a master of time is a constant challenge in her hectic arts in Latin America and Caribbean schedule as Assistant General Counsel studies. She expects to earn this degree for the Atlanta public school system. She this year. Working full-time and pursuing provides legal services that the schools a graduate degree has presented need, such as assistance with contracts, challenges, but Amarilys says the real estate, employment and lawsuits. PSSP Alumna Amarilys Estrella presenting graduate program “has made a clear at a United Nations Educational, Scientific difference in my ability to take on my Sophia wishes she had realized earlier in and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) intergenerational youth forum new position” in her job. her life the opportunities available to her. “Unfortunately,” she says, “I did not Amarilys is thrilled to continue working “It is difficult to imagine my career path realize that I, a little black girl from the with the American Jewish World Service; having turned out this way without the South Bronx housing projects, could be a she has been promoted three times since support of the Public Service Scholar lawyer. I was in my twenties, a college her experience as a scholar four years Program.” Amarilys says. “Coming from drop-out, when I decided to return to ago. She is dedicated to the organization a low-income home, I had to work and go school for my bachelors degree with the because, she says, it “truly believes to school. The program offered me an intent of going straight to law school. that marginalized communities can be opportunity to get hands-on experience Before that time, I was working as a powerful agents of change and while being financially supportive. I bookkeeping clerk for a law firm when I development when mobilized from would not have been able to participate realized I did not have to be the clerk – within.” Through grants to grassroots in such a program without this support.” I could be the lawyer.” organizations, volunteer service, advocacy and education, her organization fosters civil societies, sustainable development and human rights for all Continued on page five

4 Alumni Spotlight Continued from previous page

PSSP mentor, the late Florence Belsky, to my CASA clients, I perform a ton of Supreme Court decisions and bills that was especially influential during Sophia’s pro bono legal work for the organization.” affect New York City. She left Washington time in the program. Florence was an She offers advice to current and future determined on a career in politics. attorney and encouraged Sophia’s law scholars, and anyone interested in public career. Sophia says as of Florence: “It service: “When considering performing After graduating from Hunter with a was very inspiring to have such a charitable work, take on small projects. bachelor’s degree in Political Science, successful lawyer as a mentor just If you can’t commit to a time-consuming Susan accepted a position in a small as I was starting my law school journey.” position on the executive board, perhaps private lobbying organization focused on Sophia remembers Florence championing you can commit to a one-day event. legal services and labor unions. She the importance of public service work Every little bit helps.” remained there less than two years and says “she was never too busy to do before starting as a political and some good.” legislative analyst for District Council 37. Susan Chin ‘94 Seven years later, she took her present Sophia loves her service work in Georgia. In 15 years of lobbying, Susan Chin has position, where she has remained for She sits on the board of directors of learned the importance of relationships. eight years. She is a lobbyist at City Hall, Georgia CASA, which represents indigent To current scholars, she offers this representing such city employees as children in legal proceedings. She has advice: “Public service is all about school nurses, librarians, clerical workers also served as a guardian ad litem, which relationship building.” Susan experienced and 911 operators. Her concerns, on provides opportunities to work directly this firsthand during her time as a PSSP behalf of these workers, are workplace with kids in need. Before moving to scholar. She continues: “Never give up safety, employee benefits and worker Georgia with her husband, Sophia was on your work. Someone will notice.” This compensation and fair treatment. Susan heavily involved in volunteer work while has served her well as she fights for the fights city proposals for layoffs to she was in school. In New York City, she rights of New York City workers in her balance budgets and maintains a strong was an ombudsperson for the NYC Public job as assistant director of the Political focus on budget cuts that would affect Advocate, helping citizens resolve Action Committee of District Council 37, job security. legal issues and maneuver through New York City’s largest public employee bureaucratic mazes. She has served as a union. Despite what many believe, lobbying isn’t mentor for high school students, a clerk all glamour, according to Susan. She intern for the New York City civil court, a says: “My first experience lobbying at campaign fellow for United Way and a City Hall was anything but glamorous. college recruiter for Hunter. That day, the doors were only open to elected representatives. I was stuck When she moved to Washington State in outside on the steps of City Hall, waiting 1997 to attend Seattle University Law on representatives in rainy, cold weather.” School, her public service work grew. She became president of the Black Law Susan works long hours, especially Students Association, a member of the during campaigns, and often works Women’s Caucus and helped organize through weekends. She loves what she clothing and food drives for the homeless does, emphasizing that anyone who does and women’s shelters. She moved back PSSP Alumna Susan Chin what she does has to love the job. “You to New York City in 2003 and pursued don’t get immediate pay-offs and a master of arts in corporate Susan wanted to be a lawyer when she legislation can take years to pass,” Susan communication. She landed in Georgia, began her undergraduate education continues. “The job is rewarding, though. her husband’s home state. at Hunter College. She switched her I know that the union members appreciate goal after an experience interning in my efforts to make sure their benefits Sophia is committed to public service Washington. Susan was one of 12 CUNY are intact or that they can look forward work and believes that “while hands-on students accepted by the university’s to a comfortable retirement. At the end work is always an excellent option, there internship program, a summer placement of the day, my work positively affects our is a lot of good work to be done behind in the office of an elected official. In her members and their families.” the scenes.” “For instance,” she says, post, she researched federal legislation “while I am no longer making home visits for constituents and learned about

5 THANK YOU Our program thrives because of you

Thank you for helping us open doors and create opportunities for our next generation of public service leaders. We greatly appreciate the generosity of the following friends of the Public Service Scholar Program during June 1, 2009 – May 1, 2010.

$65,000 Antoinette D’ Orazio Bettina Damiani Ann S. Kheel Charitable Fund Barbara Grodd Evelyn Davidson Virginia Shields Eleonora Demetrio $20,000-$50,000 Melanie Dulfo CUNY’s Workforce $250-$499 Sidney & Anne Emerman Development Initiative KumKum Ahluwalia Francoise Freyre New York Assembly Member Yvette Furman-Katz Paulette Geanacopoulos Herman D. Farrell Jr. Erica Keberle Phyllis Glantz New York State Senator Marjorie McCarty Hadassah Gold Liz Krueger Karen Persichilli Keogh Timothy B. Harwood Wendell Hauser $10,000-$19,999 $100-$249 Doris Herzlinger New York State Assembly Susan Alt Emilia Jamiolkowski Member Brian Kavanagh Kimber Bogard Adrienne A. Lawler New York State Department of Barbara Brenner Catherine Heller Lenihan Environmental Conservation Jamene Christian, Esq. Anissa Mak Helena Rubinstein Foundation Georgette Clarke Lisa M. Michener James Collins & Pat Brownell Claire Miller $5,000-$9,999 Kathryn Conroy Alisa Schierman The Estate of Dorothy Epstein Kim & Andre Floyd Lillian Simons Greenberg New York State Assembly Frances and Sanford Freedman Gloria Smith Member Micah Z. Kellner Helene Goldfarb Penelope W. Pi-Sunyer New York State Senator Maria Herrera Robert H. Trudell Eric Schneiderman Ana Hristova Yordanov Natalya Vasilchenko Barbara Janes Helen Yanolatos $1,000-$4,999 Kristy Jelenik Christopher Bell Arlene Kendall Matching Contributions Miriam P. Burns Dee Livingston were received from the Dr. David and Karen Joan G. Masket following: Blumenthal Linda Meaney The Cornell University Christina G. Nida Company Foundation Foundation Daniel O’Neil Sony Electronics, Inc. ENACT Muriel Reed New York State Assembly Fernando Rodriguez and We sincerely apologize for anyone we may not Member Deborah Glick Nancy Palmadessa have included. Please contact our Program New York State Assembly Peter Smith Office if you were not acknowledged.vv Member Richard N. Gottfried Martha Sobhani New York Women’s Foundation Betsy Wade Pinkerton Foundation Peter & Suzanne Walsh Ivan & Phyllis Seidenberg Diana Trimble West United Way of New York City Irma J. Wright Ursula Mahoney Judith Zabar Elaine M. Walsh Lucille Zarin

$500-$999 Up to $99 Patrick and Judith Backstrom Elizabeth Ashby Boston Foundation/ Bernice K. Baxter Public Service Waterfield Fund Roz Chernesky Scholar Program John and Marie Dacey Barbara Chocky

6 2010 Program Scholars celebrate a year of accomplishments

riends, family members, Ydanis Rodriguez and Jumaane F significant others, super- D. Williams spoke about their F visors, alumni, mentors shared background in community and city representatives gathered organizing and the importance of on May 10th in the New York City staying connected to the people Hall Council Chambers to com- you represent. mend the 2010 Public Service Scholars for their fellowship year A most deserving alumnae, Alicia in public service. Twenty-three Noel, received the Outstanding scholars leave the Public Service Mentor of the Year Award. This Scholar Program focused on a recognition honored Alicia’s meaningful career path and many years of dedication and empowered to make a difference. commitment to scholars. For 2010 Public Service Scholars the past two years, Alicia New York City Department of Consumer designed to create positive change. communicated regularly with her Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz, Scholars also received accolades from mentees via Skye, an internet phone keynote speaker, gave appreciation for long time supporter of the program, New service, while living in Beijing. the Public Service Scholar Program’s York City Council Member Gale Brewer, influence in developing leaders for who invited members of the City Council Congratulations to this year’s cohort of the city. Addressing the Scholars, he Committee on Higher Education to share talented individuals for a year of hard emphasized the importance of finding their experiences serving the community. work and unwavering commitment to work that is rewarding and intentionally City Council Members Charles Barron, succeeding in the program.

New York City Department of Consumer PSSP Scholar Martha Demos, accepting the Member Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award for Alicia Noel Jumaane D. Williams

Alumni survey shows strong public service commitment he Public Service Scholar Program organization. Nearly 100 percent indicated information highlights once again the T continues to be a vigorous source some form of civic engagement such as financial challenges scholars face and T of people entering jobs in the board membership, activity in political reinforces the importance of the public sector. In January 2010, the campaigns, volunteer work with program’s design, which enables students program surveyed approximately 500 vulnerable populations and mentoring. to pursue a public service leadership alumni in a continuing effort to development program while meeting gauge their career and educational The Public Service Scholar Program their financial obligations. achievements. Nearly 25 percent of received high approval ratings in all areas alumni have so far responded, and this surveyed, including career development, group includes members from the first preparation for responsible citizenship We want to hear from cohort, in 1982, up to the most recent and personal growth. Eighty-two percent all PSSP alumni! The survey graduating class of scholars. responded that the program motivated remains open and all alumni are them to seek a career in public service encouraged to share their career The results show a strong alumni and 72.5 percent credited the program and educational information. presence entering and remaining in the with helping their entrance into a chosen Please email our program office public sector. Since graduating from profession. The program was interested at [email protected] to Hunter College, 91.4 percent of to learn that 75.6 percent of respondents receive the email link and respondents have been or are currently would not have participated in the survey instructions. working in a public or nonprofit program without the stipend. This

7 Where are Public Service Scholar Program Alumni?

Ronald W. Schulman • ‘85 Christina Yan • ‘05 Principal, Best Development Group, LLC Director, Alumni Relations for K-12, We aim to highlight and Christina Nida • ’90 San Francisco include information about all Attorney, Nida Law LLC, New Jersey Luisiana Baez • ‘06 Public Service Scholar alumni in our newsletters. Please email Agnieszka Borecka • ‘00 Program Associate, [email protected] with Graduate Student (Sept. ’10), University National Urban Fellows your current address, work and of Westminster in London Leandro Delgado • ‘09 educational status and any other Graduate Student (Sept. ’10), Eleonor Velasquez • ’02 information you want us to know. First Year Law Student, Harvard Law School Fordham Law School Jean Fischman • ‘10 Community Liaison, Office of Thank you! Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner (beginning June 2010)

Public Service Scholar Program Director Elaine M. Walsh, Ph.D. editorial board writer Kristy Jelenik Ursula Mahoney Volume 31 • Winter 2010 Designer Andrew Ross Betsy Wade Jennifer Shaffer www.hunter.cuny.edu/pssp [email protected] News & Views is supported by state grants through the generosity of New York 212.772.5599 Assembly Members Micah Z. Kellner, Richard N. Gottfried and Deborah Glick.

Public Service PRE-SORT STANDARD Scholar Program U.S. POSTAGE Hunter College PAID 695 Park Avenue PERMIT 5432 New York, NY 10065 WHITE PLAINS, NY