MCNY Kicks Off the Year with a New Extension in the Bronx, New Programs and an Innovative and Fresh TV Campaign Which Highlights Its Diverse and Dynamic Faculty, Students and Programs

February 1, 2012 – Earlier this month, Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) began airing a fresh new television recruitment campaign that brings attention to its dynamic faculty, students and academic programs.  Created with the unifying theme “I Teach,” the audio and visual commercials, print and online ads feature a disparate variety of people that define the institution.  Emphasizing the school’s broad range of academic programs, the new campaign focuses on the unique perspective each faculty member imparts to students along with traditional subject matter.  MCNY boasts a rich tradition of preparing students for leadership positions across a variety of industries. The “I Teach” platform extends beyond classroom learning to prepare students “How to be a Star” in the graduate level Media Management MBA concentration, “How to be the Solution” in the Emergency and Disaster Management Master of Public Administration concentration, and “How to Change the World” in the Human Services and Education department, to name a few.

The “I Teach” spots can be viewed  HERE.

Also, this month MCNY launches its first semester in the Bronx at the MCNY Bronx Extension Centerlocated at 529 Courtlandt Avenue. This campus extension offers added convenience for students who live or work in the Bronx, adjacent parts of Manhattan and Westchester County.  The MCNY Bronx Extension Centerhosts Associate, Bachelor and Master degree programs including an Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Professional Studies in Human Services, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration in Business or Healthcare Systems Management, Master of Public Administration and a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling Program (CASAC).

“Metropolitan College of New York‘s return to the Bronx is made possible by the tremendous success we have had at the Manhattan Campus over the last three years. It is one more sign of the vitality that represents the continuing commitment of the College to bring MCNY‘s special programs and educational philosophy to the broadest possible audience,” states Dr. Vinton Thompson, President, Metropolitan College of New York.

Always at the forefront of preparing its students to be future leaders, last spring, MCNY began offering a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in Health Care Systems Management at its Manhattan campus. This degree program will now be offered at both the new Bronx Extension and the Manhattan location. Graduates will be qualified to apply for specialized industry certifications as demand for specialists in health care information management is at an all-time high and is projected to continue to grow through the next decade.

“For over 40 years, MCNYhas been cultivating a community of seasoned practitioners in the areas of human services, education, business and public administration,” said Dr. Leonard Golubchick, Director, MCNY Bronx Extension Center. “We are now proud to now be able to offer this same quality of education to working professionals in the Bronx.”

MCNY will host a special Open House for media, prospective students and the community on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at 11am to 4:00 pm followed by the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

For more information on MCNY, visit www.mcny.edu or call 800.33.THINK.

Press Contact:   Tamara Young  (212) 219-7224  \"=l>gmic

Listening Event and Panel Discussion Will Include Hip Hop Critic and Journalist Sherman Johnson, Dr. Lynn Sally and MCNY Students Taking Place on January 31, 2012

WHAT: Metropolitan College of New York’s popular “Urban Dialogue” Series will next bring to life its ‘Empowerment Through the Arts’ Constructive Action (CA) practicum with a live case study and public listening event analyzing The Roots critically acclaimed new CD undun. The Roots is a hip hop band known for a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which includes live instrumentals. In 2009, The Roots became the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

This Listening Event and panel was created in conjunction with the Empowerment through the Arts’ special unit on “Lyrics as Poetry and Music as Protest.” This seminar focuses on mass media, media culture and new technologies, and their influence on organizational and social behavior. During their experiential learning projects, students are instructed to utilize their classroom learning to implement an effective idea for improving the community or communication.  This seminar is part of the Bachelor of Arts in American Urban Studies degree program.

WHY: The Roots recent concept album, undun, follows one main protagonist throughout the album, beginning with his death on the first track and continuing in reverse chronological order through his life. A modern epic poem of sorts, the album is meant to be listened to in one sitting. Led by Dr. Lynn Sally, Professor, MCNY’s Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education, students, faculty, panelists and guests will do just that and listen to the full CD with a panel discussion to follow.

WHO: Dr. Lynn Sally received her Ph.D. in Performance Studies from New York University and began teaching humanities and writing and working with the Learning Enhancement Center at MCNY in 2005. Before joining MCNY, assistant professor Sally taught at New York University and was the Assistant Director of the Center for Writing and Language Arts at Cooper Union.

Sherman Johnson is a New York City DJ, a hip hop critic and a music journalist. His work has appeared in outlets including The Village Voice.

WHEN: Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Metropolitan College of New York

431 Canal St., Room 12L, New York, NY 10013

ADDITIONAL “Metropolitan College of New York’s School of Management hosts “Urban Dialogues”, a forum scholars, INFO: legislators, policy makers, students and citizens exchange ideas and discuss issues and trends that affect New

York City and other urban centers across the nation. Topics cover a spectrum of ideas, theories and viewpoints that inform and/or influence urban policy.

Since their first independent album release, The Roots band has released 10 studio albums, two EPs, two collaboration albums and have collaborated with a wide range of artists from different genres. undun is an existential re-telling of the short life of one Redford Stephens (1974-1999). Through the use of emotives and Redford’s internal dialogues, the album seeks to illustrate the intersection of free will and prescribed destiny as it plays out ‘on the corner’. Utilizing a reverse narrative arc, the album begins as the listener finds Redford disoriented–postmortem–and attempting to make sense of his former life. As he moves through its pivotal moments he begins to deconstruct all that has led to his (and our own) coming undun.

The event is open to the public. Seating is limited.

For more information on MCNY, visit www.mcny.edu or call 800.33.THINK.

NEW YORK, NY- January 25, 2012 — Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) and its Emergency and Disaster Management (EDM) program extend condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Richard J. Sheirer, Director of New York City’s Office of Emergency Management and industry pioneer. Sheirer was the official in charge of rescues on September 11, 2001 following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.  He died on Thursday, January 19, 2012 in New York at the age of 65.

“Richard Sheirer is one of the few pioneers in the emergency and disaster management field and he is well known and respected in our community and beyond. Having worked directly in the trenches during 9/11, I have great respect and esteem for his efforts in leading the Office of Emergency Management on this unimaginable day.  On behalf of my colleagues at MCNY, I would like to express our condolences to his family and salute his work in the emergency and disaster management field,” stated Ali Gheith, Director, Emergency and Disaster Management Program, Metropolitan College of New York.

In 2002, Sheirer was one of the first to be briefed on the creation of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management graduate degree program. MCNY is the first school to offer a graduate level EDM program in New York State and only the twentieth of its kind nationally. MCNY began accepting students into the 16-month Master of Public Administration program in 2004. Course work was developed with the input of industry pioneers such as Sheirer and encompasses a highly specialized curriculum that covers planning, management, logistics, response, relief, recovery and the economics associated with managing emergency situations.

“Richard Sheirer was more than a pioneer in the emerging field of emergency management in New York City when he became the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management. He was a practitioner who built upon his many years as a responder making the city more resilient to natural, man-made and systemic disasters. Rich helped to establish the bar on how future Commissioners would be measured,” states Dr. Mick Maurer, Adjunct Assistant Professor, MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management, Metropolitan College of New York.

Sheirer was a former deputy fire commissioner and deputy police commissioner. In February 2000, he was appointed to lead New York City’s Office of Emergency Management. This job typically entailed preparing the city for emergencies such as water-main breaks, train derailments and other crises.  However, on September 11, 2011, Sheirer found himself trust into action as he coordinated the enormous effort of rescue and clean-up, involving dozens of local, state and federal agencies.

Richard James Sheirer was born and raised in Brooklyn and graduated from St. Francis College. He began working for the New York Fire Department as a dispatcher in 1967 and rose to deputy commissioner under Commissioner Howard Safir. In 1996, when Safir became police commissioner, he named Sheirer his deputy commissioner for administration and chief of staff.

He is survived by his wife, the former Barbara Winston, and five sons: Matthew, Joseph, Christopher, Andrew and Paul.

For more information on MCNY, visit www.mcny.edu or call 800.33.THINK.

NEW YORK, NY- Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) congratulates Professor Gerard McCarty on his recent appointment as Chief of Staff at the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. McCarty will leave his recent role as General Manager, Emergency Management with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Emergency Preparedness, Response and Incident Management. In this position, he was responsible for emergency management programs across the organization. He will continue his role as Professor in MCNY’s graduate Emergency and Disaster Management Program.

“When Professor McCarty steps into a classrooms, students understand immediately that what they are about to hear is cutting edge information based on events that have typically happened in the previous 24 hours.  The value of this kind of information for our students is inestimable,” states Chuck Frank, Assistant Director of the MCNY MPA-EDM program.

“On behalf of Metropolitan College of New York, I would like to congratulate Gerard McCarty on his new position. We are extremely proud to have him as a member of the faculty as he possesses abundant professional experience and direct knowledge within the emergency management field,” states Ali Gheith, Director of Metropolitan College of New York’s Emergency and Disaster Management Program.

MCNY’s 16-Month Masters of Public Administration in Emergency and Disaster Management is a highly specialized degree that covers planning, management, logistics, response, relief, recovery and economics associated with managing emergency situations.  Examples of classes within this program include the “Economics of Hazards and Disasters,” “Public Health Systems and Preparedness, “Terrorism and Disaster Management” and Organizational and Municipal Continuity Planning.”

About Gerard McCarty:

Gerard McCarty mostly recently served as General Manager, Emergency Management, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey where he was responsible for the development and implementation of the agency’s Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Incident Management programs. Before joining the Port Authority in 2004, Jerry had already achieved a distinguished list of accomplishments in law enforcement, public safety and emergency management in the New York City region and elsewhere. In October 1973, McCarty joined the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and served in a variety of uniformed and undercover roles to include an assignment in the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit. In 1995, he joined the New York City Mayor’s Office of Operations as the First Deputy Mayor’s representative to the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), then a unit within the NYPD, and supervised the transfer of OEM to an independent organization within the Mayor’s Office to include the recruitment of a new director and the selection of hiring of staff.

After joining the newly revitalized OEM as Chief of Staff, McCarty was promoted to Deputy Director of Field Operations, and later to Deputy Director for Special Operations. In these positions, he served as either Incident Commander or On-Scene Coordinator for the most involved emergencies in New York City during that period.

In 1999, McCarty joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II’s Branch Chief, Operations and Planning in the Response and Recovery Division where he coordinated preparedness and or disaster relief efforts during such events as Y2K, Hurricane Lenny, Operation Sail 2000, United Nations Millennium Assembly, and the World Economic Forum. In 2000, he was requested by the United States Department of State to provide technical assistance Dominican Republic’s Civil Defense during Hurricane Debby. He also assisted the countries of Guatemala, Nicaragua and Dominican Republic in the development of emergency response plans.

During the World Trade Center disaster, McCarty served as the FEMA representative to the New York City Office of Emergency Management; and subsequently served as FEMA’s Deputy Operations Section Chief where he was instrumental in coordinating the federal response to the recovery efforts all among private and public agencies impacted by the disaster. Following his work at the World Trade Center site, was assigned as Division Director, National Preparedness Division.  McCarty joined the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2004 as General Manager, Emergency Management and since then has led a broad range of readiness initiations to include: agency-wide emergency operations plan development; organization and implementation of a corporate business continuity programs; expansion and enhancement of the authority’s emergency operations center and field response assets. Additionally, he has coordinated responses to several significant emergency events to include Port Authority assistance to the city of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
McCarty has a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a Master in Public Administration from John Jay College of the City University of New York. His awards include The United States Department of Agriculture Award of Excellence, The New York Federal Executive Board Award for Outstanding Achievement, The Dominican Republic Chamber of Deputies Medallion of Merit, and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Award of Achievement.

CONTACT

Tamara Young, Uniworld Group New York

(212) 219-7224

Unique Educational Symposium Explores the Academic Needs of Chinese Immigrant and Chinese American Students

NEW YORK, NY – November 22, 2011 – On December 2, 2011 Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) will hold its second annual education conference exploring the academic needs of Chinese immigrant and Chinese American students as they pursue “college and career.”  Top thought leaders spanning education, government, community, non-profit and corporate sectors will gather together to discuss best practices. Special guests include a delegation of education leaders from Shanghai. Understanding that Chinese immigrant children make up the largest growing Asian population in the U.S. and with one of the largest concentrations of Chinese Americans living in New York, this issue is of particular importance to MCNY.

Fostering a spirit of education that works, Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) consistently seeks new experiences and interactions that are in line with its Purpose-Centered Education model. This panel, sponsored by TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank^®, will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will join together some of the most preeminent thought leaders to analyze, discuss and combat the stereotype that Asian students, including Chinese immigrant and Chinese-American students always perform well in school.  This conference will explore the cultural, social, linguistic and economic factors and differences that affect the success of both Chinese immigrant and Chinese-American students in the U.S educational system.

Featured keynote speakers will include Dr. Robert Teranishi, Associate Professor of Higher Education at New York University and Special Appointee to the U.S. Department of Education Equity and Excellence Commission and Wellington Chen, Executive Director of the Chinatown Partnership.  The delegation visiting from Shanghai will include Dr. Linghui Tian, Assistant Professor, Educational Policy and Evaluation, Fudan University, Mr. Jinghai Liu, Principal, Zhabei No. 8 High School and President of Success Education Center of Management Consulting and Mrs. Yuefang Shi, Education Associate, Zhabei No. 8 High School. The Shanghai group will discuss the Success Education model which has been used in China to significantly enhance academic achievement.

Panel discussions will include:

-Framing the Context: Former New York City public school Chinese students will discuss their school experience.

-Pursuing College and Career: Educators and working professionals will provide an overview of the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in college and the workplace.

-Success Education Model: Shanghai educators, Principal Jinghai Liu and Dr. Linghui Tian, discuss how the education reform model, Success Education, is being used to significantly enhance the academic achievement and self-confidence of Chinese students.

MCNY is located in lower Manhattan and the students in its Masters of Science in Education program frequently do their practice teaching in Chinatown schools.  Since its founding in the idealism of 1964, MCNY’s curriculum has been designed to develop active citizens armed with a commitment to social justice and experience in addressing real world challenges.

To register for the conference and for more information,

visit http://www.mcny.edu/human_serv/conference.php

Interviews with the Shanghai Education Delegation are available by appointment from

12PM to 1 PM,

Contact: Tamara Young, UniWorld Group

(212) 219-7224 or to schedule

MCNY and Preserve Our Legacy Conclude Bone Marrow Awareness Week By Encouraging New Yorkers and Ethnic Communities to “Be The Match” At A Donation Drive

WHAT: Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) and “Preserve Our Legacy” not-for-profit organization invite students, alumni, friends and neighbors to “Be the Match” at a bone marrow and umbilical cord blood drive, in support of Bone Marrow and Umbilical Cord Blood Awareness and Donation Week. There is currently a very limited amount of available ethnic donors on the national Be The Match Registry.

WHO:              Fostering a true spirit of experiential learning, MCNY is delighted to partner for a second year with alum Shana Melius and her not-for-profit organization “Preserve Our Legacy” for this bone marrow and umbilical cord blood drive. At the core of MCNY’s Purpose-Centered Education is its Constructive Action (CA), in which students work with professors and work supervisors to apply their academic learning to the real world. MCNY truly embraces experiential learning by encouraging the continuous interaction of classroom and direct first-hand practice.

“Preserve Our Legacy” was founded by MCNY alum Shana Melius as a means to educate the minority community about diseases most commonly affecting people of color.  Melius used her CA to make the world a better place and MCNY is excited to continue to support her mission to create awareness of this worthy cause.  “Preserve Our Legacy” was instrumental in obtaining historical legislation called Jaden’s Law which was recently established in New Jersey.   On August 25, 2010, Governor Christie signed it into law. In December 2010, the organization also launched their historical P.O.L Umbilical Cord Blood program at Harlem Hospital.

WHY: Melius’ CA project highlighted a common misconception­–bone marrow donors are easily found within a patient’s family. When faced with the dilemma of needing a bone marrow, peripheral blood or cord blood transplant, individuals from various ethnic backgrounds are at a life or death disadvantage due to the genetic diversity of many in African-American and Latino communities.  “Preserve Our Legacy” started with founder Shana Melius’ mission to find a match for Jaden Hilton, a young African American boy battling leukemia.  In January 2007, never having found a bone marrow match, Jaden lost his battle.

Minority participation in the National Bone Marrow Registry is extremely low, with African Americans among the lowest at 8%, Hispanics at 9% and Asians at 7% of all registrants.

WHEN:           MCNY Bone Marrow Drive

Saturday, November 19 – 12:00 Noon – 4:00 p.m.

WHERE:         Metropolitan College of New York

431 Canal St., 11th Floor Conference Center
New York, NY 10013

Visit www.preserveourlegacy.org for more information about additional donor drives.

For more information on MCNY, visit www.mcny.edu or call 800.33.THINK.

About Preserve Our Legacy, Inc.

Preserve Our Legacy, Inc. a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit, whose mission is to educate individuals, especially those from various ethnic groups, about the benefits of stem cells through treatment options provided via PBSC, bone marrow and umbilical cord blood donation. The organization also spearheaded Jaden’s Law to increase awareness about PBSC and bone marrow donation within various ethnic communities. Preserve Our Legacy launched the first educational program, P.O.L. Umbilical Cord Blood Program at Harlem Hospital in December 2010. Since Jaden’s death, Preserve Our Legacy has been advocating to increase awareness about the need of various ethnic donors, in addition to, having those that register to step up when called to help a patient.

Special Panel Discussion Features Political Science Professor and Author Benjamin Ginsberg of Johns Hopkins University

NEW YORK, NY- November 10, 2011– On Friday, November 18, 2011, Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) will host a special panel discussion on “Academic Freedom and the Decline of Faculty Governance.” Taking place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., this panel will address the question: Is academic freedom an old-fashioned idea and is it still relevant in an age of assessment, technology and globalization? Some educators fear increasing pressures to turn the art of teaching into a science. Many instructors often fear that holding teachers accountable for learning outcomes or introducing new technologies may actually pose serious new challenges to academic freedom. Others sincerely believe that professionalizing teaching is an ethical responsibility, and that scientific methods are an essential part of this process.

Metropolitan College of New York is honored to welcome special guest speaker Benjamin Ginsberg as a featured participant in this discussion.  Professor Ginsberg is currently the David Bernstein Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Advanced Governmental Studies at Johns Hopkins University.  Professor Ginsberg received his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1973.  Before joining the Hopkins faculty in 1992, he was Professor of Government at Cornell. He is the author /co-author of a number of books including The Fall of the Faculty: The Rise of the All-Administrative University and Why It Matters; The American Lie: Government By the People and Other Political Fables; Presidential Power: Unchecked and Unbalanced; Downsizing Democracy: How America Sidelined Its Citizens and Privatized Its Public; Politics By Other Means; The Fatal Embrace: Jews and the State; The Consequences of Consent and American Government: Freedom and Power; We The People.

Additionally, MCNY faculty members will participate in this lively panel which is open to students and educators and administrators from the tri-state area. Panelists will include MCNY Professors Steven Cresap, Theodore Damian, Richard Grallo, Lynn Sally, Louis Tietje and Dean Vasil.

Panel topics will include:

• The validity of distance learning and other electronic technologies, and why these approaches are being institutionalized?
• Neutrality of technologies and compromising academic integrity
• The role of individual scholar and prepare prepackaged courses – Who owns the rights? Who makes the decisions?
• Internships with non-government organizations and other forms of community-service learning and restrictions on the academic’s traditional nonpartisanship on social and political causes?
• Credibility of assessment mechanisms for internal academic research
• Preserving faculty’s active role in governance in the face of countervailing pressures from many interest groups.

About the Panelists:

-Dr. Steven Cresap – has served as faculty and administrator at MCNY for the past two years. As an assistant professor, his concentrations include values clarification, critical thinking, rhetoric, ethics, and introductory world civilization. Dr. Cresap also leads master’s seminars in philosophy. Prior to coming to MCNY, Dr. Cresap served as a researcher and role player at the South Street Seaport Museum He has written for numerous publications, specializing in the interaction between aesthetic experience and moral behavior.

- Dr. Theodor Damian is a theologian, writer and editor. He is Professor of Philosophy and Ethics at The Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education, MCNY. He is the founder and President of the Romanian Institute of Orthodox Theology and Spirituality and of Sts. Peter and Paul Romanian Orthodox Church in New York (since 1993). With a PhD in Patristics in 1993 from Fordham University, New York, and another PhD in Systematic Theology/ Ethics in 1999 from the State University of Bucharest, Romania, with a Masters’ degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Christian Spirituality and PhD studies at Lausanne University and at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, Theodor Damian has published over 20 books in the fields of theology, philosophy, literary criticism and poetry.

- Dr. Richard Grallo is currently an associate professor of applied psychology in the Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education at MCNY. He currently teaches a number of courses in applied psychology in the undergraduate program, and a course on research methods in the Master’s Program in administration. Dr. Grallo is a former Chair of the Faculty Council at MCNY and he currently serves on a number of college committees. He is a Fellow at the Albert Ellis Institute, and a member of the American Psychological Society. His current research interests include problem solving and decision making and the application of mathematical models and multivariate methods to social science problems.

-Dr. Louis Tietje is a professor in the Master of Public Administration program of the School of Management at MCNY, where he has been teaching since 1989. He teaches courses in organizational behavior, ethics, social problems and policy, and program planning and contributes to the administration of the MPA program. Dr. Tietje received his PhD from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He also holds an MTS from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a BA in education from Concordia University Chicago.

-Dr. Dean Vasil is Adjunct Professor of Latin and Philosophy at Metropolitan College of New York. He received his Ph.D. in French from the Graduate Center, CUNY and published his dissertation on “The Ethical Pragmatism of Albert Camus: Two Studies in the History of Ideas” with Peter Lang of New York/Bern in its series, Romance Languages and Literature. He is currently preparing a monograph on “Unity in Distinction: The ‘Three Orders’ of Pascal.”

- Dr. Lynn Sally received her PhD from New York University (Performance Studies) in 2004, and joined MCNY as an Assistant Professor in 2005.  Her dissertation, Fighting the Flames:  The Spectacular Performance of Fire at Coney Island, was published by Routledge Press, and her articles have been published in the Journal of American Drama and Theatre, Journal of Popular Culture, Senses and Society, as well as numerous anthologies.  She is the Chair of the Theatre and Performance Studies area of the SWTX PCA/ACA, a conference dedicated to popular culture.

Students to View Social Justice and Change in Action with their Peer Malik Fox, Founder of Sub-movement – “Occupy The Hood”

WHO: At the core of the MCNY educational experience is the concept of purpose-centered learning and constructive action. Experiential learning, the continuous interaction between the knowledge students gain in the classroom and the knowledge they gain through direct experience in their workplace, is fundamental to every course, degree and program at MCNY.

WHAT: As part of MCNY’s undergraduate Constructive Action (CA) course, “Promoting Empowerment through Community Liaisons,” on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, Dr. Clyde Griffin, Chair of MCNY’s Human Services Program and the instructor of this course, will take his students to view social justice and change in action. The class will visit the “Occupy Wall Street” movement to observe and get a firsthand view of community action and organizing.

During their CA projects, students are instructed to utilize their classroom learning to implement an effective idea for improving the community. Starting as part of a CA project, one MCNY student recently created a highly effective and progressive sub-movement entitled “Occupy The Hood.” Malik Fox created this sub‑movement after visiting and observing the activities at Zuccotti Park, and noticing that the majority of participants were white and did  not fully represent the 99 percent of the U.S. population for whom the movement is seeking justice. He noticed that there wasn’t a strong black, Latino or Asian presence.

Both a student and community activist, Fox created this sub-movement to mobilize minorities and ensure that their needs are being met as part of the overall movement. “Occupy The Hood” is a direct offshoot of “Occupy Wall Street.”  This CA project and sub-movement exemplifies the very essence of experiential learning.

In speaking about “Occupy The Hood,” Fox notes, “We are the least represented. We are among the ignored. We are among the unemployed. We are considered the undereducated. We are considered the minority. We are the consumers; but most importantly – We are the Hood!!”

Hailing from South Jamaica, Queens, Fox is also a construction worker and father of three.

WHY: MCNY founder Audrey Cohen was a huge proponent for social change.  And in that tradition, MCNY continues to offer highly motivated learners an education that combines applied skills and professional knowledge to effect personal transformation and positive change in the workplace and community.

WHEN:           Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 9AM – 1PM

WHERE:        “Occupy Wall Street” – Zuccotti Park, Lower Manhattan

TO TAKE PART IN THIS ON-SITE EXPERIENTAL LEARNING CLASS OR SET UP INTERVIEWS WITH DR. CLYDE GRIFFIN OR MALIK FOX, PLEASE CONTACT TAMARA YOUNG, UNIWORLD GROUP AT (212) 219-7224 or .

WHY: The information super age has transformed how we live and learn.  On October 14, Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) will host a symposium titled “Creating Community Using Web 2.0:  Using Social Media in the Classroom” which will explore the place that Web 2.0 and Social Media have in the classroom.

WHO: The Keynote Speakers for the Symposium are Drs. Ximena Gallardo and Jason Smith, faculty members at LaGuardia Community College, presenting on “Community 2.0:  Teaching and Learning Networks.” This session will outline the progressive and effective program at their college to implement social media more actively in the classroom, and to connect classes, programs, and faculty through these technologies.  In addition to their presentation, Drs. Gallardo and Smith will conduct a hands-on workshop with MCNY faculty.

WHAT: The Symposium will also include presentations from faculty, staff, and students from MCNY’s Audrey Cohen School of Human Services and the Business Department, including:

• Lynn Sally, ACSHS Professor:  “Learning and Writing in 140 Characters or Less:  How Twitter Makes Us Smarter, Funnier, & Friendlier”
• Rachel Yager, Business School Professor:  “Learning Beyond the Classroom: Social Media Intelligence for Business”
• Don Johnson, BAUS Student:  “How Social Networking and Internet Technology is Changing Education”

WHEN: Friday, October 14, 2011 – 1PM to 3PM

WHERE: Metropolitan College of New York

431 Canal St., 11th Floor Conference Center
New York, NY 10013

The event is open to the public. Seating is limited.

About The Audrey Cohen School for Human Services and Education:

Metropolitan College of New York currently offers three graduate Education programs: Master of Science in Education – Childhood Grades 1-6, Master of Science in Education – Dual Childhood Grades 1-6/Special Education and Master of Science in Education – Mathematics Grades 7-12. Each program consists of a one-year, three-semester curriculum, combining classroom learning with full-time field experience and full-time student teaching internships. MCNY’s education program is designed for people committed to the education of all adolescents in diverse urban and suburban schools, through intensive full-time schedule of study and practice.

Panelists to Include Adriano Espaillat, New York State Senator (D-31 SD); Hakeem Jeffries, New State Assembly Member (D‑57); and Foster Maer, Esq., Associate General Counsel for the Latino Justice & Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund.

WHY: Metropolitan College of New York’s popular Urban Dialogue Series will next explore “The Status of Redistricting in New York State: Past, Present and Future” with a special panel on Tuesday, September 27, 2011. This discussion will explore the political and legal impact of reapportionment on the system, fiscal federalism and intergovernmental relations. It will address how and why the redistricting of state and congressional legislative districts will change New York’s political landscape during the next ten years. The featured panelists will also offer their perspectives on:

• Gerrymandering
• The 1965 Voting Rights Act
• The Justice Department’s review process
• New York’s projected loss of two congressional seats
• The potential value of an independent commission

WHO: The panelists for the discussion will include:

• Adriano Espaillat, New York State Senator (D-31 SD): Mr. Espaillat represents the areas of the Upper West Side, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and Riverdale. Prior to his election to the New York State Senate in 2010, he served in the State Assembly for 16 years.
• Hakeem Jeffries, New State Assembly Member (D-57): Mr. Jeffries represents the areas of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant.  He was featured in the critically acclaimed documentary Gerrymandering.  In addition, Assembly Member Jeffries also sponsored and championed legislation to end prison-based gerrymandering, which was signed into law in 2010.  With its passage, New York became the second state in the country to count incarcerated individuals in their home communities, rather than in the counties where they are incarcerated, for purposes of legislative reapportionment.
• Foster Maer, Esq., Associate General Counsel for the Latino Justice & Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund: The Latino Justice & Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund is a national civil rights organization that pursues impact legislation, including legal challenges, to proposed legislative district plans that are not in compliance with the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

WHAT:            This “Urban Dialogue” is hosted by Humphrey A. Crookendale, Dean of the School of Management, MCNY, and Manny Tirado, Professor of American Government and Public Policy, MCNY.  “Urban Dialogues” is a forum in which scholars, legislators, policy makers, students and citizens exchange ideas and discuss issues and trends that affect New York City and other urban centers across the nation. Topics cover a spectrum of ideas, theories and viewpoints that inform and/or influence urban policy.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Metropolitan College of New York

431 Canal St., 11th Floor Conference Center
New York, NY 10013

The event is open to the public. Seating is limited.

For more information on MCNY, visit www.mcny.edu or call 800.33.THINK.