The I-House Connection: December 2022

December 15, 2022

Dear Alumni and Friends,

In this issue of the I-House Connection, I’m delighted to announce the official opening of our newly remodeled Sproul Kitchen and Gamble Lounge. Many thanks to all of you who made this major facility upgrade possible for the benefit of our residents for many years to come.   

I’d also like to ask you to please join me in welcoming new I-House Philanthropy Advisor Samantha “Sam” DePetro-Wysuph. Sam’s picture and short bio are included below. 

I hope that you enjoy reading resident Oke Iroegbu’s “Sharing the Light, One Candle at a Time,” and that his poetry and perspectives remind you of the magic of Sunday Supper. 

During our Fall Annual Appeal season, I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank those who have already given this year and encourage you to do so if you haven’t already. Finally, if you are planning to be nearby I-House, please come visit us and enjoy the World Cup Championship game at the café! 

Sincerely,

Shaun Carver, I-House Executive Director

Shaun R. Carver
Executive Director
International House at UC Berkeley


New Resident Kitchen and Lounge Opens

I-House is pleased to announce the opening ofthe remodeled Sproul Kitchen and Gamble Lounge!  On behalf of the I-House community, I would like to thank our generous financial supporters, Ron Silva (I-House Board of Directors and Chair of the House Committee), Mark Cassetari (Director of Facilities) and his team (Miguel Orosco and Sergio Martinez), Stanley Wong and Pete Nava (Plant Construction), Cedric Martin (Director of Hospitality) and Nayeli Vivanco (VP of CILP) for making this happen. Also, thanks to the events and program teams, who gave up their offices to enlarge the space for residents.

New Resident Lounge (Gamble Lounge)

Upgrades

  • The kitchen is now ADA-accessible with ADA-friendly controls, cooking equipment, and supplies;
  • The kitchen has tripled in square footage, and counter space has increased by about 100x;
  • The space now includes:
    • a moveable island to increase shared workspace;
    • A dining table that can accommodate 14+ people;
    • A smaller table to accommodate 4-6 people;
    • Two large LCD TVs placed at both ends of the lounge;
    • Improved lighting and ventilation.

Kitchen Before

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

New resident kitchen


Staff Highlight: Meet Samantha DePetro-Wysuph, Philanthropy Advisor for International House

Samantha DePetro-WysuphSamantha DePetro-Wysuph is a San Francisco Bay Area native who brings over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector to her work at International House. She is passionate about nonprofit fundraising, strategy, management, and service work. She has held a variety of fundraising positions, including at the Violence Prevention and Women’s Resource Center, University of San Francisco, Kidango, Dominican University of CA, Catholic Charities, and she served on the Board of Directors at Berkeley's Ashkenaz center for music and dance.

Samantha writes, “I’m honored to join the I-House philanthropy team during this critical junction in history; our world needs more places like I-House to strengthen our common bonds, to resolve differences with respect, to develop friendships, and to lead the world towards justice and peace. In this short time, I’ve been tremendously impressed by the I-House community, so I’m excited to help people give back to a place that has changed their lives and changed the world.”

Samantha believes in world peace and social equity, and that everyone deserves equal access to a high-quality education, regardless of background or circumstances. Samantha holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco’s School of Management. She earned a BA in Political Science and a minor in Ahimsa nonviolence studies from Cal Poly Pomona. In her free time, you might find her on the hiking trail or camping with her dog, volunteering, watching Bay Area sports, enjoying our diverse arts and culture scene, or frequenting her local farmer’s market. 

Samantha looks forward to meeting I-House alumni and friends. She can be reached at (510) 643-3268 or by email at samanthadw@ihouseberkeley.org.


Sharing the Light, One Candle at a Time

Experience our recent Sunday Supper through the poetry and perspective of resident Oke Iroegbu from Nigeria. It was a lively evening of thoughtful discussions, new friendships, performances, delicious food, and sharing the light. Read the full blog post
Aerial view of candlelight ceremony at Sunday Supper
If you have memories and photos of Sunday Supper, please share them with us at alumni@ihouseberkeley.org.

Thanks for Supporting I-House

Thanks so much to our alumni and friends who have already donated to I-House this year! We are grateful for your support and your continued belief in the value of the I-House experience and our mission to foster intercultural understanding.

If you have yet to give, please make a gift today. Your donation of any size will support life-changing room and board scholarships, barrier-breaking intercultural programming, and the continued care of our beautiful and historic building.
Residents holding letters spelling out the words "THANK YOU!"


Join our Global Community, I-House Berkeley Connect

Join our Global Community, I-House Berkeley Connect at ihberkeleyconnect.org

Join our vibrant community of 2,035+ alumni, current residents, and staff. We encourage participation in this online global community at ihberkeleyconnect.org, where you can:

  • Connect with other members via video chat or direct message;
  • Browse the Alumni Directory and connect with I-House friends;
  • Post or browse job opportunities;
  • Offer mentoring or find a mentor;
  • List your business or passion project in the Business Hub;
  • Read Shaun Carver's Friday posts to stay in the know!

Join I-House Berkeley Connect Button


Watch World Cup Championship Game at Edmonds Café

World Cup Watch Party

We are pleased to invite alumni and friends of I-House and the general public to edmonds café to watch World Cup Championship Game (Argentina vs. France) at 7 a.m. on December 18. Come and order a hot or cold coffee drink, pastry, bagel, or sandwich. Enjoy the spacious and light-filled space and the panoramic view of the Bay Area from the window seats!

While our front entrance is still under construction, you can enter I-House on Bancroft Way during cafe business hours. 

Holiday Hours:

December 12-16
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

December 17-18
7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

December 19-20
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Winter Break Closure:

December 21, 2022 - January 8, 2023

Learn more about edmonds café at ihouse.berkeley.edu/cafe.

If you have moved, changed email or mailing addresses, or want to give us an exciting update, please let us know by replying to this email or by updating your profile in I-House Berkeley Connect. If you need some assistance or have any questions, we are happy to help!

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