A Modest Idea with a Major Impact

By David Yancey, FA, AFT 6157 President

A modest idea, in a majestic setting, and supported by the best of our community.

The modest idea: to provide role models to our children that will show them the pathway to success through a college education.

The majestic setting: the venerable San Jose landmark, The Corinthian Club in downtown San Jose. The pillars of granite and the marble floors of this stately hall remind one of the great academic halls of our past.

The best of our community: a collection of some of the outstanding political, educational, business and social leadership of our community, from the former Mayor Ron Gonzales, the current Chief of Police Rob Davis and to our own educational leader, Chancellor Rosa Perez.

The event was the 20^th Anniversary Celebration of the Role Model Program. Our Chancellor, Rosa Perez had, among other guests, invited me and Executive Director, Barbara Hanfling to attend this event as her guest. She had hopes that eventually we could involve our faculty and students in this program.

For twenty years the Role Model Program has been dedicated to the idea of providing to our children the skills and the self confidence necessary to prepare them for a successful future through the gaining of a college education. We were honored to attend and represent our membership to demonstrate our faculty also supports their goals and aspirations.

The luncheon was a mixture of elementary aged school children meeting/mixing with some of our cities most successful citizens to create pathways and visions of careers that they can relate to and see up close. The children, with their large name tags, that included their career interests, approach, meet and get business cards from the “role models” they choose. They circulate throughout the great hall meeting, talking to and getting to know people who actually are in the career fields they would like to join.

And, of course, there were many surprises. Maybe the most popular guest was the surprise visit of “Sharky” the San Jose Shark’s mascot. He went around the room taking photos with the kids and hamming it up as mascots are prone to do.

At the end of the luncheon it was clear a great time had been had by all. And hopefully in the hearts and minds of those children the goal of obtaining a college education and a professional career seemed more real and if we all keep our promise to be good role models, more achievable.