Summer Reads to Challenge Our Assumptions

Man reading a book on a bench overlooking the sea. Image by Ben White

By Lauren Janus and Janell Turner

We have a semi-regular tradition each June at  Phīla. As a team of readers, we like to take time out at the start of the summer season to share some of the books we’ve read recently that we deem significantly thoughtful, but also beach read worthy. It is summer, afterall!

In June of 2020, we were deep into the reality of a global pandemic, while only weeks away from the murder of George Floyd. Our blog post then was called Summer Reads for the Times and included several of Lauren’s picks for books on racial equity in America. In 2021, we all needed a lift, so our picks focused on diverse, inspiring stories. We called that post Summer Reads that Celebrate Humanity. And in 2022, we were just too busy and didn’t get a book post out. Sorry friends!

This summer, we are back in the reading saddle so much that two of us (Janell and Lauren here) wanted to share our suggestions for your warm weather reading. As we talked about the books that have moved us in the last year, a clear theme emerged: one of challenging assumptions to build empathy for those climbing their own mountains. In that vein, we are pleased to present Phīla Book Picks for Summer 2023.

Nonfiction

Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker (Janell)

This story resonated deeply with me as it struck a chord with my own experience. Witnessing my younger brother’s journey as he developed schizophrenia in his early twenties, after showing immense potential in his writing and spoken word career, has been both heartbreaking and eye-opening. Kolker’s portrayal of the Galvin family’s struggles evoked profound emotions and reflections, reminding us of the remarkable power of family connections and the resilience that can illuminate even the most challenging circumstances. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, he gently peels back the layers of mental illness within the Galvin family and skillfully humanizes the complex world of mental health, offering a compassionate lens into the challenges faced by both individuals and loved ones. A compelling read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the human experience within mental health. 

The Myth of the Silver Spoon; Navigating Family Wealth and Creating an Impactful Life by Kristin Keffeler (Lauren)

This spring, our entire team read Kristin Keffeler’s thought-provoking dive into the often unexpected challenges and struggles of those living with wealth. Keffeler comes from a wealthy family herself, and uses her background in psychology and lived experience to coach primarily younger people who grew up surrounded by the opportunities–and expectations–that often come with an outsized inheritance.

Through stories and insights on brain development, Keffeler paints an empathetic picture of ultra high-net wealth families. She tells of children who grow up unintentionally coddled, only to be pushed out into the world with the assumption that they’ll behave exactly like the high achieving family members that came before them. As one could imagine, these sorts of expectations can lead to high levels of depression, despair and emotionally fraught relationships. Thankfully, Keffleler also offers plenty of evidence-based advice on “clearing the emotional clutter” and finding purpose for those for whom money has always been a given.

Cutting School; The Segrenomics of American Education by Noliwe Rooks (Lauren)

As the parent of two elementary school-aged children, I think a lot about education…what it can mean to different types of children, how to support teachers, and how our system of education in the US often too fails children of color, those with disabilities and the poor. That’s why I devoured Noliwe Rooks’ book on what remains a segregated school system in America, where Black and Brown children’s educations often become opportunities for “businesses to make a profit selling schooling.” If you read it, please let me know what you think, especially of the chapter, “White  Philanthropy, Black Education.” We’ll get coffee and talk about it. 

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker (Janell)

This book drew me in from the very first page and inspired immediate action. It’s like having a secret weapon in your pocket as a host, event planner, professional advisor, or anyone who is looking to create unique, memorable experiences with friends and loved ones. Parker's insights are pure gold as she dives into the nitty-gritty of creating gatherings that truly matter. She goes far beyond the usual logistics and shows us how to create authentic connections that leave a lasting impact. I can't stress enough how much I appreciate her emphasis on being intentional, inclusive, and purposeful in how we bring people together. Plus, she brings everything to life with interesting real-life examples that make you go, "Aha! I can do that!" This book is a game-changer for anyone who wants to bring people together, spark action, and strengthen our communities. You don't need to be a fancy party planner to get something out of it. It's a must-read!

Fiction

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers (Janell)

This book has claimed the top spot in my women's book club, emerging as the standout read of the year. It swept me away, gently whisking me back to my cherished southern roots. Within its 800+ pages, we discovered a treasury of vibrant prose that pays homage to the teachings and literary legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois. Jeffers skillfully weaves together a tale of familial bonds, love's enduring power, unwavering resilience, and the pursuit of identity—a narrative that captivates and draws you closer with each turn of the page. As the story unfolds, she breathes life into history's forgotten corridors, taking us on an unforgettable journey through time, unraveling the multi-generational saga of a fictional Black family in the heart of Georgia. Veronica Chambers, in her review for the New York Times Book Review, astutely observes, "The historical archives of Black Americans are too often filled with broad outlines of what happened—accounts of injustice, enslavement and oppression—and not the details of how Black people lived and breathed, thought, wondered, wandered, dreamed, and prayed." Jeffers fills this void with unmatched finesse, transporting us into a world where the vibrancy of Black lives pulsates on every page.

Have a wonderful summer!

Moving the Needle for Higher Ed

Photo by Javier Trueba

By Stephanie Ellis-Smith

When donors think of giving to education, most often one thinks of K-12 education (including early learning initiatives) and four year universities – a major recipient of philanthropic giving. According to Giving USA, in 2020 alone, U.S.-based donors gave more than $71 billion to education, which represented 15 percent of all charitable giving, the bulk of it going to the investment pools (a.k.a. endowments) of elite universities. Giving to education was surpassed only by giving to religion.

Yet, with constantly rising costs, greater numbers of students are saddled with ever-larger student loans and the need to mitigate the rising costs of that debt is increasing as well. (See Robert Smith’s big bet on relieving student debt from the private sector, and of course President Biden's new student loan forgiveness program coming online.) The amount of debt the average student is carrying has gotten so bad, it’s got many going so far as to question the basic utility of a university education. So how can a savvy donor “move the needle” in higher ed?

We too often are forgetting the corner of the education universe that serves more people and offers the greatest chance for economic stability and social mobility: the two-year technical and community colleges. For many high school and returning students, going to a community college can serve as a buffer before launching into the hyper-competitive world of university admissions, but making that transition is not easy. According to a 2013 report, 81% of first year students want to transfer to a four-year college or university, but after six years, only 12% were successful. Today, the percentage has risen only slightly to 15%.

This post will give you a brief overview of what these schools are doing today to meet the needs of rapidly changing demographics and job markets. Understanding their focus may offer some insight into how directing funding to two-year and technical colleges offers a unique opportunity to bolster resources in an underfunded area of education.

***

Community colleges are evolving just as quickly as the needs of its students. For starters, they have altered their traditional business model of offering stand-alone associates degrees to offering baccalaureate degrees. Schools in locations that are not served by a nearby four-year college are the ones most likely to do so and the BAs typically serve students who want to become teachers and either cannot afford or cannot travel (or both) to a major college or university. Though such a big change is not without its critics, adapting to address teacher shortages in rural or otherwise underserved areas has become a crucial service of many community colleges.

They have also formalized their relationships with four-year colleges and universities by becoming official “feeder” schools to partnering institutions. Students who may not have had the initial qualifications to attend or who could not initially afford tuition, can start at the partnering community college and easily transfer credits after two-years while saving on fees. 

While the concept of a transfer student is one we’re all familiar with, another trend at community colleges is the reverse transfer students. These “transfers-in” are students who are  returning to community colleges to improve specific job skills after attending four-year colleges. Also due to rising costs of tuition. For example, a student who had been unsuccessful at a four-year school may go back to a community college to build up enough credits to re-enroll at the four-year school or even get the associates degree they missed out on by transferring out. 

Community colleges also make important contributions to higher-education’s mandate to serve the national interest. They have the most diverse student body not just in race (they collectively serve more Black and Latino students than their four-year counterparts), but in other demographic segments as well like Baby Boomers over 55, single mothers, and veterans. Whether students come to retool for a new career, or reintegrate into society as a civilian, community colleges are developing comprehensive programs designed to help an increasingly diverse student body acquire the education and skills they need to return to the workforce.

For a donor interested in higher education access and creating a wider path to the middle class, these trends are relevant and worthy of consideration. Community colleges tend to serve students with the greatest needs yet receive the least amount of support. Philanthropy is not the only sector to realize the disparity. So far, 19 states have free or debt-free tuition to community colleges and see their success as critical to building a workforce and citizenry ready for a new economy. Your local community college is an important piece of the higher education puzzle that deserves attention. 

***

For more information on the role of community colleges in the higher-education landscape, here are a few resources you might appreciate:

Where Money Would Matter Most by Jay Urwitz

It’s Time to Digitally Transform Community Colleges by Sean Gallagher

What Happens When Community Colleges Offer Bachelor’s Degrees? by Natalie Schwartzman

Why We’re Here–The Impact of Community Colleges on the Future (PODCAST)

Community Colleges: The Unsung Heroes of Higher Ed

When donors think of giving to education, they most often one thinks of K-12 education (including early learning initiatives) and higher ed—the latter being the granddaddy of all philanthropic giving. In 2018, over $45 billion were earmarked to higher-education alone, and much of it went to the investment pools (a.k.a. endowments) of elite universities.

Yet, with the constantly rising cost of education, greater numbers of students are saddled with ever-larger student loans (see Robert Smith’s big bet on relieving student debt), while others are going so far as to question the basic utility of a university education. So, it’s hard to find a place where a savvy donor can “move the needle” in higher ed.

But we are forgetting the corner of the education universe that serves more people and offers the greatest chance for economic stability and social mobility: the two-year technical and community colleges. For many high school and returning students, going to a community college can serve as a buffer before launching into the hyper-competitive world of university admissions, but making that transition is not easy. According to a 2013 report, 81% of first year students want to transfer to a four-year college or university, but after six years, only 12% were successful. Today, the percentage has risen only slightly to 15%. 

This post will give you a brief overview of what these schools are doing today to meet the needs of rapidly changing demographics and job markets. Understanding their focus may offer some insight into how directing funding to two-year colleges offers a unique opportunity to bolster resources in an underfunded area of education.

Community colleges are evolving just as quickly as the needs of their students. For starters, they have altered their traditional business model of offering stand-alone associates degrees to offering baccalaureate degrees. Schools in locations that are not served by a nearby four-year college are the ones most likely to do so and the BAs typically serve students who want to become teachers and either cannot afford or cannot travel (or both) to a major college or university. Though such a big change is not without its critics, adapting to address teacher shortages in rural or otherwise underserved areas has become a crucial service of many community colleges. 

They have also formalized their relationships with four-year colleges and universities by become official “feeder” schools to partnering institutions. Students who may not have had the initial qualifications to attend or who could not initially afford tuition, can start at the partnering community college and easily transfer credits after two-years while saving on fees. 

While the concept of a transfer student is one we’re all familiar with, another trend at community colleges is the reverse transfer students. Some of these “transfers-in” are students who are returning to community college to improve specific job skills after attending four-year colleges. Others either could not sustain tuition payments or did not perform well academically at the four-year college and end up returning to community college to build up enough credits to re-enroll at the four-year school or even get the associates degree they missed out on by transferring out. 

 Community colleges also make important contributions to higher-education’s mandate to serve the national interest. They have the most diverse student body not just in terms of race (they collectively serve more black and Latino students than their four-year counterparts), but in other demographic segments such as Baby Boomers and Iraq War veterans. Whether students come to retool for a new career or to reintegrate into society as a civilian, community colleges are developing comprehensive programs designed to help an increasingly diverse student body acquire the education and skills it needs to return to the workforce.

 For a donor interested in higher education access and creating a wider path to the middle class, these trends are relevant and worthy of consideration. Community colleges tend to serve students with the greatest needs yet receive the least amount of support. Philanthropy is not the only sector to realize the disparity. So far, 19 states have free or debt-free tuition to community colleges and see their success as critical to building a workforce and citizenry ready for a new economy. Your local community college is an important piece of the higher education puzzle that deserves attention. 

For more information on the role of community colleges in the higher-education landscape, read The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Why Community Colleges are Good for You” and The Century Foundation’s importantresearchon how community colleges help create pathways to an aspiring middle class.