 "Photo: Daniel Ucko/Poly Post")
A firm believer that the most intimate form of communication is through one's name, Dr. Renford Reese knows every student's name in his classes by the end of the first day. Despite higher end job offers, Reese continues to teach political science at Cal Poly. While he is a teacher, friend, and mentor to many, the 40-year-old 'global citizen' is always willing to learn as much from his students as they learn from him.
Close to 500 members of the Cal Poly and Pomona communities gathered on the third floor of the Mission promenade lofts in downtown Pomona Saturday to attend "Keeping the Dream Alive," a free fundraising event that featured live performances, book signings and samplings of international food.
Political science professor Renford Reese had a consistent line of around 20 people waiting to get a word in and have him sign their copy of "American Bravado," his fourth book in four years.
"It was everything that I wanted it to be and more," Reese said as the event winded down.
Reese sold out of the 100 books he brought, and donated $1,000 - 100 percent of the profits - to the Black Faculty and Staff Scholarship Fund.
Elizabeth Samson, secretary for the Black Faculty Association, made sure she and her friends held off on buying "Bravado" on Amazon.com so they could purchase it at the signing.
"Renford is one of the major supporters for the scholarship fund," said Samson. "He's awesome, he's a good person. [I'm] coming to buy the book tonight [because I] want money to go to scholarships."
"American Bravado" focuses on how Americans have been taken over with ignorance, unaware of the world outside of their own country.
"Today, people around the world despise Americans more than ever before," Reese wrote on the back cover. "This needs to change."
Reese said he interviewed youth in 16 different countries, finding out that despite embracing American pop culture, there is great disdain for our citizens.
"I had something to say about the way Americans are perceived in the world," said Reese on why he was compelled to write "Bravado." "As a person who has traveled to 45 countries and nearly every major city in the world, I think I had a pretty good grasp of people's perceptions of the U.S. [I have become] increasingly uncomfortable with the way people view Americans."
Reese used the fish-out-of-water analogy to explain how Americans need to get past feeling content with overwhelming success that hasn't required them to learn other languages or cultures.
"We need to come out of our context in order for us to discover where we live," he said.
The event, held in conjunction with the Pomona Art Walk and in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, also featured the Cal Poly Pomona Jazz Ensemble amidst an open house of lofts featuring international foods.
Even President Michael Ortiz and his wife were in attendance.
"Since we arrived here at Cal Poly, we have been stressing the importance of being engaged in the community," said Ortiz. "I think Professor Reese is one of those individuals who has taken that to heart."
While Ortiz said he hadn't read the book yet, he did make sure he picked up a copy.
"I try to get a copy of all the books that are written by CPP faculty so that I can display them in the office," said Ortiz. "Some I can read and understand, but others are a little complex."
The event was filled with Cal Poly alumni and current students and staff along with community members, most of who had a personal relationship with Reese.
Whether student, family or friend, Reese is able to maintain close connections with all of them.
"I took PLS 201 and went with him on a Ghana trip," said alumna Jocelyn Sia, who took part of the cover photo for "Bravado."
Every summer for the past few years, Reese takes a group of students to the African country Ghana for a unique experience.
"Ghana was very spur of the moment," said Sia. "Reese had talked about it in PLS 201, and I figured why not end year with big bang. We took a one-quarter crash course before the trip. He wanted us to come informed, cultured, and traveled. [People were] amazed what we knew about their past presidents, history and culture."
Inside or outside of the classroom, Reese is always teaching. Part of the close relationships he maintains stem from mentoring anyone who is interested in his help.
Whether he is aiding a current or former student in getting a job or regularly meeting with a former gang member to help him recover from things like rape and a rough childhood, the only thing Reese would like to do more is mentor.
"This is my life," said Reese. "This is what I have been called to do. I have been called to come in front of the class to connect with my students, then send them out in the world to be leaders and be change agents."
"He's just a mentor," said Dion Cook, alumnus. "He allowed me to have an open mind and start getting into things I never experienced."
Cook's girlfriend, Evelyn Henderson, is a fifth-year psychology student who also knows Reese.
"Dr. Reese is a very inspirational man. He's very knowledgeable. He's an eye opener. Almost every student that has met him or had him has said that he has left some type of influence on him."
Reese, who grew up in the segregated south, said he holds no grudges.
The event displayed a great deal of cultural diversity, a big part of the philosophy he lives by: "umbutu."
"Umbutu: when my neighbor is hungry I feed him, when I am hungry he feeds me. It is brotherhood; it is sisterhood. I think that's what the world likes," Reese said.
While Reese has had offers to teach at USC, UCLA or Berkeley, he remains at Cal Poly by choice.
"Out of my 12 years here, every year has been a 10. My students are just as talented, just as creative as those students at USC, UCLA, Berkeley," said Reese. "The first thing I tell them is, 'Believe in yourself.' I don't let them wear paraphernalia from other schools because you pay your tuition at Cal Poly Pomona."
While Reese's only hope for himself is to do strictly mentoring at one time, such as his well-received work with former gang member Will Fields, he continues to touch the lives of all those around him.
"I press my students to the limit. They know that when they graduate, I'll always have their back no matter where they are," Reese said.
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