Key Initiatives Foster Diversity<strong>and</strong> Healthy RelationshipsThe Urban InitiativeThe Urban Initiative was established to facilitate the development <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essionals to better serve under-resourcedcommunities. Training includes cultivating cross-cultural competencies <strong>and</strong> leadership potential, promoted through the GSEPDiversity Council’s biannual Multicultural Issues Impacting Community Speaker Series. The series provides a forum forrepresentatives <strong>of</strong> varied backgrounds <strong>and</strong> views to discuss topical <strong>and</strong> ongoing issues affecting the fields <strong>of</strong> education <strong>and</strong>mental health <strong>and</strong> the communities they touch.This year GSEP hosted forums: “Bridging the Divide: Shifting Demographics in Los Angeles,” on November 4, <strong>2009</strong>; “SocialJustice, Faith, <strong>and</strong> the Pepperdine Community” on February 17, <strong>2010</strong> in honor <strong>of</strong> Black History Month, <strong>and</strong> “InspirationalJourneys: Preparing Women for Lives <strong>of</strong> Purpose, Service, <strong>and</strong> Leadership,” on June 9, <strong>2010</strong>. All took place at the West LosAngeles <strong>Graduate</strong> Campus.“Bridging the Divide, Shifting Demographics in Los Angeles,” covered the ways in which the evolving composition <strong>of</strong> LosAngeles’ communities has impacted relationships between populations <strong>and</strong> the city’s social <strong>and</strong> economic development. Dr.Anthony Collatos, assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> education, directed the discussion with maps <strong>and</strong> an overview <strong>of</strong> demographics inLos Angeles beginning in the 1940’s. He then tracked the migration <strong>of</strong> different ethnic groups throughout the city. Collatosbrought the group to present day, at which time panel members Mary Johnson, chair <strong>of</strong> the Urban Parent Teacher <strong>Education</strong>Collaborative, <strong>and</strong> Dr. Donald Grant, pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> psychology; shared their personal accounts.Panelists for “Social Justice, Faith, <strong>and</strong> the Pepperdine Community” included Dr. Erylene Piper M<strong>and</strong>y, a former adjunctpr<strong>of</strong>essor at GSEP <strong>and</strong> the president <strong>and</strong> CEO <strong>of</strong> the Center for Cross Cultural Competence, <strong>and</strong> Dr. Louis Jenkins (MA ’70),a department chair <strong>and</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> psychology at the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> Science <strong>and</strong> Technology at Loma Linda University <strong>and</strong> aGSEP Distinguished Alumnus. Dr. Spring Cooke (BS ’01, MA ’02), visiting pr<strong>of</strong>essor in the <strong>Education</strong> Division, moderated thediscussion on social justice challenges from a historical <strong>and</strong> contemporary perspective, which was followed by a reception.Attendees gained a fuller appreciation <strong>of</strong> the importance <strong>of</strong> considering social justice, faith, <strong>and</strong> cultural context as educatorsor psychological practitioners.“Inspirational Journeys: Preparing Women for Lives <strong>of</strong> Purpose, Service, <strong>and</strong> Leadership” addressed the notion that the “glassceiling” is no longer an accurate metaphor for the limits women face. A better descriptor is a labyrinth—several paths leadingto varied destinations. Speakers included Dean Margaret Weber; Tabatha Jones Jolivet (BA ’97, MS ’03), associate dean <strong>of</strong>student affairs at Seaver College; <strong>and</strong> Monica Garcia, president <strong>of</strong> the board <strong>of</strong> the Los Angeles Unified <strong>School</strong> District, thesecond-largest school district in the nation. Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis, associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> psychology, moderated.
The Boone Center for the FamilyThe Boone Center for the Family (BCFF) fosters the development <strong>of</strong> healthy relationships through a variety <strong>of</strong> initiatives <strong>and</strong>events. Key outreach this year included Relationship Week from October 5 through 9, the sixth annual Savvy Chic fashionshow fundraiser on November 12, the first “A Night for the Family” on March 1, <strong>and</strong> the second annual Family <strong>of</strong> Faith NetworkConference from June 10 through 12. Relationship Week, A Night for the Family, <strong>and</strong> the Family <strong>of</strong> Faith Network Conference alltook place at the Malibu campus. SavvyChic was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel.Coordinated as a part <strong>of</strong> the Family Relationship IQ Project <strong>and</strong> the new Pepperdine Dating Initiative, Relationship Weekincluded presentations on forming healthy dating relationships, healthy sexuality, God’s relational creation, <strong>and</strong> celebratinggender differences. The programs focused on students’ development <strong>of</strong> a positive self-image, underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> each other, <strong>and</strong>ability to be a supportive partner to their significant other.SavvyChic followed in November, honoring mothers with the theme “Mothers <strong>and</strong> Others: Celebrating Women Who Shape OurLives.” Developed by the Friends <strong>of</strong> the Family League, the event promotes elements that enrich a woman’s life: family-centeredvalues, healthy habits that enhance the beauty within, <strong>and</strong> a strong sense <strong>of</strong> self that can be confidently projected through style<strong>and</strong> fashion.A Night for the Family encouraged the 65 attendees to consider the personal legacy they are leaving to future generations,<strong>and</strong> to celebrate the creative programming conducted by BCFF. Pepperdine University President Andrew Benton, Dean Weber,<strong>and</strong> BCFF’s namesake, Pat <strong>and</strong> Shirley Boone, were in attendance. The new chairs <strong>of</strong> the BCFF Advisory Board, Dr. Bill <strong>and</strong>Stephanie Beazley, were also introduced.The program continued with a presentation on the Relationship IQ Initiative, which informs students on relationship issues <strong>and</strong>equips them to develop <strong>and</strong> maintain healthy relationships, <strong>and</strong> on BCFF’s Fatherhood Initiative. Jack Hardcastle, president<strong>of</strong> the National Association <strong>of</strong> Family Ministries, talked about his organization’s partnership with BCFF to maximize the number<strong>of</strong> individuals who can be reached through a combined effort, <strong>and</strong> Grant Goodvin, founder <strong>of</strong> the Family Legacy ConsultantGroup, shared how the BCFF’s foray into the arena <strong>of</strong> family business succession was going to be a tremendous asset in thisdeveloping field. The evening concluded with Rabbi Eliyahu Fink giving an address on effective parenting. Fink recognizedBCFF’s contribution to fathering literature as important <strong>and</strong> vital to families, <strong>and</strong> stated that the true test <strong>of</strong> effective parentingis best measured by grown children emulating their parents with their gr<strong>and</strong>children.The theme for this year’s Family <strong>of</strong> Faith Network Conference was “Sacred Households: Building Authentic Faith in Families”The forum, designed for church leaders such as ministers <strong>and</strong> lay leaders responsible for strengthening families through thelocal church, equipped the 130 attendees with new techniques, disciplines, <strong>and</strong> rituals designed to set families on the path todeveloping faith. In addition, attendees heard from leaders in the fields <strong>of</strong> family <strong>and</strong> marriage ministry, including Mark Holmen,leader <strong>of</strong> the Faith@Home movement, <strong>and</strong> Francis Chan, author <strong>of</strong> Crazy Love. Setting the theme <strong>and</strong> tone for the conference,both speakers shared the importance <strong>of</strong> authentic faith as a prerequisite for parents passing on faith through the generations.Other speakers included Ron Deal, president <strong>of</strong> As for Me <strong>and</strong> My House Ministries, parent ministry <strong>of</strong> Successful Stepfamilies,who spoke on addressing the needs <strong>of</strong> the growing stepfamily population; Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, founder <strong>of</strong> Love <strong>and</strong> RespectMinistries, who, along with his daughter, Joy Eggerichs, shared “The Four Wills <strong>of</strong> God for Marriage <strong>and</strong> Singles;” Joneal Kirby,director <strong>of</strong> the women’s mentoring ministry, Heart to Home, who emphasized the importance <strong>of</strong> following the edict in Titus2 that older women mentor younger women; <strong>and</strong> Michael Sytsma, president <strong>of</strong> Building Intimate Marriages <strong>and</strong> a licensedtherapist who shared insight into “Cultivating Sexually Healthy Churches.”Each workshop was both a presentation <strong>of</strong> material from a leading expert <strong>and</strong> a discussion among the leaders <strong>and</strong> ministersin the audience. Topics included the theology <strong>of</strong> sex, the needs <strong>of</strong> the growing population <strong>of</strong> singles in the church, being afamily in the “fishbowl” <strong>of</strong> ministry, experiencing humility in marriage <strong>and</strong> family, <strong>and</strong> applying current research to the church<strong>and</strong> family ministry. Two speakers received especially glowing comments: Norm Wright, for his presentation <strong>of</strong> his work on griefthrough the family life cycle; <strong>and</strong> Susan Giboney (BA ’62), who gave presentations on gr<strong>and</strong>parenting <strong>and</strong> spiritual developmentin families.Under the leadership <strong>of</strong> BCFF executive director Dr. Ken Canfield, <strong>and</strong> with the support <strong>of</strong> members <strong>of</strong> the BCFF AdvisoryBoard, faculty <strong>and</strong> staff from Pepperdine University <strong>and</strong> GSEP, <strong>and</strong> many partners in ministry, the conferencegathered the best speakers, ministers, lay leaders, <strong>and</strong> congregants seeking to infuse their churches <strong>and</strong>ministries with the finest programming <strong>and</strong> resources available.p [ 17 ]