What a busy week! Across the country and back.
On Saturday, headed out to Morgantown home of West Virginia University where my best friend from high school teaches in the Life Sciences department.
On Sunday headed with the team to Washington DC to elevate the visibility of the work being done at California Community colleges. The team included – Deputy Chancellor Daisy Gonzales and Vice Chancellor of Government Relations David O’Brien; from the Board of Governors, President Amy Costa & Pamela Haynes; from the Foundation for California Community Colleges, Executive Director of Workforce Development Tim Aldinger.
Then headed to San Diego for the DEI Conference and then back home Friday night.
Here are some photos:
Morgantown visiting my friend who cooked great Kerala dishes and event packed some food for the road…. yuuum.


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Washington DC visit
Department of Education:


Department of Energy:

Department of Labor:

Senator Alex Padilla:

A must-do photo of the Washington monument every time I visit DC:

Check out Little Amal who visited DC. Little Amal represents a fictional nine-year-old Syrian girl, representing displaced children today. The giant puppet was created by the South Africa-based Handspring Puppet Company.
“The Walk” tells Amal’s life story, her search for her mother and her flight to safety.
Check out this video from Georgetown University about it:
Goodbye for now DC


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After a few jam-packed days in DC, we headed to San Diego for the DEIA in Action Institute.
At the conclusion of my talk, I invited the leadership at the Chancellor’s Office to come up on stage with me – John Hetts, Daisy Gonzales, Pamela Haynes, Marc LeForestier, Lizette Navarette and Aisha Lowe. Check out the photo.

What a wonderful week!
Good morning California.
It is September 23, 2023.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
CCC Presidents Selected for Aspen Presidents Fellowship

Claudia Lourido-Habib, and Julius Sokenu
The College Excellence Program announced the cohort of college presidents for the 2023-2024 Aspen Presidents Fellowship. Several of our California Community College Presidents were selected:
- Tawny Dotson, Yuba College
- Michael Gutierrez, Hartnell College
- Jim Limbaugh, West Los Angeles College
- Claudia Lourido-Habib, Porterville College
- Julius Sokenu, Moorpark College
Congratulations to all!
» Read more about the 2023-2024 Presidents Fellows
Las Positas College Hosts Black College Day
Las Positas College hosted its first annual Black Family Day. “It really ties into our educational master plan, which is to be the destination campus for Black students and other students of color here in the Tri-Valley,” said LPC President Dr. Dyrell Foster.

Cerritos College Hosts Event For The College Tour Episode

Cerritos College is featured in a 30-minute episode of The College Tour, an Amazon Prime streaming series. This week, Cerritos College hosted an exclusive screening of the episode at their Performing Arts Center.
Check out the video below:
San Joaquin Delta College Launches Free Public Fitness Court
Delta College celebrated the opening of a new outdoor exercise facility known as a Fitness Court, part of an initiative by National Fitness Campaign (NFC) to plan, build, and fund healthy communities across the country.

In Case You Missed It
NANDI: Reimagining Success
The Nandi Symposium will center the voices of Black women while also creating space for all professionals and students in the California Community College System to be in community with one another. The Nandi Symposium is being brought to you in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
When: Thursday, October 5; 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Where: Westin Los Angeles Airport
For more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nandi-symposium-tickets-700528769407?aff=oddtdtcreator
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From MiraCosta College President Sunita Cooke:
@MiraCosta representing @NCAAWA Annual Gentlemen’s Gourmet scholarship fundraiser. TY to our talented chefs, volunteers, and donors! Shout out to Trustee Raye Clendening, @RepMikeLevin @jim_desmond @joegreen760 @satiaaustin

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From CA Assembly Member & Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon:
Yes! This is exactly why we formed the paid Community College Internship for the Assembly. This is such an important program. Community college students are incredibly diverse, and have so much to offer. Uplifting them benefits everybody.
The Assembly’s community college interns are placed in Member offices (both Republican and Democrat) to learn how the legislature functions. One of these interns, Frank Arenas, works in my office. He’s an aspiring attorney, and has been a wonderful addition to the team.



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From Lassen College:
Thank you to our amazing students and staff for representing LCC this morning at The Out of the Darkness Community Walk. This walk is a journey of remembrance, hope, and support. It unites our communities and provides an opportunity to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental health conditions have affected our lives and the lives of those we love and care about.

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From Kern CCD Trustee Yovani Jimenez:
Grateful for an inspiring State of the College event at @PCollegePirates, celebrating their achievements and future vision with Dr. @PortervillePrez and the PC team. I am excited for what’s to come!

And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Learning Resource Center in Delano

Bakersfield College hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday morning for the newly finished multipurpose building at BC’s Delano campus. The ceremony marked a significant milestone for the college in its commitment to providing enhanced and expanded educational opportunities to students in North Kern.


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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.

That’s all for today.
See you next Saturday!
With much hope and joy,
Your Chancellor,
-sonya
#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora