This past week Kern CCD was proud to co-host the inaugural California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference here at the Bakersfield Marriott Convention Center. The event was completely sold out and more than 450 dual enrollment equity champions filled the ballroom where I gave the opening remarks on Tuesday morning. Kylie Campbell organized the event with the Career Ladders Project and Education Trust West.

A special thank you to Sandra Hernandez, member-at-large for the Tejon Indian Tribe for kicking the event off with a land acknowledgement and an encouraging message for our crowd.

Great lineup of speakers and panelists, including Ben Chida from Governor Newsom’s Office, Chris Nellum from The Education Trust–West, Linda Collins & Dr. Naomi Castro from Career Ladders Project, Sherrie Reed from California Education Lab, Olga Rodriguez from PPIC, Dr. Craig Hayward, Dr. Angelica Garcia from Berkeley City College, Dr. Keith Curry from Compton College, and Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud from RSSC. The event was emceed by Kylie Campbell, and also featured breakout sessions by high school and college partnership from across the state that highlighted work being down to reach underrepresented and marginalized student populations. We even had national guests from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) and DualEnroll.com. This was truly the dual enrollment event of the year here in California.

We had a great showing from Kern CCD leadership – Trustees Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, Yovani Jimenez, and Christina Scrivner and college Presidents Dr. Zav Dadabhoy, Dr. Claudia Habib, and Dr. Sean Hancock as well as incoming interim BC President Steven Watkin. Our colleges were well represented with administrators and faculty showing their support for equitable early college opportunities here in Kern County, and I am grateful to those who presented our practices to others from across the state–thank you, Kylie Campbell, Berenice Arellano, Alma Feathers, Lupe Aguirre, Jacqueline Stoner, Jesus Oropeza, and Helen Acosta for presenting.

Thank you to the CDE and College Futures for recognizing the 2022-2023 Exemplary Dual Enrollment Schools during our lunch. It was amazing to see each high school recognized for their incredible work, including four high schools from our partnerships here in Kern CCD.

The conference also included a very special student panel, which had attendees laughing and crying at points, but ultimately motivated them to do the hard work of removing barriers and increasing access for their students.

Several attendees then went on trips  to really see where the dual enrollment magic happens– at our high schools. Thank you, Arvin, East, CTEC, Delano, Wonderful, Wasco, and McFarland High Schools for hosting our guests. We are so grateful for our partnerships with you and were proud to show off the work that you are doing.

Arvin:

McFarland:

Here are some quotes from the event pulled from Twitter. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

“We must meet this moment and the historic funding opportunities in California to bring K12 and postsecondary together in support of our young people through a mindset of ABUNDANCE.” – Ben Chida, Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

“We need a system that realizes advancing equity can’t be left up to a single person. Individuals are not enough. We need systems to be better. – Dr. Christopher Nellum, Executive Director, The Education Trust—West“

“I think I just breathe and I disrupt things… Now it’s just at different tables. – Dr. Angelica Garcia, President, Berkeley City College“

“I have a sense of urgency, I wanted it yesterday. – Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, Founder & CEO, RSS Consulting“

“When we build relationships with our partners I can ask my local superintendent, ‘What can we do TOGETHER to serve more Black students?'” – Dr. Keith Curry, President, Compton College

“We have to disrupt the institutions and the replication of policies of exclusion AND we have to protect and nurture these public institutions. This is a contradiction in our work. We have to be fiercely maternal as we protect them even as we reform and remake them.” – Linda Collins, Founder & Executive Director, Career Ladders Project”

“One area of dual enrollment I would like to see improved is ACCESS.” – Yolanda Bailey, Dual Enrollment Student, Shafter High School & Bakersfield College

“Keep doing the work you are doing and thank you!” – Emilio Duran, Dual Enrollment Student, Wasco High School & Bakersfield College

“I will remember today as one of the best days in my career. Thank you for coming to Bakersfield to talk about two things near to my heart–dual enrollment and equity!”  – Kylie Campbell, Kern CCD

To learn more about this event you can visit https://www.kccd.edu/CADualEnrollmentEquityConference.

Trustee Romeo Agbalog on the Ralph Bailey Show

Good morning friends.
It is May 6, 2023.
The sun shines bright over Kern CCD.

---

Porterville College

Undocumented Student Services Information Dinner

Thinking about enrolling in college? We can help! Join us to learn more about Porterville College Undocumented Student Services and the opportunities we have for you.

May 17 2023 | 5-7 pm | Porterville College Cafeteria (100 E College Ave, Porterville)

Event resources include:

• Counselors/Advisors
• Registration for Summer/Fall 2023
• Immigration Services
• Financial Aid/DREAM Act Services

For more information and to reserve your seat, contact:

• Jocelyn Nava, (559) 791-2224 (jocelyn.nava@portervillecollege.edu)
• Rosaura Baca, (559) 791-2312 (rosaura.baca@portervillecollege.edu)

Nursing Students Brunch

In April, Sierra View Medical Center hosted a brunch event for Porterville College Nursing Students graduating this May.

Students learned about nursing careers at Sierra View Medical Center while having the chance to win giveaways and raffle prizes.

---

Cerro Coso Community College

The Band is Back Together

After a several-year hiatus, the Cerro Coso Community College Band welcomed music lovers back on campus. The concert, which closed out with a montage of songs from “The Blues Brothers,” was conducted by Debra Veit. The concert also featured the premiere of an original piece by local musician Jordan Covert.

This is just the beginning of live concerts making a return to Cerro Coso, so keep an eye out for future shows!

42nd Annual Access Awards Ceremony

Students in Cerro Coso’s Access Programs were recognized for their achievements at the 42nd Annual Access Awards Ceremony. The students included in the photos here are just a handful of the many who achieved their educational goals with support from Access Programs.

Also recognized at the event was Dr. Guck Ooi, our 2023 Access Faculty of the Year.

Cerro Coso’s Access Programs include five separate programs designed to help students overcome barriers in obtaining their education. Services include assigned counselors and support teams, book vouchers, networking and leadership training, and much more.

Congratulations to everyone involved, including staff and faculty. We are proud of all of you!

Cerro Coso to host Yard Game Zone at A Night on Balsam

Cerro Coso Community College will be providing free fun activities for Night on Balsam attendees, such as Jenga, Connect 4, Ring Toss, and Cornhole!

Friday, May 19th, @ 6:00pm on Balsam Street, Downtown Ridgecrest

---

Bakersfield College

Renegades are Transferring

The spring semester for many students is a season and period of excitement as they look forward to graduation. The semester is also a period of preparation and anticipation for our BC Renegades who applied to transfer and received their well-earned offers of admission letters and communication from their respective four-year universities. Way to go Renegades and congratulations!

BC Recognized on National Arbor Day

Bakersfield College celebrated National Arbor Day with a small ceremony. BC’s campus locations have been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as Tree Campus Higher Education. It was also announced that BC has been recognized with the ArbNet certification from the Morton Arboretum as the second community college with this designation.

Parent University Graduation Celebration

Bakersfield College recently celebrated the inaugural Parent University graduation in collaboration with the Bakersfield City School District (BCSD). The evening honored 58 parents who completed an Introduction to Early Care and Education Certificate of Completion (non-credit) offered by Bakersfield College; the program is designed to provide opportunities for parents of children attending BCSD schools. The event took place on Thursday, April 20th at the Historic Fox Theater in Downtown Bakersfield.

In the News

Bakersfield College graduate reflects on time as Renegade

23ABC’s Kallyn Hobmann sat down with BC Student Government Association President and Kern CCD Student Trustee Shehrazad Barraj to talk about graduation.

Check it out at https://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/bakersfield-college-graduate-reflect-on-time-as-renegade

Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media

Check out these photos from the California Community Colleges Women’s Caucus welcome reception at the annual CCLC Trustees Conference. Kern CCD Trustees Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg and Yovani Jimenez were in attendance:

From PC President Claudia Habib:

Congratulations to ZeroNox and the Jospong Group from Ghana🇬🇭 for this unique international partnership #CleanEnergy #Sustainable #Renewable #CleanTransportation
@PCollegePirates
is proud to contribute to this partnership #Curriculum #Workforce Transformation through innovation.

And from BC Agriculture Professor Chris McCraw:

Congrats to Jesus Rojas, 4th overall in the Ag Ambassadors Job Interview contest! Well done!!

******

Tagged: #KernCCDDaringMightyThings, Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso College, Kern Community College District, Porterville College, Sonya Christian