Daily Lumina News 061720

Like other crises—both World Wars, the Great Depression, 9/11—the coronavirus has revealed the fragility of people, industries, and institutions. It also presents an opportunity to build a more resilient and fairer society.
Experts from the University of California, Berkeley were recently asked a series of questions on the lessons learned from COVID-19. What old values do we need to jettison? What new ones should we cultivate? What matters most, and what should we focus on? Here’s what they had to say.

For Newark’s class of 2020, senior year was memorable—but not in the way they expected.
The coronavirus pandemic forced them to spend the final months of their K-12 careers in quarantine, with text messages replacing the banter in hallways and cafeterias, and bedrooms standing in for classrooms.
The disruptions could have stopped the class of 2020 in its tracks. Instead, students took their finals, committed to colleges, and pressed on. Four students share their stories of persistence and achievement.

For Nicole Spriggs-Moye and thousands of other incoming college students, reality is setting in that college will be very different in the time of COVID-19.
Experts say the pandemic will encourage many students to reflect on whether a pared-back campus experience is worth the high cost of college, especially when unemployment is at a record high and many families are struggling financially.

Now more than ever, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) play a vital role in America. On June 25, in an online forum, three HBCU presidents will discuss student success initiatives, their response to COVID-19, and the quest for racial justice and equity in society.
Lumina Foundation’s Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Dr. Danette Howard will moderate the discussion.