A Safe Space | May 2022

Published May 6, 2022 By William Ratliff

Adam gray headshot Dear Amarillo College faculty and staff,

A quick personal thing about me – our youngest child, our son, is graduating from high school this month and heading off to college in Abilene, TX in August. While we’re obviously excited for him, right now is a busier, more stressful season that comes with the ending of the semester and of a season of life. We have a chock-full schedule, a checking account that is draining more quickly, lots of hosting and gathering, and a LONG list of things to do.

When I’m in a season like this, I find myself putting these emotional markers out there, saying things internally like ‘If we can just get through graduation…’, or ‘Things will calm down once we move him to college.’ I think it’s natural to look at these hills that we’re climbing and to think that getting over this one and on the downhill side will feel so much better and will give us the emotional boost that we need to keep going until that marker comes. ‘If I can get to the end of the semester…’, ‘Once I can get to retirement…’, etc.

I wonder if this is part of the struggle with continuing to navigate the world we currently live in — pandemic, political gridlock, national and international crises — situations that do not have a clear end in sight. We want so badly to be done and for things ‘to go back to normal.’ And this big question mark that is still out there continues to take a mental toll on us: we’re running a marathon, we’ve hit the wall (a familiar runner’s term), but where is the finish line? Again, we’re trying to put an emotional marker out there, and we really can’t with all of this.

I am an Adam Grant fan. One of his recent quotes says, “The ‘arrival fallacy’ is the illusion that joy lies at a destination ahead. Achieving a goal is not like walking through a portal. You don’t magically become happier when you graduate, get promoted, or win an award. The best way to improve your well-being is to change your path.” This is a helpful reminder that our overall health and wellness may be predicated more by our habits and practice than if or when we ‘arrive’ at something, whether it is a welcomed, positive success or a difficulty that’s alleviated like the pandemic.

There’s actually some really good news here because it is our practice that is the one and only thing that we can control anyway. The hard but needed gift of the past couple of years is that it lifted the illusion of control that we mostly lived under. We certainly can’t control most of the big things of the world, but neither can we control others nor many of the outcomes of life. What we can control is how we take care of ourselves, the ways we begin and end the day, how we choose to respond to people and circumstances, how we curate our media, how we make time for silence and rest, how we invest in meaningful work and in relationships with family and friends, and how we serve and bless others.

So, think about a healthy practice that you could include and guard in your life. Or conversely, is there a less-than-healthy habit that you could release or transform into a healthy one? Let’s clarify and be attentive to our practice. And let’s trust the wisdom of playing the long game that we will live well and that things will be OK – beyond whatever circumstances we find ourselves in – because of how we choose to practice life today.

Congratulations on the conclusion of the Spring semester, and I hope that summer is restful and renewing for you and your family.

Adam Gray

PS — I will continue to be at all campuses throughout the summer and am always available if there is anything that I can do for you.

chaplain@actx.edu
(806) 282-5263
www.innerwellservices.com

Global Employee Fitness Month

Published May 4, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

May is Global Employee Fitness Month, and we want to help you on the road to staying fit!

Did you know that as an AC Family member you have access to some seriously great fitness benefits? Check out the resources available to you through AC, as well as some other great options for everyone in the Amarillo/Canyon area.

Carter Fitness Center

Even though Carter Fitness Center is closed for remodeling presently, we still have "Anytime Carter" available in the old *Bible Chair of the Southwest building attached to Parking Lot 3. There are some free weights, mats, and standard fitness equipment available for use any time, day or night. To get access to the facility, contact Craig Clifton at cbclifton@actx.edu. *(See map below for location)

Map

Continuing Ed Courses

With AC's Employee Scholarship, you have access to some great active classes *tuition-free through the Continuing Education department. Here are some great options being offered this summer:

*Note: tuition is free to all staff and faculty but fees and some course restrictions may apply.

Activities at Palo Duro Canyon

Along with horseback rides, camping, and some great hiking trails, Palo Duro Canyon offers fun events within the park each month. This month's events are listed below:

May 12th @ 3 pm: A Slice of Palo Duro Pie - Learn about the geology that makes up each slice of Palo Duro Canyon in this short hike
May 15th @ 8 pm: Flower Moon Hike (Registration Required) - Experience the rising of May's Flower Moon in this full moon hike
May 19th @ 9 am: A Slice of Palo Duro Pie - Learn about the geology that makes up each slice of Palo Duro Canyon in this short hike
May 14th, 20th - 21st, & 27th - 28th @ 9 pm: Walking with Spiders - Bring a flashlight and join in searching for Wolf Spiders along the trail in this evening hike

Other Outdoor Recreation Options

If you enjoy cycling and riding around bike trails, there are a few great free options available in the area.

If you're in Canyon, or you don't mind driving out that way, check out Canyon Trails at Buffalo Hill. It's an open space park with 5 + miles of single-track trails. You can also hike or jog in the area if that's more your speed. They are located at 6382 Buffalo Stadium Rd, Canyon, TX 79015. For trail updates and upcoming events, visit their Facebook page.

In Amarillo, you can go to the 9th St BMX & Mountain Biking trails at 7000 SW 9th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79106 (they're over near Medi-Park and West Campus). This trail area was established in 2000 and has 6 + miles of multi-track trails available not only for bikes, but hiking and running as well. For more information about available trails, visit their Trailforks page, and for all other updates on events and trail maintenance, visit their Facebook page.

If you're not into cycling or mountain biking, but you'd still like to get out and hike around in nature, you (and your puppy companion if you so choose) can take a trip out to Wildcat Bluff Nature Center.

Wildcat Bluff Nature Center is located just 3 miles north of I-40 at 2301 N Soncy, Amarillo, TX 79124. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children over 3 and adults over 60. They also offer memberships for unlimited visits year-round. They boast 640 acres of open space, including 5 miles of trails, 5 acres of paved and accessible paths, a section of the Gregg-Marcy Santa Fe Trail, Panhandle prehistory dig pit, the Gilvin Science Education Center, and so much more. There's a little bit of everything for the entire family out at Wildcat Bluff. For more information, visit their website and trail map page.

Who's New in the AC Family?

Published May 4, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

Hello Badgers! Please welcome your new fellow AC Family members to the team.

April

First Name	Last Name	Position
Terry	Barber	PT Staff Assistant, Child Care Clinic
Rusty	Bodey	Groundskeeper, Grounds Maintenance
Kevin	Cheek	Coordinator Employee Relations, HSI Stem 22-27
Andrew	Gonzales	Student Worker, Academic Success Center - West
Brianna	Grover	Student Worker, Underground
Justin	Harris	Groundskeeper, Grounds Maintenance
Daphne	Hodge-Cooksey	Student Worker, Underground
Lindsey	Hoyle	Professional Tutor, Success Center
Christopher	Jackson	Supplemental Instructor, Emergency Medical Serv Prof
Samuel	Martinez	Student Worker, Math Sciences and Engineering
Hope	Mccollum	Student Worker, Success Center - Writer's Corner
Leslie	Nimmo	Customer Service Specialist, Customer Services
Michael	Robel	Student Worker, Success Center - Writer's Corner
Byron	Rogers	Night Custodian, Custodial Services
Roberto	Roque	Professional Tutor, Success Center
Emmaleigh	Saucedo	PT Teacher, Personal Enrichment
Drew	Smith	PT Teacher, Personal Enrichment
Brian	Veach	Supplemental Instructor, Emergency Medical Serv Prof
Reese	Wells	PT Teacher, Personal Enrichment
McKenna	Wheatley	Student Worker, Success Center - Writer's Corner
Emily	Williams	PT Teacher, Personal Enrichment

Department Spotlight | AC Physical Plant

Published March 29, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

Get to know the team in charge of keeping AC beautiful!

April is Keep America Beautiful month and in the spirit of this theme, we would like to introduce you to the Physical Plant. They are in charge of keeping all our campuses beautiful and running smoothly.

The Amarillo College Physical Plant is a service-oriented department that serves the students and all AC Family through planning, construction, design, renovation, operation, and maintenance of the Amarillo College facilities and grounds in a responsive, professional and courteous manner. The quality of our service and customer experience is our department's number one motivator. Our people are our most important asset. We are blessed to have a team of professionals who truly care about Amarillo College.

The Physical Plant's Five Areas of Service

Facilities Maintenance and Operations
Custodial Services
Grounds and Roads
Special Projects and Events Services
East Campus Rental Housing and Maintenance Department

Services Provided on Campus

Maintenance of facility records, blueprints, and drafting documentation
Refuse collection
Vehicle maintenance and fleet management
Environmental safety
Energy and HVAC management
Key requests and management (including locksmith and lock/unlock of facilities)
Campus-wide maintenance work order system
Door signage

The College also provides facility space and building maintenance for the community in partnership with the Amarillo Museum of Art (AMOA), Amarillo Opera, Amarillo Adult Literacy Center, and the Natural History Museum. All of the same services previously mentioned above are provided at these locations as well.

Clean and Safe

During the pandemic, our attention remained on providing safe and healthy facilities. Our staff were able to focus on implementing and expanding sanitization protocols, by providing new tools and methods to clean campus spaces. This continues to be part of our daily routine.

Contact Us

Physical Plant personnel are available seven days a week to provide a pleasant, safe, and comfortable learning and working environment for students, staff, and the community. For assistance, please call 806-345-5560 or you can reach our Team Leaders at:

Jim Baca – Director of Physical Plant
jimbaca@actx.edu
806-345-5561

Cynthia Terry – Executive Secretary
caeason22@actx.edu
806-345-5557

Kevin Moore – Superintendent of Maintenance and Operations
kjmoore@actx.edu
806-345-5567

Efrain Rios – Superintendent of Custodial Services
erios28@actx.edu
806-345-5565

Tommy Hickman – Superintendent of Grounds and Roads
t0389041@actx.edu
806-345-5588

Nora Moore – Property Manager EC Housing
nlmoore@actx.edu
806-335-4247

Blog post written by Cynthia Terry, Physical Plant Executive Secretary

Mental Health Resource Guide

Published May 9, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month so we wanted to provide you with a list of resources to help you along your mental health journey.

AC Employee Resources

Employee Chaplain Program

Chaplain Adam Gray has a weekly presence on AC campuses and is available for one-on-one sessions during the workday or after hours (as requested). From time to time he also offers webinars and workshops on self-care and other personal and professional topics. You can also find several blog posts written by him on mental health and general wellbeing. View this month's edition of A Safe Space.

Therapy Assistance Online

TAO allows you to get effective treatment in your own environment on your own schedule. It's free to all employees by following the signup instructions on this page. Once you've signed up, you'll fill out an anonymous self-screening assessment that will ask you a few questions about common problems, then provide you with feedback about which modules may be most helpful for you. The TAO app is available for iOS and Android.

Employee Assistance Program

All benefits eligible employees have access to 3 free counseling sessions with the Professional Counseling and Biofeedback Center. For more information about the Employee Assistance Program, reach out to the HR Department at humanresources@actx.edu or (806) 371-5040. For more information about PCBC, please visit their website.

Monday Self-Care Mini Sessions

Panhandle Behavioral Health Alliance is offering mini sessions of self-care topics on Mondays, starting at 12:30 pm. Join them for a 30-minute (max) weekly group activity and resource sharing via Zoom or a hybrid format. Availables sessions are the following:

May 16th Zoom: Physical Exercise/Walk Across TX with Lizabeth Gresham
May 23rd Zoom: Managing Bad Habits & Reestablishing Healthy Habits with Linda Dailey, LCDC
June 6th Hybrid: Resiliency with Lesley Webb, M.Ed., LPC

Register at https://rebrand.ly/SelfCare22

Download: Self Care Sessions flyer

Financial Literacy Month

Published April 13, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

Debt does not have to be a never-ending cycle. There are people who live debt-free lives comfortably, and even if we take on debt for a car, home, or education we do not have to stay in debt.

In this video, we begin to unpack how credit works, how to pay off debt responsibly, and form healthy financial habits along the way.

Written by Colten Hibbs, Financial Educator & Staff Writer with Education Credit Union

Women's History Month: AC's Leading Ladies

Published March 7, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

Get to know AC's female VPs and Associate VPs!

In honor of Women's History Month, we'd like to introduce you to some of the talented women leading the charge here at Amarillo College.

Cara Crowley, VP of Strategic Initiatives

Cara Crowley started with Amarillo College in 2008 as Director of Grants, became the President's Chief of Staff in 2014, and was promoted to VP of Strategic Initiatives in 2018. Through this role, she has been able to share the AC Story with colleagues in higher education across the nation. "Each time I get the to tell the inspiring work of our faculty and staff, it reminds me why I love this college and our deep commitment to students." In her free time, Cara likes to play golf and travel to off-the-beaten path places like the Enchanted Highway.

Best piece of advice for aspiring female leaders: "Mistakes are okay. Failure is okay. The point is to always get back up, learn from it, and then try again. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. Give yourself grace."

Dr. Tamara Clunis, VP of Academic Affairs

Dr. Clunis served as the Inaugural Dean of Academic Success at Amarillo College for six years, before transitioning to her current role as VP of Academic Affairs. She is deeply committed to her role as faculty advocate and works with higher education leaders to partner with faculty in student success efforts. "I do not believe academic leaders and faculty need to have an adversarial relationship. Partnership is key!" Her favorite coaching topics include guided pathways, equity gaps, academic leadership development to lead transformational change, and scaling innovation, to name a few. Through her leadership of the academic affairs division during the institutional reform period (2017 - 2021), AC has seen unprecedented course success and graduation rates.

Cheryl Jones, VP of Human Resources

Cheryl Jones worked with President Lowery-Hart on No Limits No Excuses Amarillo while in her role as the VPHR for BSA. She got to know more about AC as she continued on with some HR consulting work for Russell and the college. When the VP of Human Resources role opened up four years ago, "I knew it was my opportunity to step out of my 17-year comfort zone of the healthcare industry to try something new. I am loving learning about higher ed and getting the chance to innovate in our workplace." In her free time, Cheryl loves to be outdoors playing with her two dogs, watching cooking shows, and trying new recipes.

Best piece of advice for aspiring female leaders: "Be you. Let your best qualities and strengths influence your leadership brand."

Denese Skinner, VP of Student Affairs

Denese Skinner has been in higher education for 28 years. She started as a director at West Texas A&M University and worked her way up through different leadership roles by widening her portfolio of responsibilities, scope, and impact. She has been with AC for four years now and has enjoyed being a part of all the amazing initiatives taking place on campus. "It is SO rewarding to work in a culture that is innovative and willing to try new things to help our students to completion and get good jobs. Our students are amazing, hardworking, and eager to earn their credentials. They want what we all do — a life that brings us joy and fulfillment." In her free time, Denese likes to listen to books on Audible (particularly Brené Brown's books on vulnerability and leadership), NPR's Ted Radio Hours, Gallup's Strengths Coaching and Cultural Competence podcasts as well as Anette Carlisle's podcast Anette on Education.

Best piece of advice for aspiring female leaders: "Read Sheryl Sandberg's book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. She describes how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her call to action for women is to 'sit at the table' and 'lean in.'"

Becky Burton, Associate VP of Academic Services

Becky Burton started with AC in 2010 as a part-time instructor, became the Dean of Academic Outreach & Support in 2017, and was appointed to her current role of AVP by Dr. Clunis in the Fall of 2019. Her favorite part about her role is that she is able to advocate for students, staff, and faculty. "As an advocate for all parties, I am able to use my strengths to help solve problems and find answers that may not be ordinary or conventional. As an advocate, I also want to inspire those around me to continue to grow and be better leaders." In her free time, Becky likes to spend time with her family and read.

Best piece of advice for aspiring female leaders: "Know your strengths and use them in a positive manner and with grace. Find a mentor and never be afraid to ask for help."

Tiffani Crosley , Associate VP of Business Affairs

Tiffani Crosley started at AC in 2013 as Director of Accounting, then was promoted to the AVP of Business Affairs in 2020. Her favorite thing about her current role is watching the success of everyone around her and "witnessing those 'light bulb' moments when the whole training and commitment finally comes together and it all makes sense." Her daily goal is to develop people to be better leaders and accountants, surpassing even her own skills in accounting and leadership. In her free time, Tiffani enjoys doing diamond art, reading, and watching her daughter tumble and her son's sporting events.

Best piece of advice for aspiring female leaders: "You may grow in your career hearing that this is a man's world and females will never be in management or higher. This only challenged me to work harder. NEVER let anyone dull your sparkle or tell you that you aren't able due to being a female. Shine brighter and prove them wrong."

Asset Management Awareness Month

Published March 7, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

Learn how to navigate the waters of Asset Management with Financial Advisor Carmella Nodine.

Asset Management Awareness Month encourages individuals, organizations, and businesses to develop a better understanding of asset management, honor those working in the profession, and increase their focus on the importance of proper asset management.

Asset Management FAQs

What is an asset?

An asset is anything of value or a resource of value that can be converted to cash. Some examples include: real estate, personal property (ex. boat, car, jewelry, collectibles etc.), and of course, investments.

What is asset management?

Asset management is when a financial institution takes control of managing part or all of an individual's portfolio. This can be done by an investment bank or a personal financial advisor.

What are the goals of asset management?

There are two distinct goals financial institutions have when it comes to asset management. First, grow or preserv a client's portfolio over time; and second, mitigate risks.

How is this accomplished?

Make sure you are diversified in different assest classes is a good place to start. There is a saying that still rings true today, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket."

Why is asset management important?

If you hire an expert, they can help you account for all your assets (and liabilities) and enable you to view them in a holistic way. Also, they can help you set short and long-term goals and help you stay on track to meeting those goals. The most important part of financial management is to have the financial professional review and monitor your assets with you so that you can gain knowledge and feel more confident.

Written by Carmella Nodine, Financial Advisor with Navigation Financial

Carmella is an independent financial advisor with a passion for financial literacy education.

A Safe Space | March 2022

Published March 7, 2022 By William Ratliff

Adam gray headshot Dear Amarillo College faculty and staff,

I want to say again what an honor it is to have met and connected with so many of you in the past few months. I am so impressed with the people and culture of AC, and it is a gift to be among you.

It is obvious and an understatement to say that these are emotionally challenging times that we continue to find ourselves in. We all are carrying some amount of pain and grief in the present moment, and there is probably some level of anxiety about the future, both personally as well as culturally and globally. It’s a marathon that feels like it just keeps going… And as we react and deal with life, it is so tempting to simply distract, medicate, and maybe even cope in unhealthy ways with our familiar vices.

It is critical to attend to your own health and wellbeing, both for yourself as well as your first act of love for those around you that you love and care about. My wife and kids need the best version of me right now, as do my friends and coworkers. And this takes time, reflection, and attention.

So, I would offer just a few thoughts in our efforts to continue to grow and heal. Nothing new here, but maybe one or two of these might resonate and deepen for you in your practice going forward.

Be compassionate toward yourself. Often we talk about being less judgmental and more compassionate toward others, and yet it is so easy to be the most critical toward ourselves. It is OK to not be at your best. Be gracious while also being honest with yourself.
Practice self-care. We are integrated beings, and your body and your mental and emotional state are very much connected. It’s all the usual things - diet, exercise, drinking water, sleep hygiene, etc. Make sure you are positioning yourself to navigate well by taking care of yourself.
Curate your media. It’s important and appropriate to be a conscious citizen and know what is going on in the world by consuming an appropriate level of news and media. But over-consumption can easily fuel our anxiety. Set healthy boundaries for screen time, especially before going to bed.
Practice being vulnerable and communicating with someone you trust. Brene Brown says, ‘Leaders must either invest a reasonable amount of time attending to fears and feelings or squander an unreasonable amount of time trying to manage ineffective and unproductive behavior.’ There is a healthy power when you notice what is going on with you internally and share it with a significant person in your life, i.e., your spouse or a close relative or friend. Talking about what is going on with us is a key component of developing emotional maturity (your Chaplain is ready and waiting, BTW.)
Practice being present. Mindfulness, meditation, or prayer is a proven pathway to our emotional health. It is also wise to foster a regular practice of gratitude for the gifts of the day, as well as a release of what is beyond your control (which is 99.999% of almost everything in the world).
Engage well and faithfully with both what is yours to do and well as what brings you joy.

I hope that the Spring season also brings with it an emotionally healthy time for you.

Adam Gray
chaplain@actx.edu
(806) 282-5263
www.innerwellservices.com

Black History Month Reading List

Published February 14, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

Not only is it Library Lovers Month, it's also Black History Month! What better way to celebrate both by checking out all the fantastic books Lynn Library is featuring this month.

Black History Month Reads

Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds

A boy and his mother are riding a bus in Montgomery, Alabama like any other day—way in the back of the bus. The boy passes time by watching his marble roll up and down the aisle with the motion of the bus...until a big commotion breaks out up front. With simple words and powerful illustrations, Aaron Reynolds, with illustrations by Coretta Scott King medalist Floyd Cooper, recount the pivotal arrest of Rosa Parks at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement.

Racial Profiling by Alison Marie Behnke

In the United States, racial profiling affects thousands of Americans every day. Both individuals and institutions—such as law enforcement agencies, government bodies, and schools—routinely use race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting someone of an offense. The high-profile deaths of unarmed people of color at the hands of police officers have brought renewed national attention to racial profiling and have inspired grassroots activism from groups such as Black Lives Matter. Combining rigorous research with powerful personal stories, this insightful title explores the history, the many manifestations, and the consequences of this form of social injustice.

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Ada Twist's head is full of questions. Like her classmates Iggy and Rosie—stars of their own New York Times bestselling picture books Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer—Ada has always been endlessly curious. Even when her fact-finding missions and elaborate scientific experiments don’t go as planned, Ada learns the value of thinking her way through problems and continuing to stay curious.

Black Magic by Chad Sanders

Chad Sanders tells his own incredible story while also interviewing other Black Leaders, scientists, artists, business people, parents, innovators, and champions, to get their take on Black magic. This revelatory book uncovers Black experiences in predominantly white environments while demonstrating the importance of staying true to yourself.

The 57 Bus by Slater

If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But one afternoon on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned, and Richard charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment. The case garnered international attention, thrusting both teenagers into the spotlight.

Letter to My White Male Friends by Dax-Devlon Ross

Ross helps readers understand what it meant to be America’s first generation raised after the civil rights era. He explains how we were all educated with colorblind narratives and symbols that typically, albeit implicitly, privileged whiteness and denigrated Blackness. He provides the context and color of his own experiences in white schools so that white men can revisit moments in their lives where racism was in the room even when they didn’t see it enter. Ross shows how learning to see the harm that racism did to him, and forgiving himself, gave him the empathy to see the harm it does to white people as well.

Just Medicine by Bowen Matthew

Our continued failure to fashion an effective response that purges the effects of implicit bias from American health care, Matthew argues, is unjust and morally untenable. In this book, she unites medical, neuroscience, psychology, and sociology research on implicit bias and health disparities with her own expertise in civil rights and constitutional law. In a time when the health of the entire nation is at risk, it is essential to confront the issues keeping the health care system from providing equal treatment to all.

Salt in His Shoes by Deloris Jordan

Michael Jordan. The mere mention of the name conjures up visions of basketball played at its absolute best. But as a child, Michael almost gave up on his hoop dreams, all because he feared he’d never grow tall enough to play the game that would one day make him famous. That’s when his mother and father stepped in and shared the invaluable lesson of what really goes into the making of a champion—patience, determination, and hard work.

The Child in the Electric Chair by Eli Faber

The first book to fully explore the events leading to George Junius Stinney Jr.'s death, The Child in the Electric Chair offers a compelling narrative with a meticulously researched analysis of the world in which Stinney lived—the era of lynching, segregation, and racist assumptions about Black Americans. Faber explains how a systemically racist system, paired with the personal ambitions of powerful individuals, turned a blind eye to human decency and one of the basic tenets of the American legal system that individuals are innocent until proven guilty.

Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine

A stirring dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom. Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday—his first day of freedom.

The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward

National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward takes James Baldwin’s 1963 examination of race in America, The Fire Next Time, as a jumping off point for this groundbreaking collection of essays and poems about race from the most important voices of her generation and our time.

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

As the United States celebrates the nation's "triumph over race" with the election of Barack Obama, the majority of young black men in major American cities are locked behind bars or have been labeled felons for life. Although Jim Crow laws have been wiped off the books, an astounding percentage of the African American community remains trapped in a subordinate status—much like their grandparents before them.

Survival Math by Mitchell S. Jackson

An essential addition to the national conversation about race and class, Survival Math takes its name from the calculations award-winning author Mitchell S. Jackson made to survive the Portland, Oregon, of his youth. This dynamic book explores gangs and guns, near-death experiences, sex work, masculinity, composite fathers, the concept of “hustle,” and the destructive power of addiction—all framed within the experience of Jackson, his family, and his community.

Black Ink by Stephanie Stokes Oliver

Throughout American history black people are the only group of people to have been forbidden by law to learn to read. This unique collection seeks to shed light on that injustice and subjugation, as well as the hard-won literary progress made, putting some of America’s most cherished voices in a conversation in one magnificent volume that presents reading as an act of resistance.

Department Spotlight | Advocacy & Resource Center

Published February 14, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

Life barriers can often be the reason why students may have to make difficult decisions regarding their futures. When unexpected issues arise in the lives of our students, we want to be the first place students are connected to.

The Advocacy & Resource Center was established to provide students with a centralized location to access resources that can assist them in meeting their basic needs. Social Workers are available to work with Amarillo College staff, faculty and community members to assist in removing barriers that are preventing students from obtaining success.

Students can receive assistance with the following services by visiting the Advocacy & Resource Center:

Amarillo College Food Pantry

Amarillo College students and staff can access the Food Pantry up to twice a month. A variety of food, hygiene items and toiletries are available to order through our online ordering system. Please visit our website: www.actx.edu/arc to place your online order and learn more about our new online ordering system. Students and staff will find a Food Pantry located at each of our 5 campuses.

Baby Resources

Amarillo College students can access Baby Resources up to twice a month. Our Baby Resource Room contains diapers, wipes, baby hygiene items, formula and baby food. Students can place their order for these resources through the online Food Pantry order form or by stopping by the Advocacy & Resource Center.

Free Transportation

Amarillo College students and staff can access the City of Amarillo bus system for free. Students and staff must present their Amarillo College ID to the bus driver upon entering the bus. Students and staff are eligible to ride any bus route during operating days and times.

Adult Students Program

Amarillo College students can apply annually for childcare, transportation, textbook and tuition scholarships by completing the online scholarship application. To qualify for our scholarships students must answer the questions pertaining to the Adult Students Program on the application, be enrolled in 6 credit hours and maintain a 2.0 GPA. To access the application please visit this website: www.actx.edu/foundation/aplication.

Social Services Program

Amarillo College students who may be in need of additional support to assist them while they attend classes can work with Social Workers from the Advocacy & Resource Center to be connected to internal and external resources to ensure their needs are addressed appropriately. Emergency Aid is also available for students who meet the qualification guidelines of being enrolled, attending classes and maintaining a 2.0 GPA.

For more information about how the Advocacy & Resource Center can help, please email thearc@actx.edu or call 806-371-5446.

Blog post written by Jordan Herrera, LMSW

Director of Social Services

Ways to Celebrate National Friendship Month

Published February 14, 2022 By William Ratliff

Friendship quote February is friendship month. How will you celebrate it? Here are some ideas you can use to observe the month and take care of yourself at the same time.

Friends can open up new worlds for us: both the ones we have and the ones we haven’t met just yet. They can introduce us to new perspectives and experiences if we’re willing. It takes just a bit of courage and a willingness to be uncomfortable for a while

Make a new friend

In this age of the pandemic, making a new friend can be challenging or even frightening for some to step outside their comfort zone and meet someone new. There are ways to meet new people and maintain caution.

For the more cautious among us, you can join an online Facebook group with others who have a common interest, or throw an online event via Zoom or Google Meet (trivia, open mic, game night, etc.) and invite friends, who invite other friends, and you might end up connecting with someone new.

For those willing to step out and meet someone in person, here are some ideas you might try:

Invite a coworker you’d like to get to know better to coffee or lunch
Join a local affinity group (running, public speaking, biking, etc.)
Take a CE class through Amarillo College (and use your employee scholarship)
Volunteer with a local nonprofit organization

Reconnect with an old friend

Has there been someone on your mind recently who you haven’t seen or spoken to in a while? Maybe that’s a good reason to reach out and try to reconnect with them. Meet for lunch or coffee, or just have a conversation over the phone. If you’re far away, consider meeting online and connecting virtually.

Remember when people wrote cards and letters? That could be another way to reach out and revitalize a friendship. Write them a letter or card and send it via (gasp!) snail mail.

Connect with current friends

Maybe you just want to connect with a friend or friends you already have. That’s fine, too. You might want to host a small get-together at your house, meet some friends for drinks or dinner, or meet with a friend for coffee or lunch. You might want to learn a new hobby or skill together as well. There are numerous ways you can connect with your current social circle.

Benefits of friendship

Regardless of how you decide to connect with others, there is research that has long conveyed the benefits that friendship holds: people who have close connections enjoy better health, quicker recovery from illness, and longer life. It also gives us a context in which we can learn social skills, network personally and professionally, and experience support and compassion. There are a number of benefits friendships can offer. In her article in Psychology Today, Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., lists fifteen reasons friendships are beneficial.

Use one of these ideas (or come up with your own) to make a new friend, reconnect with an old one, or connect with a current friend. It might be a bit uncomfortable at first, but imagine the benefits you’ll both experience. Who knows what new worlds you might open up and experience together?

New Year, New You

Published January 14, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

Visit Lynn Library to start your journey!

With the start of the new year, there's no better time to focus on self-improvement and growth. Lynn Library is here to help you find some resources to guide you along the way.

Bulletin Board Resources

This month the library bulletin board is all about helping you set goals and achieve them. The first step is to set goals following the SMART system.

Initial Goal - write out your goal/what you plan to achieve
S -Specific: your goal should be well definied, detailed, and clear
M - Measureable: you should be able to measure your progress and clearly tell when you reach your goal
A - Achievable: your goal needs to be attainable taking into account your availale time, skills, and financial status
R - Realistic: set a goal that is realistic and can be achieved within the given timeframe and with the available resources
T - Timely: set a start and finish date for your goal

Download: SMART Goals Worksheet with action plan

The second step on achieving your goals is to create an action plan. This is your roadmap for how you will achieve your goal and the steps you intend to take along the way. You'll want to pay special attention to potential obstacles that may arise along the way and more importantly, solutions to overcome those obstacles. Always remember to remain positive and proactive.

Tip: Give all your initial goals and resolutions a boost. Instead of saying "I want to walk more" or "eat healthy to lose weight", be more specific with something like "I want to walk at least 10,000 steps 5 days a week" or "I want to follow a 2,000 calorie Mediterranean meal plan 7 days a week till I reach my target weight of X."

Featured Book Table

Tame Your Anxiety by Loretta Breuning

The exercises in this book help you build a self-soothing circuit in steps so small that anyone can do it. Once you learn how it’s done, and how it can help ease your anxiety, you will learn how to handle situations in which you feel threatened or anxious. Understanding the underlying mechanisms will help you stop them before they get ahead of you.

Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess by Dr. Caroline Leaf

Dr. Caroline Leaf provides a scientifically proven five-step plan to find and eliminate the root of anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts in your life so you can experience dramatically improved mental and physical health. In just 21 days, you can start to clean up your mental mess and be on the road to wholeness, peace, and happiness.

What Happened to You by Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD and Oprah Winfrey

In conversation throughout the book, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Perry focus on understanding people, behavior, and ourselves. It's a subtle but profound shift in our approach to trauma, and it's one that allows us to understand our pasts in order to clear a path to our future - opening the door to resilience and healing in a proven, powerful way.

The Self-Care Solution by Jennifer Ashton, MD, MS

The Self-Care Solution teaches you how to recalibrate your life to enjoy a better, healthier year, one month at a time. Featuring guidance from top experts, entertaining case studies, easy-to-follow advice and tips, and Dr. Ashton's observations and insights, this book can help you achieve a better life balance and a more active and healthy lifestyle.

If Our Bodies Could Talk by James Hamblin

James Hamblin translates the (traditionally boring) textbook of human anatomy and physiology into accessible, engaging, socially contextualized, up-to-the-moment answers. They offer clarity, examine the limits of our certainty, and ultimately help readers worry less about things that don't really matter. If Our Bodies Could Talk is a comprehensive, illustrated guide that entertains and educates in equal doses.

Heart Health by J. Shah, MD

In the absence of good, trustworthy information, patients are guided mostly by their fear instincts when diagnosed with heart disease. With the misperception that more is better, they all too often end up agreeing to undergo every test and treatment recommendation of their harried healthcare provider, who could well be influenced by accepted norms, cognitive biases, medicolegal concerns, or economic considerations. All this leads to gross overuse of cardiac procedures, even when the risks of tests and treatment can be worse than the disease itself. In this book, Dr. J Shah explains the various cardiac tests and treatments, including situations in which they are critical, others in which they are reasonable, and yet others in which they could be unnecessary and even harmful. Using real-life stories, he helps readers cultivate a better understanding of heart disease and correct the myths that have guided and misguided patients for years. He teaches the reader to become a more informed consumer of cardiac care and to make better decisions based on their individual needs and the latest scientific evidence.

One by One by One by Aaron Berkowitz

One by One by One is a gripping account of the triumphs, tragedies, and confusing spaces in between as an idealistic young doctor learns the hard but necessary lessons of living by the Haitian proverb tout moun se moun--every person is a person.

Outspoken: Why Women's Voices Get Silence and How to Set Them Free by Veronica Rueckert

Women’s voices aren’t being heard—at work, at home, in public, and in every facet of their lives. When they speak up, they’re seen as pushy, loud, and too much. When quiet, they’re dismissed as meek and mild. Everywhere they turn, they’re confronted by the assumptions of a male-dominated world.

Outspoken is a substantive yet entertaining analysis of why women still haven’t been fully granted the right to speak, and a guide to how we can start changing the culture of silence. Positive, instructive, and supportive, this welcome and much-needed handbook will help reshape the world and make it better for women—and for everyone. It’s time to stop shutting up and start speaking out.

Divergent Mind by Jenara Nerenberg

Divergent Mind is a long-overdue, much-needed answer for women who have a deep sense that they are “different.” Sharing real stories from women with high sensitivity, ADHD, autism, misophonia, dyslexia, SPD and more, Nerenberg explores how these brain variances present differently in women and dispels widely-held misconceptions (for example, it’s not that autistic people lack sensitivity and empathy, they have an overwhelming excess of it).

Nerenberg also offers us a path forward, describing practical changes in how we communicate, how we design our surroundings, and how we can better support divergent minds. When we allow our wide variety of brain makeups to flourish, we create a better tomorrow for us all.

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Deep Kindness by Houston Kraft

Deep Kindness pairs anecdotes with actions that can make real change in our own lives, the lives of others, and throughout the world. Diving into the types of kindness the world needs most today, this book takes an honest look at the gap between our belief in kindness and our ability to practice it well—and shows us how to put intention into action. Exploring everything from the empathy gap to the skill of emotional regulation, Deep Kindness is perfect for anyone who believes in a kinder world and recognizes that there is a lot of work to do before we achieve it.

Do Better by Rachel Ricketts

Do Better is a revolutionary offering that addresses racial justice from a comprehensive, intersectional, and spirit-based perspective. This actionable guidebook illustrates how to engage in the heart-centered and mindfulness-based practices that will help us all fight white supremacy from the inside out, in our personal lives and communities alike. It is a loving and assertive call to do the deep—and often uncomfortable—inner work that precipitates much-needed external and global change.

A Safe Space with Adam Gray

Published January 14, 2022 By William Ratliff

Adam gray headshot Dear Amarillo College faculty and staff,

My name is Adam Gray, and I am honored to be joining the Amarillo College community as your Chaplain. I have already felt so welcomed by Dr. Lowry-Hart, Will Ratliff, Cheryl Jones, and others, and I am eager to connect with you soon.

I have such respect for the mission of Amarillo College and the ways that you serve students in a holistic way while positioning them for academic success. I hope that I can be an encouragement and support to you as you continue in this meaningful work. As Dr. Lowry-Hart referenced in his email last semester, we have all personally experienced significant stress, anxiety, change, and loss in the past couple of years during the pandemic. And our personal challenges have the potential to affect us at the workplace, and vice versa. It’s even more difficult to navigate this difficult and sometimes lonely season if there is not a pathway to process or share with others what is going on with you.

My goal as your Chaplain is to connect with and support you and your family in any way that I can. You will begin to see me on your campus regularly for me to simply walk around and say hi and get to know you. And if you feel comfortable and are ever interested, you are welcome anytime to pull me aside for a few minutes to talk, or we can set aside a time during the workday or after hours if needed. You are always welcome to share with me any personal difficulties or struggles that you are going through, and I promise to be available, to listen attentively, offer encouragement, and honor our conversations by keeping them strictly confidential. I hope that these interactions together are just a small part of our collective attempt to continue to heal and grow during this challenging season.

A little bit about me – I grew up near Fort Worth and received my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Christian Spirituality and Ministry from Abilene Christian University. I was a full-time pastor for 25 years, ministering to teens, marriages, and families, including here in Amarillo since 2005. I am a certified Relational Life Coach and am also a Spiritual Director. I am trained in Employee Wellness and Stress Management from the Stanford Stanford Center for Health Education, as well as in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). Additionally, I am a speaker for HopeChoice Pregnancy Centers and Mentoring Programs and am also a part-time Drumline Instructor at Amarillo High School. My wife, Missy, and I have been married for 23 years; our daughter Adley is a junior at Baylor University, and our son Corbin is a senior at Amarillo High School. And, as Russell mentioned in his email, I am a big Seinfeld fan and have a love-hate relationship with the Dallas Cowboys!

I am looking forward to meeting you, and I hope you are having a Happy New Year and a great beginning to the semester!

Adam Gray, AC Chaplain
(806) 282-5263 | chaplain@actx.edu | www.innerwellservices.com

Department Spotlight | Career & Employment Services

Published January 13, 2022 By Aubrey Hamilton

Learn more about Career & Employment Services

SUCCESS IS AMARILLO COLLEGE

SUCCESS IS TAKING THE FIRST STEP

SUCCESS IS BEING YOUR BEST SELF

SUCCESS IS REACHING YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

SUCCESS IS A LIFETIME OF LEARNING

THE BADGER BUZZ

Badger Buzz Blogs

May is Global Employee Fitness Month, and we want to help you on the road to staying fit!

Carter Fitness Center

Continuing Ed Courses

Activities at Palo Duro Canyon

Other Outdoor Recreation Options

April

First Name

Last Name

Position

Terry

Barber

PT Staff Assistant, Child Care Clinic

Rusty

Bodey

Groundskeeper, Grounds Maintenance

Kevin

Cheek

Coordinator Employee Relations, HSI Stem 22-27

Andrew

Gonzales

Student Worker, Academic Success Center - West

Brianna

Grover

Student Worker, Underground

Justin

Harris

Groundskeeper, Grounds Maintenance

Daphne

Hodge-Cooksey

Student Worker, Underground

Lindsey

Hoyle

Professional Tutor, Success Center

Christopher

Jackson

Supplemental Instructor, Emergency Medical Serv Prof

Samuel

Martinez

Student Worker, Math Sciences and Engineering

Hope

Mccollum

Student Worker, Success Center - Writer's Corner

Leslie

Nimmo

Customer Service Specialist, Customer Services

Michael

Robel

Student Worker, Success Center - Writer's Corner

Byron

Rogers

Night Custodian, Custodial Services

Roberto

Roque

Professional Tutor, Success Center

Emmaleigh

Saucedo

PT Teacher, Personal Enrichment

Drew

Smith

PT Teacher, Personal Enrichment

Brian

Veach

Supplemental Instructor, Emergency Medical Serv Prof

Reese

Wells

PT Teacher, Personal Enrichment

McKenna

Wheatley

Student Worker, Success Center - Writer's Corner

Emily

Williams

PT Teacher, Personal Enrichment

The Physical Plant's Five Areas of Service