WISR Graduation Ceremony, September 12, 2020
The WISR Community is Invited
Saturday, September 12th
10:00am Gather
10:30am Program
Music (including Drumming), Poetry &
a Celebration of our Graduates!
The Program in PDF format to download
Video/phone conferencing Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85848395793
Phone# 669-900-6833 with ID# 858 4839 5793. To RSVP or for help with technical difficulties call 510-655-2830 or email johnb@wisr.edu and provide a phone# in case of technical difficulties.
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Celebration of Graduation
Saturday, September 12, 2020, 10:00am gather; 10:30am program
Processional ~ Pomp & Circumstance by Edward Elgar, performed by Stephen Douthit, WISR Student, MS in Psychology Program
Introduction & Bahai Prayer, Blessed is the Spot ~ Marilyn Jackson, PhD, Faculty & Executive Assistant to WISR’s President
Song ~ The Wind by Cat Stevens ~ WISR Ad Hoc Ensemble
Welcome ~ Brian Gerrard, PhD, Faculty & Chief Academic Officer
Drumming ~ All Nations Drum of Oakland, CA
Introducing The Graduates ~ John Bilorusky, PhD, WISR President and Faculty; Ronald Mah, MA, LMFT, PhD, Faculty, Alumnus & Director of MFT Program
Voices of the Graduates ~ WISR Graduates talk about their experience studying at WISR, and their plans for the future
Family and Friends of the Graduates ~ Family members and friends are invited to say a few words on how they see the WISR program has shaped the life of the graduates
Conferring of Degrees ~ Marcia Campos, MA, WISR Board President
Holy Curiosity ~ Sung by Sudia Paloma-McCaleb, EdD, Faculty, Director of Doctoral Program
Poem ~ I Dream a World by Langston Hughes, read by Kelley Marable
Recessional ~ Hanif & The Sound Voyagers, introduced by Monika Scott-Davis
Closing Words ~ Jober Tarin
Photo Taking (with screen shots)
Thanks to all the participants and special thanks to Elsa-Jennie Bliss, Kelley Marable, Monika Scott-Davis
Candidates and Their Degrees
Kelley L. Marable
Bachelor of Science
Community Leadership and Justice
August 31, 2020
Danish Qasim
Master of Science
Education and Community Leadership
September 30, 2019
Monika Scott-Davis
Doctorate in Education
Higher Education & Social Change
Sajad Shakoor
Master of Science
Education and Community Leadership
March 24, 2016
Ahmad Jober Tarin
Master of Science in Psychology
February 13, 2020
Click here for the Current Monthly Seminar Announcement in downloadable pdf or html
RACIST POLICING PANEL
A PANEL DISCUSSION
Saturday, June 27, 2020
10am-12pm
Organized by Rosa Reinikainen, MFT, WISR Adjunct Faculty
Panelists:
Sevgi Fernandez, WISR Alum, Founder & President of Together We Stand
Richard Lawrence, MDiv, author of Light, Bright, Damn Near White: Stories and Reflections of a Multi-Racial Black Man’s Battles Against Racism in America
Monica Scott-Davis, LMFT, WISR Alum, Behavioral Health Clinician at Roots Clinic, Oakland & Private Practice in Berkeley, CA
Racist policing has a long history in the United States. From slave patrols to Jim Crow Laws and in present time with what Michelle Alexander calls “the New Jim Crow” there has been a long lineage of violence, harassment, harm and killing of Black and Brown people. Recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and Rayshard Brooks by police and the lynchings like those of Ahmed Aubery, Robert Fuller, and black and trans women Raia Milton, Dominique Rem’mie Fells and many others have spurred a call to action. These killings add to the long list of African American people who have been killed by police officers and other lynching type of killings. We can not sit back and stay blinded to these injustices. There are currently protests and demonstrations of different forms happening around the country as well as around the world. The time for change has come.
This seminar is a panel discussion on the subject of Racist Policing and how we can create change. Therapists and Educators have a particular responsibility to address and dismantle racism. Racist Policing along with systemic forms of racism is particularly traumatic for black people. As therapists and educators we have a duty to help change and dismantle the traumatic, humiliating systems that deny black and brown people of their dignity and humanity. Panelists will discuss their work, world and lived experience related to this subject.
Video/phone conferencing Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82810919867; ID 828 1091 9867; phone# 669-900-6833. To RSVP or for help with technical difficulties call 510-655-2830 or email rosa.reinikainen@wisr.edu and provide a phone# in case of technical difficulties.
Western Institute for Social Research
2930 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 300
Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 655-2830
www.wisr.edu
Coronavirus Pandemic, Part II
Pandemic Stress Reduction Project
Report from the Disastershock Global Volunteer Team
Saturday, May 16th
10:30am to 12:30pm PT
Part Two, WISR seminar series on the Coronavirus Pandemic:
Immediate Tasks and the Bigger Picture
Dr. Brian Gerrard, WISR’s Chief Academic Officer and several of his colleagues . . .
The Disastershock Global Volunteer Team consists of 70 members from 22 countries. This international team, formed in April, 2020, has as its mission translating the Amazon book Disastershock: How to Cope with the Emotional Stress of a Major Disaster into 20 different languages and providing them free to parents, educators and mental health professionals around the world. The team leaders: Brian Gerrard and Sue Linville Shaffer, together with the Chinese team leader – Ning Tang; the Spanish team leader – Damian Gallegos-Lemos; and the New York City team leader – Jacqueline Shinefield, will give a progress report on how their specific sub-teams are helping families to cope with the stress caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. Attendees will learn about the real-world challenges for making psychosocial interventions during a disaster.
To join from a distance use Zoom Meeting ID: 196-243-617 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/196243617 or by phone 669 900 6833. For help with technical difficulties call John Bilorusky at 510 601 8164 or email johnb@wisr.edu.
Perspectives on The Green New Deal & Environmental Justice, Where Do We Go From Here?
Saturday, April 25th, 10am-12:30pm
Join us to hear our three panelists, followed by discussion.
The Green New Deal: A Capitalist Solution to a Capital Problem? Cara Judea Alhadeff, PhD (www.carajudea.com/www.zazudreams.com),
is a member of WISR’s Academic Advisory Board and former Professor of Gender and Critical Pedagogy at UC Santa Cruz . She is a fine-art photographer/ video-artist, Iyengar yoga teacher, and author of dozens of books and articles on philosophy, art, gender, ethnic, and cultural studies. Dr. Alhadeff will discuss how activists can live their ethics in order to collectively organize for climate justice. Dr. Alhadeff states that At this juncture of geopolitical,ecological, social, and corporeal catastrophes, we must question and critically reframe supposed solutions such as ‘sustainability,’ ‘the Green New Deal,’ and the Renewable Revolution (‘renewable’ energy alternatives to fossil-fuel addicted economies). These relational paradigm shifts must include historical, cross-cultural, and intergenerational perspectives.
The Green New Deal and the Transformative Power of Change: Sudia Paloma McCaleb, EdD is a WISR Faculty member and Director of WISR’s EdD Program, formerly of New College of CA. She is also Director of the Center for Critical Environmental and Global Literacy (www.ccegl.org) which builds collaborative relationships between Bay Area educators (and beyond) and indigenous communities in Oaxaca, Mexico and Sonsonate, El Salvador. Dr. Paloma McCaleb has led a dozen interactive (with music and discussion) workshops on “The Green New Deal” (GND), a conceptual framework for future legislation in Congress that will address the climate crisis while ensuring that social justice is held paramount during the course of the transition.
Environmental Justice: Kyle Bilorusky, BA candidate in “Society and Environment” at UC Berkeley. Kyle has recently assisted Sudia Paloma, in introducing the Green New Deal at the ethnically diverse Oakland Tech High School. Previously, Kyle did internships in the office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and California Public Interest Research Group, and was mentored by Margaret Gordon, head of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project. Kyle Bilorusky will present insights from his honors thesis on increasing attention to Environmental Justice in secondary school high school curricula.
To join from a distance use Zoom Meeting ID 690-486-240, https://zoom.us/j/690486240 or by phone 669 900 6833. For help with technical difficulties call 510 655 2830 or email john.bilorusky@wisr.edu.
WISR 11th ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Thursday through Saturday, October 24-26, 2019
TRANSFORMING OURSELVES AND THE WORLD:
The Western Institute for Social Research (WISR)
Learning Community in its 45th Year
Click here for Conference Schedule with more details (pdf format)
Click here for Registration & Disclosure Form
Request for Donations to Support WISR’s Formal Application and Review for Accreditation
November 12, 2018
Hello WISR Students, Alumni, Board, Faculty and Friends,
This is an update that WISR is making toward great progress toward accreditation, although a positive outcome can never be guaranteed. And, this is a strong appeal to those of you who are able to do so, to donate to WISR before the end of 2018. As many of you recall, we received an anonymous donation (not from me nor any friend or relative) from a member of our community of $15,000 in early 2018. The donation was put in our account right away as an act of good faith, and it was supposed to be matched before the end of 2018, and so far, we have received only $6,000 in matching donations, although in early 2018 several pledged to give more by end of 2018.
Beyond the importance of matching this $15,000, it should be known that while our prospects for accreditation look quite promising, we do have a couple of big financial hurdles in the next 12 months. First and foremost, we will have to pay about $45,000 in accreditation fees—first, $25,000 to submit our self-study and our online courses for review by DEAC in early 2019, and then, hopefully $20,000 for a site visit late in 2019.
We have enough in our savings account to pay for half of those costs, and can use most of our $25,000 line of credit with the bank to pay for the rest of the costs. However, our chances for getting accreditation in the next two years go up considerably if 1) we don’t touch our savings account, and 2) are actually able to increase the $23,000 in savings with another $25,000. Having nearly $50,000 in savings would be a huge plus in seeking accreditation.
We will be able to do #1 if we get $25,000 in donations in the next two months, and we may be able to do #2 if we get $20,000 in donations in 2019. In all other respects our finances are very solid, and our student enrollment is beginning to slowly grow—and more, and continued, referrals of prospective students to help us to grow slightly faster will be helpful as well.
While not asking for or expecting any special appreciation, I want to add that this year, as I did the previous year, I have cut my own salary by $26,000 (by 1/3). I say this to emphasize that I believe we are at a crossroads in WISR’s history, and I want to do my part to pitch in—to help sustain WISR for many years to come—even beyond my own lifetime. Further, many individuals among faculty and staff are donating their time. If we all pitch in, our likelihood for achieving accreditation will grow significantly!
All donations, large and small will be appreciated, and because of WISR’s non-profit 501(c)3 status they are likely tax-deductible.
Your contributions of time and energy to participating in our self-study process and outreach to prospective students (groups and individuals) are also greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
John Bilorusky, PhD
WISR President and Member of the Faculty
For more information, please visit our web page on Giving.
10th Annual Conference, October 4-7, 2018
The Future of Transformative Learning at WISR
Building Partnerships Locally and Beyond
Thursday evening, October 4th
through Sunday afternoon, October 7th
Click here for more information
SEMINAR AND OPEN HOUSE, Saturday, August 25th
STUDENT-FACULTY COLLABORATION IN THE NEW, ONLINE COURSES, AND IN ASSESSING STUDENT LEARNING AT WISR
followed by Open House
Saturday, August 25
10am-12pm
John Bilorusky, PhD, WISR President and Core Faculty Member
~John Bilorusky will present for discussion, strategies to use at WISR to assess student learning, to promote further student learning and provide evidence to external groups, such as an accrediting agency — of the substance, value and multi-dimensionality of student learning at WISR.
This seminar will help students and faculty to collaborate in conducting learning assessments in each course and throughout a student’s studies, and even beyond, in their endeavors as alumni.
~Dr. Bilorusky, will present a theoretical framework for assessing learning, developed out of 40+ years’ of experience in “learning the WISR way.” The presentation and subsequent discussion will include reflections on the strengths and limitations of specific well-defined indicators on the one hand, and textured, complex stories and exemplars of student learning, on the other hand. MFT Students: Attendance at the All School Gathering counts as attendance at an MFT seminar.
~The seminar will also allow significant time to discuss the format and structure of WISR’s new, online courses — some of which are already “live” at: https://sites.google.com/wisr.edu/lms/home In order to access, you must each time first sign into your wisr.edu email account!
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OPEN HOUSE at WISR!!
Refreshments Provided
Saturday, August 25th, noon to 4pm
~Prospective Students and others interested in learning more about WISR are invited to attend!
~We will have updates on plans for online learning with WISR’s pursuit for accreditation.
~Alumni, current students, faculty & board are invited to “check in” in person, by Zoom or phone, to share anecdotes and stories about their WISR experience.
~~Contact admin@wisr.edu or john.bilorusky@wisr.edu if you want to attend via zoom or telephone and provide a phone # in case of technical difficulties.
Author Event with WISR/CSSA Faculty Professor Peter Gabel, J.D., PhD. August 24, 6 – 9 pm Santa Rosa
Author Event with WISR/CSSA Faculty Professor
Peter Gabel, J.D., PhD.
at the Arlene Francis Center,
Santa Rosa
August 24, 6 pm – 9 pm
Join Peter Gabel and the Arlene Francis Center in Santa Rosa as Peter shares his newest book
The Desire for Mutual Recognition: Social Movements and the Dissolution of the False Self
Author Peter Gabel examines the struggle between desire and alienation as it unfolds across our social world, calling for a new social-spiritual activism that can go beyond the limitations of existing progressive theory and action, intentionally foster and sustain our capacity to heal what separates us, and inspire a new kind of social movement that can transform the
world.
Peter Gabel is the former president of New College of California and was for over thirty years a professor at its public-interest law school. He is a founder of the critical legal studies movement and the Project for Integrating Spirituality, Law, and Politics. Editor-at-Large of the progressive Jewish magazine Tikkun, he is the author of numerous books and articles on law, politics, and social change. Peter is faculty at the Western Institute for Social Research and co-founder with Michael McAvoy of the Center for Social Spiritual Activism (CSSA).
Sat. August 4, 2018 Depression, Part I of II From Major to minor with Ronald Mah, LMFT, PhD
DEPRESSION, From Major to “minor,” Reaction, to the Blues, Part I of II
Saturday, August 4, 10am-2pm
Ronald Mah, MA, LMFT, PhD, WISR Faculty
This seminar will be a study of the diagnosis, assessment, prognosis and treatment of depression. This includes study of the characteristics and dynamics associated with depression, ranging from neurotic styles found among “normal,” functioning adults to severe disorders—from having the blues, to the walking functional dysthymia.
Included is an examination of different systems of diagnosis, including the current edition of the DSM, and the strategies of treatment associated with these various diagnoses- distinctions and degrees. Study of evidence-based practices and therapeutic practices from, as well as study of differential diagnosis, the impact of co-occurring substance abuse disorders (in terms of self-medication for depression), established diagnostic criteria for expressions of depression. September 22 will be part II of this topic. Please RSVP by e-mail toronald@ronaldmah.com orjohn.bilorusky@wisr.edu for the Zoom video conference link and/or phone numbers if you plan to participate by videoconference or phone and provide a phone # in case of technical difficulties.