Five Pasadena Higher Education Leaders in Powerhouse Forum Wednesday

Five local leaders from major Pasadena educational institutions took part in a forum in Caltech’s Ramo Auditorium on Wednesday to discuss everything from civility to pursuing a higher education.

The powerhouse gathering was a rare opportunity for the community to hear from the educators that represent institutions that shape the minds of thousands of local students every year.

The event, “Honoring Civil Engagement” was attended by 125 people and was a continuation of a conversation that started five years ago when the Pasadena City of Learning came up with the idea of bringing together the presidents of the city’s five higher learning institutions.

Five years later, Patricia Breen, President of Pacific Oaks College; Lorne Buchman, President of Art Center; Mark Labberton, President of Fuller Theological Seminary; Thomas Rosenbaum, President of Caltech; and Rajen Vurdien, Superintendent President of PCC had that conversation The panel was moderated by Pasadena Star-News Public Editor Larry Wilson.

“This is really a continuation of that conversation,” said Jered Gold, Vice Presdient of Marketing and Communications of the Art Center.

Mayor Terry Tornek opened the event, and discussed the need to get more people involved in local civic engagement throughout the process. Residents frequently contact the Mayor and Councilmembers and claim that they did not know about issues until city officials are deeply engaged in the process, despite notification systems used by officials at City Hall.

“We have no shortage of positions and points of view,” Tornek said before the event began. “There are always people wondering how we can better engage people in the process.”

Tornek said that he was open to discussions that would lead to platforms to attract younger people who typically take to social media to discuss issues instead of attending meetings.

Vurdien touched on the need for civility as the nation continues to divide based on politics, race and gender issues.

“The backbone of every civilized society comes down to honoring people no matter their race, gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. That is the basis of equality and progress will only happen when we can see that point,” he said.

“To be deep into these kinds of conversations is to really give and put meaning around so many things that the youth and students can do if they seek to have meaningful lives themselves,” said Art Center President Lorne Buchman. “I think that would be a great outcome of this conversation.”

Event organizers said Collaborate Pasadena and the Pasadena Youth Council contributed to the staging of the event.

Gold said Wednesday’s event was just a start and there was already talk of more conversations. The initial focus going forward calls for a forum every four years, but according to Gold, some people want the conversation a lot more frequently.

“We are really fortunate to have top higher ed institutions here and these thoughtful, bright people leading them,” he said. “It speaks well to the city and it’s an enormous benefit for the students that attend those schools.”