Early birds get their morning Joe and jumpstart their weekdays at Comet Coffee, a coffee house down the street from St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. Some people continue the ritual on weekends, when an unusual muffin called “The Rebel Within” appears on the menu. Slice it open to find the golden, runny yolk of a soft-boiled egg in the middle. […]
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I have a dream” speech, which became a cornerstone for political and social change in the 1960s. Forest Park sociology professor Rodney Wead remembers it well. “We thought, ‘Now we (will) be able to realize our dream of a more equitable society,’” he said. “I think it was timed perfectly.” […]
Forest Park art instructor Mario Carlos is sharing the gift that was given to him with his students. Each Friday at 9 a.m. design students ranging in age from 19 to 68 gather in F-409 to become inspired, while learning hands on. All eyes are on Carlos every week as he presents the details of class projects. Students add input to the informal gathering before setting off to complete their interpretation of the assignment. […]
Forest Park student Manar Al-Hussainy still is haunted by the memory of a girl at her Iraqi elementary school who mentioned that her parents had “talked bad” about President Sadaam Hussein. The wrong people overhead the girl’s indiscretion and informed Iraqi secret police, known as the “Mukhabarat.” Her parents were promptly killed. Al-Hussainy also has disturbing stories about the effects of war on her Iraqi homeland and family. […]
Three students made Forest Park proud at a competition at the Culinary Institute of St. Louis at Hickey College last month. Wauneen Rucker, 49, got a bronze medal in the cake-decorating division for a three-tiered event cake garnished with large butterfly-shaped confections. “(The judges) didn’t do a tasting,” Rucker said. “They didn’t care what was inside, as long as it wasn’t Styrofoam. It was all presentation and decorating technique.” […]
New York City artist Eto Otitigbe invites people to challenge their brains and see things differently with his exhibit, “Curious Industry.” It’s on display in The Gallery of Contemporary Art on the Forest Park campus through Nov. 1. The multi-media exhibit is a collection Otitigbe has been working on in the past few years. “I was interested in seeing if there was anything that could come out of grouping the work,” he said. […]
The adventurous Forest Park student can get college credit and an adrenaline fix with a Beginning Rock Climbing class. “You do not have to be in the best of shape or even have experience,” said instructor Mark Applegate. “It’s more of a mental challenge, getting over that initial fear.” Rock-climbing can be good exercise. […]
Forest Park students, faculty and staff can eat in a new “restaurant” almost every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Culinary arts training includes practice runs for students, who take turns planning and preparing lunches and dinners and serving them to the public. “(In their last semester), all students rotate through every position they may potentially work in a restaurant situation,” said Clarke Griffin, instructor of restaurant operations. […]
Linda Foster walks the halls of Forest Park with a bright smile, hiding the challenges she’s faced in the past year. The 62-year-old student from North St. Louis completed an early childhood education degree in May while battling cancer. “I didn’t want to be a hindrance to anybody, so I tried to get (chemotherapy and radiation) treatments on the days I didn’t have school,” she said. […]
July 19 marked the 50th anniversary of the loss of a beloved St. Louis landmark. A fire destroyed the Forest Park Highlands, also known as “The Highlands,” an amusement park that stood where St. Louis Community College at Forest Park is today. […]
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