Cornell in Buffalo Presents: Faculty Speaker Jamila Michener

Cornell in Buffalo and the Cornell High Road Fellows Present:
“Health Equity and Democracy”
featuring Jamila Michener
Thursday, June 28th 6-8pm, TR Inaugural Site

Jamila Michener will be speaking at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site about her book Fragmented Democracy: Medicaid, Federalism, and Unequal Politics:

“Medicaid is the single largest public health insurer in the United States, covering upwards of 70 million Americans. Crucially, Medicaid is also an intergovernmental program that yokes poverty to federalism: the federal government determines its broad contours, while states have tremendous discretion over how Medicaid is designed and implemented. Where some locales are generous and open handed, others are tight-fisted and punitive. In Fragmented Democracy, Jamila Michener demonstrates the consequences of such disparities for democratic citizenship. Unpacking how federalism transforms Medicaid beneficiaries’ interpretations of government and structures their participation in politics, the book examines American democracy from the vantage point(s) of those who are living in or near poverty, (disproportionately) Black or Latino, and reliant on a federated government for vital resources.”

Jamila Michener is an Assistant professor in the department of Government at Cornell University. Her research focuses on poverty and racial inequality in American politics. More specifically, her work explores two overarching themes: the conditions under which economically and racially disadvantaged groups engage in the political process, and the role of the state in shaping the political and economic trajectories of marginalized communities. Centering on these concerns, her research has been supported by the Ford Foundation, the National Science Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Lost, but Found!

Despite a questionable forecast for last Saturday morning, the rains stopped and we had a dry hike. The trail was very challenging in terms of rocks to step over, lots of puddles, and  steps to climb. Everyone certainly had their workout for the day!

We came across a 5 month old stray cat two miles into the remote trail, deep in the Niagara Gorge. So Deborah and Bob Kosobucki ’73 carried it out, and  took it to the SPCA. During the drive, the Kosobuckis decided to adopt him, and now have him at home in foster status before formal adoption.

As tempting as the name Ezra was, Deborah and Bob have named him Kitty.  After just a few days of training, Kitty has already shown himself to be smart by cat standards (and very affectionate!).  Kitty is in training so that he will respond to voice commands, especially ‘no’, and so that he won’t scratch or bite.  Bob’s a bit of a ‘cat whisper’ and is working to establish trust with Kitty.

 

A big thank you to Bob Kosobucki ’73 for not only leading a challenging hike, but for taking in Kitty as well!

July Book Club

The July 10 Book Club will be hosted by Jen Friedman. Jen has selected “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah. This nonfiction book is written by the host of The Daily Show. “[A] compelling new memoir. . . . By turns alarming, sad and funny, [the] book provides a harrowing look, through the prism of Mr. Noah’s family, at life in South Africa under apartheid and the country’s lurching entry into a postapartheid era in the 1990s.” —The New York Times
There are many copies in the library system.
For more information contact Celinda Crego ’79 at (cac432@aol.com)

June Book Club

The June 12 Book Club selection is “If You Were Here” by Jen Lancaster, at the home of Celinda Crego. This book is a humorous novel about buying and remodeling a house and is the fiction debut of the New York Times bestselling author of My Fair Lazy. There are many copies of this book in the Erie County library system. 

 

Contact Celinda Crego ’79 (cac432@aol.com) for more information.

Call for Buffalo Area Alumni Mentors this Summer

2018 High Road Fellowship Mentorship Program

The inaugural High Road Fellowship Mentorship Program will match fellows with alumni through the Cornell Club of Greater Buffalo. Since 1880, Buffalo Cornellians have been actively supporting the University, and this presents another fantastic opportunity for our region to give back to Cornell.

Your commitment as a mentor will be to attend an orientation and meet at least twice during the summer with your assigned mentee. Mentors will serve as Buffalo ambassadors for the fellows and also provide consultation on academic and career paths.

Interested alumni should email Nicole Golias ’16 at njg56@cornell.edu by May 30th 2018. Mentors will be assigned to students based on alignment to student background and interests. Please include:

  • name
  • college and class year
  • current (or most recent, if retired) profession
  • city/town of residence
  • any non-profit or board involvement
  • any hobbies
  •  a brief statement (1-2 sentences) indicating why you would like to mentor a High Road Fellow this summer!