Temple’s Pan-African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP) has a lot to look forward to this year. In addition to celebrating more than 40 years of service to the North Philadelphia community, the program will welcome a new director.

Ulicia Lawrence-Oladeinde, EDU ’05, ’08, a long time employee of the Center for Social Policy and Community Development, will take over direction of the program this month.

PASCEP has been a part of Temple’s community education offerings since it was founded by Annie D. Hyman, SSW ’76, in 1979. PASCEP offers classes in general education diploma (GED) preparation, personal and professional development and other topics.

Under Oladeinde’s direction, the program will expand to include more input from the community.

“Change is inevitable,” she said. “An advisory board will become part of the governance and voice of the community. There will also be a marked increase in collaborative programming with community organizations next year.”

A second generation South Philadelphia resident, Oladeinde began working in 1997 as a consultant for the Center for Social Policy and Community Development, teaching medical accounts management and billing to students enrolled in the Project Connect program. The population served included underemployed and unemployed community members, veterans and welfare recipients.

In 2000 she became the Neighborhood Adult Basic Education Program Coordinator and began incorporating life skills and workforce development into the center’s curriculum.

Under her direction the program experienced an increase in applications for educational services provided to low literacy adults, people with both diagnosed and undiagnosed learning disabilities, reentry citizens, and referred mental health patients.

“Ulicia comes to PASCEP with 20 years of experience in workforce development,” said Beverly Coleman, assistant vice president of Community Relations. “Her wealth of knowledge, experience and passion will help the program stay relevant to the communities we serve.”  

Oladeinde is also a PASCEP alumna. She attended her first PASCEP class with her daughter in 1994, and went on to take several classes within the program.

“Everything I have done over the past two decades has led to my future with PASCEP,” said Oladeinde. “I have a passion for teaching and training adults to navigate institutional systems that will help them access training and lifelong skills to enhance their lives, their families, and their communities.”