On July 24 the Center of Multicultural Initiatives (CMI) hosted the C.O.R.E. (collectively Oakland Retains Everyone) reception at the Northwest Activities Center in Detroit. The reception provided keen insight about the CMI office and OU community for incoming Detroit area freshman and their parents. The reception featured great food, warm welcomes from OU officials, presentation from CMI Director Omar Brown-El, with breakout sessions for students and parents.
Five OU alums from ’76 to ’08 served the university as Alumni Admissions Ambassadors. Alexis Hosey, CAS ’08, Jonathan Parks, CAS ’05 ’08, Stefen Welch, CAS ’05, Napoleon Harrington, SEHS ’02 ’04, and Jonathan Crawford SEHS ’76 engaged admitted students and parents. These ambassadors conversed with students and parents over a meal and provided critical insights during a Q&A alumni panel session.
Parks, the Coordinator for Pre-College Programs at Oakland University, was the first African American Student body president at Oakland – serving back-to-back terms in 2004 and 2005. “As an Ambassador, it was great to share the value of Oakland to students and parents from my community,” stated Parks, a Detroit DE Porres High School grad. Parks spoke to these future students about the importance of forming a support system with fellow on-campus students. He also encouraged interactions with campus resources such as professors, the CMI office, the academic resource center, and OU alumni and staff members.
Another story told that evening was one from Crawford, a 1952 high school grad graduated from Oakland University at the age of 42. A retired Detroit Public School principal at Joy Middle School and Eastside Academy, Crawford spoke with students about overcoming adversity. Commuting everyday from Detroit, Crawford worked three jobs, raised four children as a single parent, made the Men’s Basketball team (as the oldest player in the NCAA) ~ all while earning his undergraduate OU degree! Crawford’s perseverance and passion make for a lively testimony. Living in a school district that graduates 20% of African American males, Jonathan Crawford is a successful mentor for kids. Crawford’s exciting engagement with the AAAP helps connect with and recruit young men and women to Oakland University, a community collectively committed to retaining everyone.