The San Jacinto College North Campus welcomed the public Sept. 22 for San Jac Community Connections, a free evening lecture series that brings neighbors together for learning and conversation.
San Jac government professor Cody Pogue, who grew up in the North Channel area, designed the series to connect the College with the community he calls home.
Government professor Cody Pogue
“This community and the College are important to me,” Pogue said. “The hope is to help establish San Jac as a vibrant hub of knowledge, wisdom, and lifelong learning here in the North Channel community.”
The idea was partly inspired by Robert Putnam’s 2000 book “Bowling Alone,” which explored declining social connections in American communities. Pogue saw an opportunity for the North Campus to help bring neighbors together while encouraging learning and curiosity.
The series has two primary goals: to make learning opportunities accessible to a wide range of people, from middle schoolers to lifelong learners, and to provide a place for community members to gather outside work and home.
“I want to open up learning opportunities to the widest possible range of people,” Pogue said. “I also want to help combat the loneliness epidemic by offering people a place where they can create their own community.”
Community Connections is also intended to help families see the College as a place where they belong.
“Many San Jac students are the first in their families to attend college. The series gives students an opportunity to invite their parents and grandparents on campus to experience a classroom setting and meet faculty members,” Pogue said. “San Jac has a duty not only to serve our students but also the members of our community at large.”
Each gathering begins at 6:30 p.m. with 30 minutes for conversation and connection, followed by a lecture from 7 to 8 p.m. A different San Jac faculty member will present at each session. The first session featured Pogue’s presentation, “From Akokisa Homeland to Frontier Community: The Early History of the Sheldon, Crosby, Channelview, and North Shore Communities.”
The series is designed to offer more than a lecture. Attendees can visit the North Campus Gallery, and future events may include performances, such as a jazz ensemble, as well as contributions from faculty members with expertise related to the evening’s topic.
The community is invited to attend upcoming sessions free of charge:
Location:
Grant Fine Arts Center (N1)
5800 Uvalde Road
Houston, TX 77049
Upcoming fall sessions include:
Tuesday, Oct. 27: “Echoes in the Night: Tracking Bats in a Major Metropolitan Landscape,” presented by Tyler Olivier, STEM and behavioral sciences department chair
Tuesday, Nov. 17: “A Behind-the-Scenes View of How a Crime Scene Is Investigated,” presented by Corey Rice, criminal justice professor
Tuesday, Dec. 8: “Inside the Jazz Combo: Reimagining a Classic Christmas Carol,” presented by Travis Maslen, music professor
By Melissa Trevizo
