A DARING JOURNEY: From Immigration to Education

A Daring Journey (Trailer)

Shattering the Silence - A Growing Awareness of the Latino Community in Poughkeepsie

In the late 1990's in Poughkeepsie, NY, a Mexican dayworker is killed in a hit and run accident. Detectives, journalists, and a Vassar College professor help to raise money to send his body back to his wife in Oaxaca, Mexico. This effort raise awareness to the presence and humanity of the growing Mexican population in the city of Poughkeepsie.
Interviewee:
Peter Leonard, Former Director of Field Work, Vassar College

Meeting the Challenges of Town/Gown Relations

The relationship of Vassar College with its neighbor, the City of Poughkeepsie has evolved over the years. Originally, Vassar was an elitist institution with fences surrounding the campus. Vassar College now reaches out to the Poughkeepsie community, by tearing down the walls and fences that once surrounded the campus and acted as barriers.
Interviewees include:
Catharine Hill, Professor of Economics, President, Vassar College
Edward Pittman, Associate Dean of the College for Campus Life and Diversity
Chris Roellke, Dean of the College, Professor of Education
Tracey Holland, Visiting Assistant Professor of Education
Jazmin Pichardo, Vassar Graduate, Former Exploring College Administrator

Hand in Hand: A History of Diversity at Vassar

Vassar's commitment to diversity is an ongoing process. The first non-white woman was admitted in 1878. Today, more than 35% of Vassar's population are students of color. The Campus Life and Diversity Office strives to enhance the quality of campus life for all students by promoting equity, social justice education, global citizenship, and cultural pluralism.
Interviewee:
Catharine Hill, Professor of Economics, President, Vassar College

VCUEI – The Vassar College Urban Education Initiative

A look at the history of Vassar College and its neighbor, the City of Poughkeepsie. Once an elitist institution with fences surrounding the campus, Vassar College now reaches out to the Poughkeepsie community, by tearing down the walls and fences that once surrounded the campus and acted as barriers.
Interviewees include:
Jazmin Pichardo, Vassar Graduate, Former Exploring College Administrator
Catharine Hill, Professor of Economics, President, Vassar College

Exploring Science

A look at one of the ways Vassar College reaches out to elementary school students in Poughkeepsie. By inviting these young inner city students on to the Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve, Vassar students help to expand the students' experiences of nature through hands-on learning.
Interviewees include:
Lynn Capozolli, Director of Exploring Program at Vassar Farm
Nick Cedeno, Poughkeepsie ESL Teacher

Vassar Junior Year Abroad: Ruben in Japan

Ruben Robles Jr. spent much of his Junior year at Vassar living in Japan. We see how he immerses himself in Japanese culture while becoming more independent. Through finding his place in a new country with a different culture, Ruben develops a better understanding of the challenges his parents faced when they came from Mexico to the United States.
Interviewee:
Ruben Robles, Jr.

Ruben Robles Jr's High School Eastside Prep

Jeanelle Ortiz has created a vignette which provides an overview of Eastside College Preparatory School in East Palo Alto, CA. Interviewees include Chris Bischof, Helen Kim, Anna Takahashi and April Alavarez, who discuss the founding, the philosophy, and some of the practices and the goals of the school.
Interviewees include:
Helen Kim, Vice Principal and Co-Founder, Eastside College Prep
Chris Bischoff, Principal and Founder, Easide College Prep
Anna Takahashi, College Counseling