250 years!
Long enough for a nation to reinvent itself again and again.
What has been a forever … a constant… is the story of possibility.
America’s belief that a person’s future should not be determined by where they were born, what resources they inherited, or the circumstances they faced along the way. It is the enduring idea that the American Dream should be within reach for everyone.
Few institutions embody that ideal more fully than community colleges.
Community colleges are a uniquely American invention. They were created on a simple premise:
Higher education should not be reserved for a select few. It should be readily available to all who seek to learn, grow, and contribute.
As we navigate an era shaped by artificial intelligence, climate challenges, economic transformation, and rapid social change, community colleges continue to stand at the intersection of opportunity and hope. Yes, we prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow, and perhaps more importantly, we also help them develop the judgment, resilience, and civic responsibility needed to strengthen the communities they call home.
America’s 250th is an invitation to recommit ourselves to the values that have always moved our nation forward: opportunity, service, innovation, and the belief that every person has something to contribute.
Across California’s 116 community colleges, I see those values alive every day.
I see them in the student veteran walking into a classroom after military service.
I see them in the working parent taking evening classes after a full day of work.
I see them in the first-generation college student who dares to imagine a future different from the one they inherited.
I see them in the California Community College faculty member, the classified professional and the administrator who refuses to give up on a single student.
I see them in communities that continue to believe that education remains one of the most powerful forces for individual opportunity and collective progress.
If the first 250 years of the American story were about expanding the boundaries of freedom and opportunity, then let the next 250 years be about ensuring that opportunity reaches every community, every family, and every learner.
The American experiment remains unfinished, renewed by each generation through learning, innovation, and service. Every day, across California Community Colleges, in classrooms, laboratories, apprenticeships, libraries, learning centers, and online, millions of students are writing the next chapter of that story.
As we celebrate 250 years, may we have the wisdom to learn from the past, the courage to meet the challenges of the present, and the imagination to build a future worthy of those who come after us.
That is the work before us.
That is the promise of education.
That is the mission of the California Community Colleges.
Our time is now.
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Join the California Community Colleges in marking America’s 250th Anniversary and celebrating the students, graduates, and communities building California and the nation at https://www.cccco.edu/America250 –
and check out the video below:
Blast from the past
July 4, 2020
I also wanted to share these two Substack interviews from the California Learning Lab Director, Lark Park.
First, interview with Anna Mills from College of Marin. She’s a leader in integration of AI in education.
The second interview is with Dr. Michelle Pacansky-Brock, who is leading efforts for equitable, AI-informed teaching practices across the California community colleges.
Good morning California.
It is July 4, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
Cerritos College breaks ground on milestone Child Development Center Expansion
Marking a monumental step forward for local families and future educators, Cerritos College officially broke ground on the expansion of its award-winning Child Development Center (CDC). The event celebrated a major community investment aimed at tackling the center’s hundreds-long waiting list, expanding high-quality early childhood education, and providing critical, hands-on training for the next generation of educators.
Hartnell College Expands Nursing Partnership with Salinas Valley Health
Hartnell College and Salinas Valley Health marked National Nurses Day with the announcement of a major expansion of their more than 20-year partnership, aimed at strengthening the regional nursing workforce and increasing access to healthcare careers for local students. The expansion includes a 1.5 million, three-year investment from Salinas Valley Health, building on a previous $3 million contribution to support Hartnell College’s nursing program and expand hands-on clinical training. As part of the effort, nursing student capacity at Hartnell College will increase by 50%, from 50 to 75 students annually.
Irvine Valley College Black Student Success Scholars
Explore HBCUs Across Texas and Louisiana
Fifteen students in IVC’s Black Student Success Scholars (BSSS) program recently took part in a multi-day tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across Texas and Louisiana. Throughout the experience, students explored transfer opportunities, learned about academic programs, and experienced the culture and traditions of HBCU campuses firsthand. The group visited schools including Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, Grambling State University, and Xavier University of Louisiana.
In Case You Missed It
Newsom’s final education budget, by the numbers
In his eighth and final budget, the tax gods continued to smile upon Gov. Gavin Newsom, enabling him to cement funding for signature programs he started while salving grumbling districts that are wincing over the financial impacts of declining enrollment.
If, as many predict, stock market turbulence tied to AI stock upends nearly a decade of rising revenues for schools, it won’t be on Newsom’s watch.
On Monday, the Legislature passed the main budget bill that Newsom and legislators negotiated. Most of the key details for TK-12 schools are in the accompanying legislation, Assembly Bill 126, whose passage is all but certain on Thursday, the final day before lawmakers’ summer recess.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From Lake Tahoe Community College:
Congratulations to the 91 graduates of LTCC’s Rising Scholars Program, which supports students who are currently or formerly incarcerated, on parole or probation, or otherwise justice-impacted as they pursue higher education and brighter futures.
This record-breaking class earned 176 degrees and 175 certificates. Among the graduates were some of California’s first students to earn an Associate of Science in Forestry while incarcerated through LTCC’s partnership with Growlersburg Conservation Camp.
The evening also marked the final Rising Scholars graduation for Program Director Shane Reynolds. For the past 11 years, his belief in the power of education, second chances, and student potential has transformed countless lives. The community he helped build and the opportunities he created will continue to shape futures for years to come.
Congratulations, Class of 2026. And thank you to Growlersburg Conservation Camp and Shane for believing in the power of education and making these milestones possible.
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From De Anza College:
Congratulations to De Anza’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter for their incredible performance at the FBLA National Leadership Conference! The team earned six first, second and third-place placements. More than 1,300 students competed at the conference.
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From Allan Hancock College:
Congratulations to Hancock student Leticia Mendez on being selected for REACH’s inaugural Space Vandenberg Summer Internship Program! Way to represent Hancock, Leticia! We can’t wait to see all you accomplish this summer.
And From the Home of the Renegades
Renegade Athletic Complex Receives Project Achievement Award from CMAA
The Renegade Athletic Complex (RAC) recently received a Project Achievement Award from the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Southern California Chapter. Each year the CMAA SoCal Chapter recognizes creativity and architectural achievement in construction projects in their region. The awards committee reviews hundreds of applications and selects the “projects that serve as an example to the industry and true pinnacles of excellence and innovation*.” Bakersfield College received the award during the organization’s Annual Awards Gala which took place in Los Angeles last month.
Marcos Rodriguez, Executive Director of Facilities and Operations at BC, attended the GALA and played a part in the RAC receiving the award. “The CMAA is the premier construction management group for Southern California,” he said, “and we were probably the only ones recognized in Kern County. It’s nice to receive recognition and it generates a sense of accomplishment.” Headed by the local contractor SC Anderson, the project was already in progress when Mr. Rodriguez came to BC in 2021, and he was happy to keep things moving forward. “There are lot of things that go into a project that you would not consider, “he said, “and it takes a team to bring across the finish line – and we like to highlight what we have accomplished here.”
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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
