Several alumni contributed articles to the January/February 2021 Christian Leader (the U.S. Mennonite Brethren magazine) in an issue on racism in the MB church and its institutions:
- Dina Gonzalez-Pina (MA ’98, BA ‘90) former FPU assistant dean of multicultural ministries and now director of West Coast Mennonite Central Committee (MCC): “An Invitation to Understand Racism.”
- Mike Rea (BA ’03), learning coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee: “A Mennonite Tesserae.” The subject is the growing diversity of the U.S. MB church and the challenges of being an MB person of color in the midst of a white MB church culture.
- Mark Isaac (SEM ’93), former vice president at advancement at FPU and senior staff member at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and now pastor at New Life Community Church (Dinuba MB): “She’s Difficult.” The article is about coming to terms with the part he played in a situation at FPU that perpetuated systemic racism.
- Darren Duerksen (SEM ’02), Ph.D., associate professor of intercultural and religious studies: “God’s Blessing or White Privilege?” He looks at his ongoing journey learning about his and his white MB church’s privilege.
See the entire magazine at christianleadermag.com/
Todd Tremper (FS ’03) is a literacy tutor at Monrovia Public Library in Southern California.
Matthew Crater (MA ’12) was selected as athletic director for Moorpark College in Moorpark, CA. Previously Matthew served as athletic support coordinator, assistant head football coach and kinesiology instructor at College of the Canyons. He has worked in college athletics for 15 years.
Charlene Klassen Endrizzi (MA ’87, BA ’78), a professor of education at Westminster College, Wilmington, PA, is featured in a January 22 article in the college newspaper, “Preservice teachers use ‘hidden stories’ to connect with students.” wcn247.com/holcad_and_campus/our_campus/preservice-teachers-use-hidden-stories-to-connect-with-students/article_69484b7c-5cd3-11eb-95fb-0ff319f86fe1.html