Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1533049
How has the Eaton Fire impacted the PCC community? The fires reinforced how close we all are both in distance and also as a community. Pasadena Community College has a vibrant, diverse campus and it struck me how unified we were in terms of reaching out in the classrooms and the community to help and support. How are you working to support impacted students? I have several students who lost everything in the Eaton fire and that has collided with the time of year when letters of recommen- dation are needed and scholarship applications are due. It can be stressful on a normal day, let alone during a time of crisis. I believe that everyone is affected at some level, so flexibility and grace combined with giving all students space to express how they are feeling has been helpful for them as they try to regain momentum academically. Thoughtful personal letters of rec- ommendation not only help students to get those scholarships and acceptance letters but remind them that they are amazing — and while this is a defining event to be sure, they have what it takes to recover and create more incredible moments. What advice do you have for educators support- ing students and co-workers as they recover? Stick to the schedule as much as possible and encourage students to collaborate in their communi- cation about the events of January. This is basically true every semester but even more so when some- thing extraordinary happens. Students are a great resource for one another and it's amazing to see how empowering it can be for students to help others succeed. In one of my public speaking classes, we took an inventory of what was needed and how we, as a class, could contribute, and that turned into a great exercise for student engagement. Flexibility, grace, communication and collaboration are great for educators too! What has it meant to you for your union to come together to support educators, our students and communities? CTA has been next level. Our union is always quick to offer support and updates, which made navigating local resources much easier than it might have been. CTA did a good job of navigating what was needed in the LA area while still staying connected with edu- cators around the state. CTA has been a consistent presence, and I expect this will play out even more in the coming months. It's a relief to be a part of an organization that supports us not just as educators but as people. Supporting community college students in recovery Casey Jones is an adjunct faculty member at multiple community colleges in LA County, including Pasadena City College and Glendale Community College. She is the current social media consultant for Community College Association and a former bargaining team member for Rio Hondo College Faculty Association. " Our union is always quick to offer support and updates, which made navigating local resources much easier than it might have been. It's a relief to be a part of an organization that supports us not just as educators but as people." — Casey Jones, former Rio Hondo College Faculty Assn. Jones is faculty advisor for the Genshin Impact Club. 34 cta.org Feature