WHILE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN BROWARD COUNTY IS RELATIVELY
LOW-- JUST UNDER 4%-- IT JUMPS TO MORE THAN 10 TO 15% IN SOME
COMMUNITIES.
THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL IS HOME TO THREE ZIP CODES WITH HIGHER
THAN AVERAGE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES-- AND LOW RATES OF HIGHER
EDUCATION.
BUT ALL THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.
LAUDERHILL IS THE FIRST CITY IN THE COUNTY TO TEAM UP WITH
BROWARD COLLEGE FOR ITS LATEST INITIATIVE CALLED BROWARD UP,
WHICH STANDS FOR "UNLIMITED POTENTIAL".
IT'S A NEW PROGRAM UNDER BROWARD COLLEGE'S NEW PRESIDENT THAT
AIMS TO MAKE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE OR WHAT YOUR
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE.
HERE TO SHARE MORE IS BROWARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT GREGORY ALLEN
HAILE.
MR.
PRESIDENT NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
GREAT TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
YOU ARE KIND OF IN THE INFANCY OF YOUR PRESIDENCY.
JUST HAD YOUR INVESTTITURE IN MARCH.
TELL US HOW IT'S BEEN GOING IN THE POSITION.
IT'S BEEN GOING INCREDIBLY WELL, I GAVE MY FIRST SPEECH MAY
9th AND NOON.
IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC PRIVILEGE TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND POSTEDUCATION.
LETS TALK ABOUT BROWARD COLLEGE.
WE REMEMBER BCC NOW IT'S BROWARD COLLEGE BECAUSE YOU DO OFFER
FOUR YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMS.
CORRECT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COLLEGE NOW, IN ITS
PRESENT STATE, HOW IT'S CHANGED AND HOW MANY STUDENTS.
HOW MANY STUDENTS DOES IT SERVE?
WE HAVE ABOUT 63,000 STUDENTS AT BROWARD COLLEGE, ANY GIVEN
TIME.
GIVEN THE FACT WE OFFER 33 BACCALAUREATE DEGREES, IT MAKES
A DIFFERENCE, OUR DEGREES ARE WORKFORCE ORIENTED.
MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT BROWARD
COLLEGE A GREAT WAY TO MOVE FROM A LOWER INCOME QUARTILE, TO
MAKING A LIVING WAGE.
FOR YOUR FAMILY AND GENERATIONS THAT COME BEYOND YOU AS WELL.
TALK ABOUT BROWARD.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SURE.
YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY TOUCHED ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A RELATIVELY
LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN BROWARD COUNTY.
THE LATEST STATISTICS INDICATE IT IS AT 2.8%.
NOT WHAT THE OVERALL NUMBERS LOOK LIKE BUT ARE WE SERVING OUR
ENTIRE COUNTY?
IT COMES FROM THE FACTS THAT I GREW UP IN NEW YORK CITY AND I
GROUP IN A PLACE CALLED JAMAICA PLAINS, NEW YORK CITY.
MY MOTHER LIED ABOUT MY ADDRESS SO I COULD GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS VERY CONCERNING, PARTICULARLY FROM AN
EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.
I WAS GRADUATING ARE SIXTH GRADE IN 1989.
THIS AREA WAS FAR MORE AFFLUENT THAN THE NEIGHBORHOOD I GREW UP IN.
A TEAM MATE SAID NO WE'RE GOING TO BE THE LAST CLASS OF
THE MILLENIUM BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GRADUATE COLLEGE IN
1999.
THAT'S THE ONLY TIME I EVER HEARD THE WORD COLLEGE.
I COME FROM A LARGE FAMILY AND I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT I'M
JUST HEARING ABOUT COLLEGE FOR FIRST TIME IN SIXTH GRADE BUT
THE REALITY THAT I WAS HEARING ABOUT COLLEGE FOR THE FIRST TIME
FROM ANOTHER SIXTH GRADER WHO KNEW EXACTLY WHAT YEAR HE WAS
GOING TO GRADUATE.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT DIVIDE HOPEFULLY WE CONSIDER IT AN
HONOR.
NOW WHEN WE THINK ABOUT BROWARD UP, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME
KIND OF EXPOSURE TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, MAYBE
BECAUSE THEY OFFER THE POTENTIAL TO STUDENTS AND THAT
CONVERSATION ISN'T BEING HAD AT THE DINNER TABLE, IN THE WORST
CASE SCENARIO THEY FEEL IT IS NOT FOR THEM OR NOT CAPABLE OF
SUCCESS.
BROWARD UP MAKES SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE UNLIMITED
POTENTIAL TO PURSUE A BETTER LIFE THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION
AND THAT MEEFNTION GOING INTO COMMUNITIES.
I WAS GOING YEETION GOING INTO COMMUNITIES.
YOU HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN
BRINGING THIS PROGRAM TO THEIR AREA, TO THEIR CITY.
SO HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THE GAP?
BECAUSE CERTAINLY YOU COULD GET TO THE CAMPUS AND TAKE CLASSES,
BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
YOU NEED TO GO INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM'S ALL ABOUT RIGHT?
RIGHT, YOU ASKED EARLIER ABOUT BROWARD COLLEGE AND
POTENTIALLY WHO OUR STUDENTS ARE.
OUR AVERAGE STUDENTS IS 27 YEARS OLD, MOST ARE PART TIME
STUDENTS, A LOT ARE LOW INCOME STUDENTS.
THIS MEANS THEY HAVE CHALLENGES RIGHT?
IT MIGHT BE A CHILDCARE CHALLENGE, TRANSPORTATION
CHALLENGE, A STUDENTS WHO I REMIND MYSELF OF, GOING TO OUR
NORTH CAMPUS, SHE WALKED FOUR MILES EVERY DAY BECAUSE SHE HAD
NO OTHER FORM OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL.
WHILE THAT STOOURCHT HAS EXTRAORDINARY WELL, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE
VERY CAPABLE BUT MAY NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO WALK FOUR MILES
BACK AND FORTH IN ANY GIVEN DAY.
HOW DO WE BRIDGE THOSE CHALLENGES?
YOU THINK ABOUT MOST FOLKS IN POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS, EVEN
BROWARD COLLEGE, WE PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION, WE HAVE BEEN
IN THE TOP 10 NUMEROUS TIMES IN THIS NATION.
BUT OFTENTIMES WE'VE LET THE BARRIERS GET IN THE WAY OF
STUDENT SECOND -- STUDENT SUCCESS.
TRANSPORTATION BEING AN OBVIOUS ONE.
BRINGING THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ABILITY TO GO TO POSTSECONDARY
EDUCATION.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT, GO INTO THE HIGH SCHOOLS?
YOU TALK ABOUT THE LAUDERHILL OPPORTUNITY.
THEY ARE LEVERAGING SPACE FOR US.
THEY IDENTIFIED WHERE WE COULD BE, THE CULTURAL CHANGE WE'RE
TRYING TO MAKE IT'S GOING INTO COMMUNITIES AND STAYING THERE AS
OPPOSED TO BOUNCING IN AND OUT.
OTHER GREATLY EXAMPLES ARE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, WE'RE
LEVERAGING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM WHERE THEY HAVE SPACE IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES, WE KNOW THAT THE PARENTS ARE COMING TO THE
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB BECAUSE THEY ARE DROPPING OFF THE STUDENTS,
THERAPY CHILDREN.
BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNE TO -- IT'S THEIR CHILDREN.
SAME THINGS WITH LAUDERHILL, URBAN LEAGUE, ANOTHER GREAT
EXAMPLE, STRATEGICALLY LOCATED IN AREAS OF NEED.
ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THIS WE KNOW WE DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO BUILD NEW BUILDINGS, RIGHT?
SURE.
THESE PARTNERSHIPS, KNOWING WE ARE ABLE TO LEVERAGE
UNDERUTILIZED FACILITIES, COMMUNITY LIBRARIES FOR EXAMPLE,
THERE ARE RECEIVE LIBRARIES IN BROWARD COUNTY, AT LEAST ONE OF
WHICH IS IN A COMMUNITY OF NEED, HOW ABOUT PROVIDING PROGRAMMING
THERE, INSO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS CAN MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, SOME OF THE BUSINESSES, MAYBE SOME OF
THOSE LISTENING TO THIS NOW, CAN SAY WOW, MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME
OF OUR EMPLOYEES INTO SOME OF THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS AT
BROWARD COLLEGE.
BUT TALK ABOUT THERE IS A FUNDING ASPECT TO ALL OF THIS,
RIGHT?
WHERE DOES THAT ALL COME FROM?
WE KIND OF LEVERAGE THE RESOURCES WE HAVE.
AS WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT
BUILDING NEW BUILDINGS, NECESSARILY.
THERE ARE RESOURCES NECESSARY, WE PROVIDE FACTS FACULTY AND
TECHNOLOGY FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE LOOK IN THESE COMMUNITIES
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANTLY TECHNOLOGY DIVIDE.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE COMPUTERS NECESSARY, AND DIGITAL
DIVIDE IS A VERY CLEAR THING WE KNOW WE NEED TO SATISFY.
BRINGING IN CORPORATE PARTNERS AND INVESTORS WHO CAN BRAIJ THIS
IS GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT VALUE.
TALK ABOUT THE MYTHS OR BARRIERS TO HIGHER EDUCATION,
KEEPING PEOPLE AWAY FROM TAKING THAT NEXT STEP.
I THINK SOME OF IT IS FRANKLY NOT HAVING THE EXPOSURE, RIGHT?
IF YOU HAVE NEVER HAD A FAMILY MEMBER GO, PARENT GO, FRIEND GO,
MAYBE YOU THINK THAT'S NOT FOR ME.
I THINK OF A FACT THAT WE HAVE A SITE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS
YET THAT'S ONLY FIVE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE THREAZ 33311 ZIP CODE.
HOW DO WE MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE?
HOW DO WE MAKE IT AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE FOR THEM?
I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK STORY.
YOU KNOW I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, ONE SEVEN-YEAR-OLD.
MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GOES TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WHICH EVERY
SINGLE DAY SHE LOOKS ABOVE THE THRESHOLD OF HER DOORWAY SHE
SEES A PICTURE OF A MASCOT AND THE NAME OF A COLLEGE.
SHE'S IN THE FIRST GRADE.
EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM HAS THE SAME SYMBOL ABOVE IT.
THEY'RE MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE KIDS NOT TO THINK OF
COLLEGE AS A COMPONENT OF THEIR FUTURE.
THE QUESTION COMES FOR US, HOW DO WE MAKE ITS IMPOSSIBLE, NO
MATTER WHAT COMMUNITIES YOU'RE THINKING OF, FOR THEM NOT TO SEE
THE OPPORTUNITY OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE FUTURE.
EVERY ONE OF US, YOU AND I AND EVERY ECONOMIST IN THE WORLD
WILL TELL YOU, THE MORE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION YOU
HAVE, THE MORE YOU'RE LIKELY TO CHANGE OUTCOME OF YOURSELF AN
THOSE THAT COME BEYOND YOU.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT INTENTIONAL, NOT DANCING IN AND OUT OF LIVES
BUT MAKING SURE WE'RE A MAIN STAIN AND THEY SEE IT EVERY DAY
AND REALIZE IT IS THEIR ONLY POTENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE.
THAT LITTLE BOY TALKING ABOUT GOING TO COLLEGE WHEN YOU WERE
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HE KNEW WHEN HE WAS GOING TO GRADUATE.
HE ALREADY KNEW.
I GOT LUCKY AND WE SHOULDN'T BE RELYING ON LUCK FOR THAT.
GREAT TO YOU HAVE.
LOVE TO TO HAVE YOU BACK.
I'D LOVE TO COME BACK.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BROWARD UP INITIATIVE VISIT
BROWARD.EDU/BROWARDUP.
WE'LL ALSO HAVE THIS INFO ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE @YOURSOUTHFL.