Cybersecurity and Data Analytics Certificate to be Deployed in Community College – KOAA News 5

Cybersecurity and Data Analytics Certificate to be Deployed in Community College – KOAA News 5

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COLORADO — IBM (NYSE: IBM ) today unveiled two new IBM SkillsBuild certificates in cybersecurity and data analytics, which have been piloted and designed with community colleges. These new IBM SkillsBuild certificates will be available to students across the Alabama Community College System, Bay Area Community College Consortium, Colorado Community College System, and Louisiana Community and Technical College System this fall.
Cybersecurity and data analytics skills are essential for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, enabling professionals to extract insights, secure critical information, drive informed decisions, and create value across industries in an increasingly data-centric and security-conscious world. According to a global study conducted by IBM Institute of Business Value, executives estimate that implementing AI and automation will require 40% of their workforce to reskill over the next three years, mostly those in entry-level positions. This underscores the importance of creating public-private partnerships to help close the skills gap.
“Community colleges play a critical role in advancing the adoption of essential technology skills for the workforce,” said Lydia Logan, Vice President for Global Education and Workforce Development, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility. “With these new credentials, IBM is helping learners gain the in-demand skills employers are seeking in a new AI-enabled workplace.”
The certificates are designed to meet the needs of learners and have been developed with academic and industry experts. Community college programs can integrate them into existing curriculums for students to earn credits.
Designed to meet the needs of learners: These certificates are accessible for first-time degree seekers, upskillers, or career changers who hold a high school degree or GED, associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree in a non-technical field. Self-paced, experiential learning across all levels helps effectively prepare learners for potential job opportunities such as junior information security analyst, network security technician, data visualization specialist, and entry-level marketing analyst.Developed together with academic and industry experts: Jobs for the Future (JFF) and a coalition of industry experts contributed to and validated the new competency-based IBM SkillsBuild certificates to align coursework and learnings with current employer demand as well as trends and expectations in the market to maximize job opportunities for students upon completion. The experts included representatives from employers including banks and tech firms, as well as schools and education nonprofits nationwide.Integrate into existing community college programs for college credits: Each certificate learning plan is 60-65 hours in length and can be integrated into a community college’s curriculum. The American Council on Education (ACE) has conducted a Learning Evaluation Review of the certificates and recommends 12 credits for completion of the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate and 8 credits for the IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certificate. The coursework also aligns with CompTIA SEC+ certification topics and skills and is recognized by potential employers.
The new certificates from IBM SkillsBuild require completion of the following courses:
IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate: governance, risk, compliance and data privacy, vulnerability management, system and network security, cloud security, security operations management, and incident response and system forensics.
IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certificate: data classification, data usability for organizations, inferential and descriptive statistics, data collection and analysis, data preparation for analysis, and data visualization and presentation.
Additionally, students will have access to IBM SkillsBuild including other credentials and more than 1,000 free courses such as AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, and workplace skills.
The new certificates were piloted successfully with students in Alabama, Colorado, California, and Louisiana in 2023.
“Alabama community college worked with IBM to pilot the Cybersecurity Certificate because of the strong need for entry-level competency-based credentials that help students start on a pathway for an IT career,” said Dr. Courtney Monette, Special Programs Project Director, Alabama Community College System. “In 2021, Alabama adopted a skills-based workforce training program called Mobilizing Alabama Pathways, or MAPs, that allows new and returning adult education and career pathway students an opportunity to earn a credential like the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity or Data Analytics Certificate; thus building confidence and basic employability skills for all high demand high wage career clusters.”
“Using the IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity credential for my two community education Cybersecurity Fundamentals courses that I piloted at Diablo Valley College during last fall and spring semesters, proved to be a rewarding experience for the student participants, for me, and for the college,” said Richard Grotegut, Computer Network Technology Faculty at Diablo Valley College, part of the Contra Costa Community College District and a member of the Bay Area Community College Consortium. “It confirmed the college’s decision to offer the course as part of their academic offerings beginning this coming school year. The credential proved to be a very good entry-level introduction to cybersecurity. While most of the participants enhanced their academic credentials and are pursuing further study, several of the course “career-changers” used their success in the class to gain employment in technical support positions with local companies. The rich course content and approach, with a strong focus on oral and written communication skills, was a key factor in building the confidence that helped the students land those jobs.”
“Front Range Community College is thrilled to have been selected as one of four colleges nationally to collaborate in designing and launching the new IBM SkillsBuild data analytics credential,” said Colleen Simpson, EdD, Front Range Community College President. “This collaboration with renowned technology leader IBM provides our students the opportunity to develop critical skill sets in this rapidly growing field.”
“Baton Rouge Community College was excited to work with IBM in piloting this initiative last year,” said BRCC Chancellor Dr. Willie E. Smith. “We look forward to continuing this collaboration and working with IBM to expand the initiative and offer it to Louisiana citizens through the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Through this collaboration, we are demonstrating a commitment to equipping our residents with the skills and practical experience required to excel in the high demand fields of cybersecurity and data analytics. Together, we are paving the way for Louisiana to emerge as a national leader in these rapidly growing sectors, ensuring our talent is prepared to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future.”
“In an increasingly dynamic economy shaped by fast-evolving technology, employers, learners, and workers need nimble and trusted ways to acquire and validate skills that will lead to quality jobs of the future,” said Joel Vargas, Vice President of JFF’s Education Practice. “JFF is proud to work with IBM and these innovative colleges to lead the charge on creating scalable solutions to meet this growing need.”
IBM’s work with community colleges is an important component of the company’s pioneering skills-first approach and part of IBM’s commitment to providing 30 million people with new skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow by 2030.
About IBM SkillsBuild
IBM SkillsBuild is a free education program aimed at increasing access to technology education. Through the program, IBM supports adult learners, and high school and university students and faculty, to develop valuable new skills and access career opportunities. The program includes an online platform that is complemented by customized practical learning experiences delivered in collaboration with a global network of partners.
The open version of IBM SkillsBuild is an online platform offering over 1,000 courses in 20 languages on AI, sustainability, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, and many other technical disciplines — as well as in workplace skills such as design thinking. Participants can earn IBM-branded digital credentials that are recognized by the market.
The enhanced version of IBM SkillsBuild may also include workshops, expert conversations with IBM coaches and mentors, project-based learning, access to IBM software, specialized support from partners through the learning process, and connection to career opportunities. Visit skillsbuild.org to learn more.
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In a release from Saturday morning, Governor Jared Polis announced that the Canadian National Flag will be raised at the State Capitol to celebrate March 15 as Colorado Canada Friendship Day.

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Diddy pleads not guilty again, shocks with new look in court – USA TODAY

Diddy pleads not guilty again, shocks with new look in court – USA TODAY

NEW YORK — Sean “Diddy” Combs shocked courtroom attendees with a grizzled new look at a pretrial conference Friday.
Combs’ legal team and prosecutors disputed various aspects of the disgraced rapper’s trial – including jury selection, submitted evidence and the trial’s court timeline – during the Friday conference in front of U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian at Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan.
Combs is charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution following his arrest in September. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The graying music mogul appeared in mostly good spirits throughout the 35-minute conference – grinning and waving to a small group of family and friends seated toward the back of the gallery ‒ although at other times, he could be seen shaking his head and whispering in his attorney’s ear.
Combs was arraigned in court on a new indictment, which added accusations that the hip-hop mogul forced employees to work long hours and threatened to punish those who did not assist in his alleged two-decade sex trafficking scheme.
His upcoming trial is scheduled to begin May 5. The indictment follows numerous lawsuits and allegations of rape, sexual assault, physical abuse and similar claims over the course of three decades.
Earlier this month, prosecutors submitted a second superseding indictment, updating the amended indictment from January that added three unnamed women who were allegedly victims of his so-called sex trafficking enterprise, which claims Combs subjected employees to forced labor under inhumane circumstances.
After the judge dismissed the court, Combs looked back at his family, blew a kiss, put his hands to his chest and smiled before he was escorted out.
Daughter Chance Combs, son Christian “King” Combs and mother Janice Combs, who have been staunch in their support for the hip-hop mogul, were seated in the gallery and pictured arriving at and leaving the Manhattan courtroom. — Patrick Ryan and KiMi Robinson
As court adjourned for the day, Subramanian set the next pretrial conference for April 25. — Patrick Ryan
Mitzi Steiner, an assistant U.S. attorney, said the prosecution would file a letter — for attorneys’ eyes only — that would reveal the names of some of the witnesses and victims who are willing to testify against Combs.
“We want to protect the identities of these witnesses and victims,” Steiner told the judge. Some of them are “incredibly frightened” to have their identities revealed to the defense, she said, but the prosecution would produce a list of their names. The judge and both sides agreed to this. — Patrick Ryan
Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo said the defense recently came in possession of “a great deal of medical records,” some related to prescription medications. The defense team added that they’ll need an expert to “explain what they mean,” although Agnifilo did not detail the nature of the medical records. — Patrick Ryan
In the matter of the bombshell CNN video released last year that showed Combs physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel, Subramanian left the opposing parties to find middle ground as to whether it can be presented to jurors.
Agnifilo reiterated the claims his team brought forward in a letter to Subramanian filed Thursday. He called the video “deceptive” and “a misleading piece of evidence” as, they claim, it has “been changed.”
Agnifilo claimed that the footage was re-sequenced and sped up, and that it was run through an editing software, according to analysis from an expert who reviewed the video.
Steiner, the assistant U.S. attorney, said the CNN footage is “a key piece of evidence that (the defense is) trying to keep out” of trial.
Subramanian suggested that if the footage was indeed edited that perhaps it can be slowed back down, re-sequenced or otherwise changed back to its original state. If the defense still disagrees with the contents of the video or how it is presented, then Agnifilo can file a motion to have the material dismissed. — Patrick Ryan and KiMi Robinson
Subramanian determined that potential jurors could begin filling out questionnaires on April 28 before jury selection begins on May 5. Both sides aim to review roughly 300 jurors per day until a jury is assembled.
Opening statements are scheduled to begin May 12. Attorneys for both sides agreed with this scheduling decision.  — Patrick Ryan
This second superseding indictment was filed by prosecutors on March 6.
The 15-page document details the charges against the hip-hop mogul and is, for the most part, the same as the one filed on Sept. 12 and made public Sept. 17. The second superseding indictment, an update from the first amended indictment filed in January, showed how the government has continued to build its case against Combs over the past several months, as they are now adding the claim that he’d subjected employees to forced labor under inhumane circumstances. — KiMi Robinson
While interacting with the judge, Combs chose to stand and spoke briefly.
He said he was “fine” and answered that he was pleading “not guilty” to the new indictment, which prosecutors brought forward last week. — Patrick Ryan
When Combs walked into the courtroom Friday afternoon, he waved and blew a kiss to his family in the gallery. Sporting white hair and a matching beard and donning a tan jumpsuit, he had a smile on his face. Reporters in the courtroom could be heard commenting on his appearance, saying, “Oh my god” and “He looks terrible.” — Patrick Ryan
Earlier this week, lawyers came forward with allegations about a nearly decade-old video showing the music mogul physically assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, which plays a role in his criminal trial. 
Ventura’s Nov. 16, 2023, sex trafficking and sexual assault lawsuit, which the former couple settled for an undisclosed amount a day later, spurred an avalanche of civil lawsuits and allegations against the scandalized music mogul. –KiMi Robinson 
In a motion filed in New York Federal Court late last month, one of Combs’ lawyers, Anthony Ricco, notified the judge of his intent to withdraw, adding it had followed discussions with Combs’ lead counsel, Marc Agnifilo. 
“Although I have provided Sean Combs with the high level of legal representation expected by the court, under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs,” Ricco wrote. He declined to offer the specific details that led to the decision, citing attorney/client privilege in the filing. – Anna Kaufman 

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Upskilling in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science Helped 4 in 5 Professionals to Transition to New Roles, Finds Great Learning’s Career Progression Report – CXOToday.com

Upskilling in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science Helped 4 in 5 Professionals to Transition to New Roles, Finds Great Learning’s Career Progression Report – CXOToday.com




 
Great Learning, a global leader in higher education and professional training, has released its Career Progression Report 2024-25, offering an in-depth analysis of the long-term impact of upskilling on career growth. The report draws insights from a comprehensive survey of randomly selected 1,000 alumni from Great Learning’s AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning programs, covering professionals at various career stages, from early-career to senior leaders. It highlights how continuous learning drives sustained career advancement, helping professionals achieve leadership roles, salary increases, and greater employability.
80% of professionals experience a positive career shift post-upskilling in AI/ML and Data Science programs
 
The report further reinforces the impact of upskilling on advancing the careers of professionals across levels, with 80% reporting positive career shifts, including promotions, salary increases, or successful career transitions over time, post-upskilling in high-value domains like AI/ML and Data Science. Looking at a shorter time frame of 2 years post-upskilling, 74% of professionals received a promotion or transitioned to new roles, among which 69% successfully moved into new roles either within their current organization or with a new employer, while 31% reported significant enhancements in their existing roles.
Leadership Roles Double Post-Upskilling

The transformative impact of upskilling is evident in the career trajectory of professionals, with 2 in 3 moving up the career ladder. Many professionals who began as individual contributors have successfully transitioned into leadership or team management positions post upskilling.
The study also revealed that post upskilling, the number of professionals in leadership roles doubled, and team management positions grew by 80%. This growth reflects how acquiring skills in Data Science, AI, and ML is enabling professionals to transition into managerial and strategic leadership roles, empowering them to navigate and lead teams effectively in a technology-driven dynamic environment.
Professionals see an Average 65% Salary Hike Post Upskilling
 
The report found that professionals in the early stages of their careers, typically with 0-3 years of experience, are experiencing remarkable growth with an average salary hike of 139%. For professionals in their mid-career stages, with 3-8 years of experience, the increase remains substantial at 93%. Similarly, for mid-to-senior professionals, with 8-12 years of experience, the average salary hike received is around 50%, and for senior professionals with over 12 years of experience, the average is 41%.
 
Professionals want to stay relevant/transition careers among tech disruption: key motivators to upskill

Career transition emerged as a key motivator, with 60% of professionals pursuing upskilling to either shift into new roles or remain relevant in their fields. Among these, 65% were early- to mid-career professionals, using upskilling as a strategic path to better career outcomes. 22% of professionals pursued upskilling driven by a personal interest in emerging domains such as Data Science and AI. Only 13% of professionals upskilled to enhance salary potential, indicating a larger shift towards learners prioritising securing roles in high-demand domains over the allure of short-term salary hikes. These insights indicate that professionals are increasingly prioritizing career security and long-term growth over immediate salary hikes​.
 
 
 
 
Commenting on the report, Hari Krishnan Nair, Co-Founder of Great Learning, said, “Upskilling is a powerful tool for creating impactful career milestones and is no longer an alternative. It has enabled professionals to switch careers, get into managerial and leadership roles, and reap financial gains from their career growth. While short-term gains are important, the real benefit of upskilling compounds over time, turning professionals into experts and sought after industry leaders.
 
Learners who invested time and effort in upskilling in the last few years are the ones who will gain the most as hiring activity recovers. As businesses increasingly invest in AI across their businesses, professionals who upskill to drive this wave will be in high demand. The report’s findings are a testament to why professionals should take charge of their career growth and view upskilling not just as a choice but as a lifelong strategy for success.”
The study further reveals that investing in upskilling (particularly in high-growth domains like Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning) yields immediate practical benefits, with 72% of alumni actively applying their newly acquired skills in their current roles. Beyond technical capabilities, 82% of professionals reported increased confidence in navigating the evolving job market after completing their programs. As organizations prioritize digital transformation, professionals who upskilled two or three years ago are now reaping the benefits, positioning themselves as invaluable assets in a competitive job market.
 
About Great Learning
Great Learning is a leading global EdTech company for professional learning and higher education. It offers comprehensive, industry-relevant, hands-on learning programs across various business, technology, and interdisciplinary domains driving the digital economy. These programs are developed and offered in collaboration with the world’s foremost academic institutions in various formats, including certificate programs, diplomas and degrees. The Great Learning platform enables the highly qualified, world-class faculty at these universities, together with its vast network of 7600+ industry expert mentors, to deliver an unmatched learning experience for over 12 million learners from over 170 countries around the world.
CXOtoday is a premier resource on the world of IT, relevant to key business decision makers. We offer IT perspective & news to the C-suite audience. We also provide business and technology news to those who evaluate, invest, and manage the IT infrastructure of organizations. CXOtoday has a well-networked and strong community that encourages discussions on what’s happening in the world of IT and its impact on businesses.
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Lehigh Valley health policy student completes internship at Reading Hospital – Penn State University

Lehigh Valley health policy student completes internship at Reading Hospital – Penn State University

HPA major Aurianna Roche completed a summer internship at Reading Hospital/Tower Health this summer. The experience prepared her to enter the workforce after graduation in May. Credit: Aurianna Roche. All Rights Reserved.
March 18, 2025
By Sara Karnish
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Aurianna Roche, Penn State class of 2025 in health policy administration, is ready to walk across the stage at commencement and begin her career as a health care leader. 
Roche, who graduates this spring, chose Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) because the campus was close to her home in Allentown and offered both flexibility and a challenging HPA program, she said. 
“PSU-LV prepared me to be a health care leader,” Roche said. “It exceeded my expectations because of the opportunities it’s given to me.” 
She had high praise for Anita Yuskauskas, HPA program coordinator and assistant teaching professor, and Beth Greenberg, HPA program lecturer, who invited Roche to be part of a panel presentation at a Lehigh Valley Health Network Symposium in Hazleton. 
“Both Anita and Beth are very supportive. They both teach courses, so you really build that relationship with your advisor and internship coordinator,” Roche said. “Beth provided me with personal support and guidance when searching for an internship and checked in during my [internship] experience.”
The foundational skills Roche developed in her health policy administration (HPA) courses at Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) along with the real-world skills she honed through her internship at Reading Hospital/Tower Health have equipped her with the tools she will need to embark on her professional path, she said.
Roche found her Health Equity internship at Reading Hospital’s Community Health and Wellness department through Penn State Lehigh Valley’s internship database. The Community Health and Wellness department focuses on promoting the well-being of those who may have identified a certain social detriment of health need (SDoH), such as housing, food, transportation, electricity, and safety. As a health equity intern, Roche took the lead on the Diabetes Disparities Action Plan, completing 29 interception surveys from consumers who suffer from a diabetic condition or complication while forming relationships in the community. 
“It gave me the opportunity to establish relationship with those in need,” she said.
Roche’s internship strengthened her existing skills and helped build new ones in areas like marketing, public speaking, and strategic communications. Above all, she learned to be adaptable and think on her feet. 
“Working in a constantly evolving field, you have to be adaptable in different situations,” she said.
Courses like HPA 395 helped Roche prepare for the internship application process. 
“Other HPA courses including HPA 430 and 460 can enhance my overall knowledge of different strategies, interventions and skills pertaining to healthcare leadership and HR competencies within the United States; however, I believe that all of the HPA courses offered have been beneficial to my professional development,” she said.
After completing her internship, Roche is now looking ahead towards life post-graduation. Thanks to her experience at Reading Hospital, Roche said she plans to pursue a career in HR, public health, or as a practice administrator specializing in oncology or women’s health.
She strongly urged fellow PSU-LV students to complete an internship, regardless of major. 
“Internships will allow you to network and establish connections with leaders of organizations,” she said. 
Roche added that the skills she acquired will be invaluable in her public health career, as well.
“I can apply my educational background and experience from my internship at Tower Health to solve a variety of complex issues within the healthcare industry,” she said. “Furthermore, my internship has allowed me to gain additional skills to enhance my professional development pertaining to my future career within the healthcare field.”
Mary Kate Maguire
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4/17: The 2025 Hubie Jones Lecture in Urban Health with Michael Curry, Esq. – Boston University

4/17: The 2025 Hubie Jones Lecture in Urban Health with Michael Curry, Esq. – Boston University

Explore our top-ranked MSW degree, a fully-funded PhD program, and wide-ranging professional education options.
Do you want to drive social change? So do we. Join us as we tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges. Apply now.
Our world-class faculty and two research centers are at the forefront of social justice leadership and innovation.
Learn more about the countless opportunities to build connections, attend events, lead student groups, and join BU’s global network.
Join us at an upcoming event, earn continuing education credits, and explore the many ways you can support the future of BUSSW.
Are you a faculty or staff member? Agency partner? Looking for media contacts or Marketing & Communications resources? You’ve come to the right place.
Thursday, April 17, 2025
5:30–7:00 p.m. (ET)
Hybrid (BU Photonics Center & Zoom)
In-Person Location:
The Photonics Center, Colloquium Room (9th floor)
8 St. Mary’s St.
Boston, MA 02215
In this year’s Hubie Jones Lecture, Michael Curry, Esq., president & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, which represents 50 health centers that serve over one million patients at 285 practice sites across the Commonwealth, will discuss the lingering inequities in health — locally and nationally — as well as their origins, the efforts in Massachusetts to address them, and the threats presented by the recent shift in federal policy. The presentation will also feature an introduction to the Health Equity Compact, a collection of over 85 leaders of color in Massachusetts who are advancing a health equity agenda for the state, as well as the launch of the nation’s first primary care association-based Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation & Policy focused on emancipatory research.  
Boston University President Dr. Melissa Gilliam will open the event. Following the lecture, Professor Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, director of the Institute for Equity in Child Opportunity & Healthy Development at BUSSW, will join Curry for a moderated conversation and Q&A with the audience. A reception with refreshments will follow. 
1.5 free CE credits (pending) will be available to social workers licensed in the U.S. If you wish to receive CE credits, please provide your license number in the registration form. Event attendance and successful completion of a post-event quiz are required to receive credits.
Program:
5:30-7:00 pm l Presentation/Q&A (Hybrid)
7:00-8:00 pm l Reception (In-Person)
Accessibility
Boston University strives to be accessible, inclusive, and diverse in its facilities, programming, and academic offerings. Your experience in this event is important to us. If you have a disability (including but not limited to learning or attention, mental health, concussion, vision, mobility, hearing, physical, or other health-related issues), require communication access services for the deaf or hard of hearing, or believe that you require a reasonable accommodation for another reason, please contact the event organizer at bussw@bu.edu to discuss your needs.
About Michael Curry 
Curry brings over 35 years of experience and results in civil rights advocacy, health reform and health equity. Under his leadership, The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, which provides clinical, advocacy, workforce, data, legal and compliance support for its members, has thrived. Doubling in size over the last four years with over 100 staff, the organization secured the largest contract in the association’s history at over $300 million to administer the state’s provider loan repayment program, MA Repay, and launched the nation’s first Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation & Policy, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to promote and engage in community-driven research, evaluation, and public policy to achieve health equity.   
Among his many leadership positions, Curry held several significant roles during the COVID-19 pandemic including co-chair of the legislatively created Health Equity Task Force and serving on the Vaccine Working Group, the Department of Public Health’s Health Equity Advisory Group, the City of Boston’s Health Inequity Task Force, and the City of Brockton’s Social Justice Task Force. The experiences led him to co-launch the Health Equity Compact, a collection of over 85 c-suite leaders of color aimed at driving health equity reform in Massachusetts.  He is a graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., New England Law Boston, and the inaugural class of the Executive Leadership Council’s Pipeline to Leadership Program. 
About the Moderator 
Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, PhD is a professor of Human Behavior, Research, & Policy at BUSSW and director of the Institute for Equity in Child Opportunity & Healthy Development (IECOHD). Her research focuses on the social determinants of racial/ethnic inequities in health (e.g. residential segregation, neighborhood inequality, immigrant adaptation); the role of social policies in reducing those inequities (e.g. housing, anti-poverty, immigrant policies); and the well-being of children with special needs. She received her BA in Public Administration from El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City and her MPA-URP and PhD in Public Policy with a concentration in Demography from the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. 
About Hubie Jones
Hubie Jones (SSW’57), dean emeritus and the School of Social Work dean from 1977 to 1993 helped shape Boston’s civic landscape for over forty-five years and has been integral in numerous community organizations within Boston’s African American population and throughout all Boston neighborhoods.
As associate and executive director at Roxbury Multi-Service Center in 1967, his Task Force on Children Out of School (now Massachusetts Advocacy Center) published the report The Way We Go to School: The Exclusion of Children in Boston, which led to the first-in-the-nation enactment of two landmark laws that focused on special education and bi-lingual education.
In 2010, Jones received the Purpose Prize, a national prize awarded to select individuals over 60 carrying out encore careers and using their skills and experience to make a difference in their communities and the nation.
About the Hubie Jones Lecture in Urban Health
The Hubie Jones Lecture in Urban Health, established in 2012 by an anonymous donor to honor the vision of Hubie Jones, is an annual symposium that addresses vexing health issues, featuring national and international leaders at the intersection of health and social justice.
Alumni and friends are encouraged to continue Hubie’s legacy through donations to the Hubie Jones Fund for Urban Social Work Practice. Your support will fund scholarships that help deserving students pursue an MSW degree, as well as research and programs in service of the BU School of Social Work’s urban mission. To donate, please click here.
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Luigi Mangione, man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO, has case postponed – WBAL Radio

Luigi Mangione, man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO, has case postponed – WBAL Radio

The Towson native accused of fatally shooting the UnitedHealthcare CEO will not appear in court this week.
Luigi Mangione was supposed to appear in a Manhattan federal court Wednesday. However, court records show his case has been postponed until April 18.
Mangione last appeared in federal court on Feb. 21. No reason was immediately provided for the docket change.
Mangione is accused of shooting Brian Thompson on Dec. 4 outside a Manhattan hotel where he was walking to an investor conference.
Mangione faces separate prosecutions. Two in New York, one for state murder charges and another for federal charges, including terrorism. He also faces prosecution in Pennsylvania.
Defense attorneys for Mangione said his rights were violated by Altoona police in Pennsylvania. They claimed that the search and arrest at the restaurant were illegal.
Stay connected with the most up-to-date coverage of the stories that matter. Tune in to WBAL NewsRadio for real-time updates and in-depth analysis. Listen at 1090AM, FM 101.5, wbal.com, or through the WBAL NewsRadio app. Stay informed, stay ahead.
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Resilience Differences Among Health Professionals: Examining the Impact of Body Image Appreciation – Cureus

Resilience Differences Among Health Professionals: Examining the Impact of Body Image Appreciation – Cureus

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Dedicated Cranial Radiosurgery: Clinical Experience with New & Innovative SRS Technologies
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With No Arabica or Robusta, the Excelsa Cafe Opens in San Diego – Daily Coffee News

With No Arabica or Robusta, the Excelsa Cafe Opens in San Diego – Daily Coffee News

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Howard Bryman | March 18, 2025
At the Excelsa Cafe in Ocean Beach, San Diego. All images courtesy of Excelsa Coffee Company.
While most specialty coffee shops promote their rarefied high-end arabica coffees, a new coffee business in San Diego called Excelsa Coffee Company is promoting a separate species altogether. 
The company just opened the Excelsa Cafe in the heart of Ocean Beach, offering tastes of excelsa coffee, a variety of the liberica coffee species that — unlike arabica or robusta — has not been widely commercialized in the United States. 
The cafe is the latest in a series of excelsa awareness initiatives undertaken by the San Diego company. In addition to brewing freshly roasted excelsa, the company is cultivating excelsa plants through its own farm in Nicaragua, while creating a nonprofit global network for excelsa production. 
Like the commercialization of excelsa itself, the new coffee bar is being presented as something of a work in progress. 
Excelsa cafe inside
On the one dry-walled area of its stud-bare walls, photos show scenes of excelsa production and processing on coffee farms. From the opposite wall and under exposed wooden rafters, jute coffee sacks hang. In the center of the 350-square-foot room stands the coffee counter, where hot and cold brews are served.
“Think of stepping into a palapa hut in Nicaragua, to be at the very source of something special and original,” Excelsa Coffee Co-Founder Olin Patterson told Daily Coffee News. “The Excelsa Cafe is unfinished because the story of the bean is unfinished, and it is up to the customer to be a part of the story in telling us how to bring the excelsa bean to the world.”
Hot and cold-brewed excelsa coffees are prepared on site with a Ground Control brewing system after roasting in Los Angeles by Ron Dizon, founder of Teofilo Coffee.
Excelsa coffee cold brew
“In a side-by-side comparison, generally speaking, we find that excelsa coffee has a very distinct flavor profile,” Patterson told DCN. “It has little to no bitterness. It is likely to have lower caffeine, naturally. It is likely to be naturally harvested and cultivated, and to have a complex flavor profile, including being bright, tart and fruity.”
Excelsa Coffee’s current retail offerings online and at the San Diego shop are sourced from producers in Vietnam and the Philippines. The approximately 1,700 excelsa coffee trees on the company’s own farm in Nicaragua are not yet mature. The company also plans to eventually source coffee from South Sudan. 
“Vietnam and Philippines both provide sufficient inventory for us at the moment and we have worked closely with both supplier farms to have a quality of beans that we are confident are worthy of going to market, and the quality will only improve,” Patterson said. 
Excelsa (known as Coffea excelsa or Coffea liberica var. dewevre) has shown greater resistance to heat and drought thanks to its relatively strong roots, wide trunk and thick leaves. These attributes make it suitable for growing in areas not suitable for robusta and arabica, which combined represent more than 99% of the world’s commercialized coffee. Excelsa also has proven more resistant to pests and common plant diseases.
Excelsa Coffee
The variety grows natively in South Sudan, Central African Republic, Uganda and other African countries, while commercial cultivation occurs mainly in Indonesia, India and Vietnam.
“We found meaningful sources of excelsa in Southeast Asia and Africa, but wanted to see if it could grow successfully in the Americas, both to provide a viable opportunity for farmers and to be able to source coffee closer to the USA market,” said Patterson.
A consumer packaged goods expert who has been involved in ingredients sourcing for a number of specialty foods, Patterson co-founded Excelsa Coffee in 2023 with Michael Mazzotta, a business and real estate professional who first tried excelsa more than a decade ago and was intrigued by its potential as a lower-caffeine and resilient alternative to traditional coffees. 
“We formed the company after realizing this bean could provide a viable way for farmers around the world to grow a sustainable crop, and to fill a gap in the consumer market for a lower caffeinated, bitterness-free, bright flavored, full front-to-back palate cup of coffee,” Patterson said. “We began sourcing it together, including launching our own farm in Nicaragua to help provide research and resources for other farmers who wanted to grow excelsa.”
Excelsa coffee OB san diego
Last year the team launched the International Excelsa Coffee Organization (IECO), a nonprofit for information and resources such as DNA fingerprinting, sensory analysis and research, species validation and farm accreditation.
As the organization grows, general managers will be appointed to oversee membership and observe best practices in each country and then share these insights on the website in support of farmers everywhere, the group said. 
“We cannot find established protocols for growing excelsa, so our efforts with the IECO is to establish protocols and guidelines on a grassroots level to support the growth of the excelsa industry,” said Patterson. “We are near breaking ground on new farms with new leadership in other countries like Brazil, USA, Honduras and Ethiopia.”
At the San Diego cafe, Patterson said, success will be measured more by growing awareness and appreciation than in dollars and cents.
“Our cafe is not intended to be an economic driver for our business, but a research and development lab to give us real time feedback from the customer,” Patterson said. “Come visit us, and we will intentionally try to take 40 minutes of your time sharing about the excelsa bean.”
Excelsa Cafe is located at 1855 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. in San Diego. Comments? Questions? News to share? Contact DCN’s editors here. For all the latest coffee industry news, subscribe to the DCN newsletter
Howard Bryman
Howard Bryman is the associate editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. He is based in Portland, Oregon.
Tags: California, excelsa, Excelsa Coffee Company, International Excelsa Coffee Organization, liberica, Michael Mazzotta, Ocean Beach, Olin Patterson, Ron Dizon, San Diego, Teofilo Coffee, varieties
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