This week, I traveled down to San Diego again. This time for the ASU GSV conference.
Check out this 30-sec video of the Coronado Bridge, the water, and 2 men fishing.
I took the ferry back-and-forth to the conference site at the convention center.
At the conference, I joined ASU President Michael Crow & Silicon Valley Community Foundation President Nicole Taylor for a Sunstage X Coffee session to discuss the revolution in education & learning technology for California learners.
Good morning California. It is April 20, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Long Beach City College to Receive Nearly $1 Million in Federal Funding to Train “Space Beach” Workforce and Bolster Aerospace Program
Thanks to the advocacy of Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42), Long Beach City College (LBCC) will receive $963,000 from the Community Project Funding to update the college’s engineering and aerospace programs. The federal investment will fund advanced manufacturing equipment to train LBCC students as skilled technicians for the growing “Space Beach” aerospace industry hub in Long Beach.
College of the Redwoods Holds “Breaking the Cycle” Event for Formerly Incarcerated Students
College of the Redwood’s Breaking the Cycle event brought together over 115 people from around the North Coast to examine the realities of life for formerly incarcerated student scholars. The event provided a tremendous opportunity to help empower and better understand these students’ journey.
Moreno Valley College Guitarist Wins the Los Angeles American String Teachers Association Competition
Moreno Valley College’s Laurel Harned, a second-year virtuoso guitarist, won first prize at the Los Angeles American String Teachers Association competition in April. The victory was her second after winning the Denver Guitar Competition in October. » Read More!
Federal Funds Headed to Mt. San Antonio College’s Wildland Fire Technology Program
Mt. SAC’s new Wildland Fire Technology program will be able to purchase much-needed equipment and supplies thanks to a half-million dollars in federal funding recently approved by Congress and President Biden. The college requested $534,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending through the offices of Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler.
AI Challenge from the California Education Learning Lab
The California Education Learning Lab (Learning Lab) is pleased to announce two new grant opportunities to promote AI-integrated innovation in teaching and learning at California Community Colleges (CCC), and California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) campuses. These funding opportunities will help to position California public higher education faculty as thought leaders and changemakers in the intersection between AI and education.
The 2024 Black Student Success Week is scheduled for April 22-26, 2024. This year’s theme is Building a Better Future Together: the Urgency is Now. The 2024 Black Student Success Week will focus on innovative approaches to ensure Black and African American students succeed in community colleges.
From Palomar College – it was a pleasure to meet you!
Grateful that two of our @palomarcomets trustees (@Roberto63 and Dr. Judy Patacsil) were able to attend the @CalCommColleges sponsored, “Trustee Welcome: Leading for California Students and Communities” event in Sacramento. Go Comets!
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From Folsom Lake College:
FLC President Art Pimentel is part of the Capital-to-Capital delegation in Washington, D.C. right now. This morning he met with members of the U.S. Department of Education to advocate for FLC students and on behalf of community colleges. #captocap#falconpride#supportingstudents
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From Butte College:
Congratulations to the 17 cadets who received their badges and formally became State Park Peace Officers on Friday after completing the California State Park Peace Officer Cadet Academy at Butte College!
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And from Mt. San Jacinto College:
The Selena Day Painting Parties were a hit this week!
And From the Home of the Renegades
Career Education Department Hosts 2024 Spring Health Fair
The Bakersfield College Career Education Department hosted the Spring 2024 Health Career Fair to provide BC students with education opportunities, career advancement, and resources in the healthcare field. The event took place in the Renegade Crossroads on BC’s Panorama Campus.
This week, parts of the United States, Mexico & Canada were treated to one of the rarest & most beautiful phenomena – a total solar eclipse. In California, it was a partial social eclipse.
Check out this video from NASA of highlights from the eclipse:
When he started teaching in 1978, Patrick Moriarty passed out worksheets to his science class, showing the trajectories of upcoming eclipses. Only one was expected to pass near their hometown in Upstate New York, but watching it as a class was going to be difficult — it wouldn’t occur for nearly five decades.
“Hey, circle that one on April 8, 2024,” Moriarty recalled telling his students. “We’re going to get together on that one.”
On Monday, Moriarty fulfilled his promise when about 100 former students watched the total solar eclipse from the driveway of his Rochester, N.Y., home. But ultimately it wasn’t the eclipse that astonished Moriarty — it was his students.
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I began my week at the 2024 Pathways to Equity Conference in Anaheim.
I asked my keynote time to be split between my opening remarks and a student panel. Our students were fantastic – Jessica Lopez, Jessica Velez, Esteban Zeferino & Alexis Primo.
Jessica Lopez, a recent graduate of Coastline Community College and transfer student to ASU, was born without hands and feet, and battling a chronic illness, Jessica’s story is one full of institutional barriers, systems of inequity and her resilience to overcome them is remarkable. Here is a link to her LinkedIn profile – https://www.linkedin.com/in/realjessl/
Alexis Primo, a single mother of two, who had to close her home childcare business in the face of COVID. Needing to make ends meet for her family, Alexis faced system barriers, and situations difficult to overcome, but she found the way out through a noncredit business pathway at San Diego College of Continuing Education.
Jessica Velez, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran who became a single mom and needed help with housing and finances. Education and a degree seemed out of reach at the margins, and Jessica’s stressful daily grind did not align with the structure and mainstream messaging about who belonged at college. Facing the difficulties addressing her basic needs, Jessica’s story is testimony of her resilience in finding allies.
Esteban Zeferino, who currently serves as a work study student in Santa Ana College’s Rising Scholars Program, assisting with the onboarding process of other justice impacted members of the Santa Ana community. Esteban’s story of survival and will is a stark reminder of how those out of sight and marginalized must be brought into our equity work.
With BOG member Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg:
Wednesday was CCC Advocacy Day. It was a great day meeting with many state leaders to support our California Community College students.
Love this fun photo of walking to the Capitol with Amy Costa, Board President.
At Senator Newman’s Office
With our student Jacob from Sierra and Board Members Paul Medina and Harry LeGrand
Recognizing Senator Ashby at the Legislative Champions Reception
Trustee Welcome event in Sacramento
Good morning California. It is April 13, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Grossmont College Introduces Innovative Student-Centered Space The Village
Step inside the second floor of the Grossmont College Tech Mall, and you’ll find one of the most unique and transformative spaces on the Grossmont College campus. The Village is a brand-new student cultural hub that includes student services, community, and culture. It also brings together specialized counseling programs under one roof.
Colleg of the Canyons Instructor Selected to Represent COC in Iceland
Holly Hitt-Zuniga, an architecture and interior design instructor at College of the Canyons, has been selected to represent the college and the National Science Foundation’s Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education (CREATE) in Iceland as part of a 10-person delegation of educators participating in an international education program focused on clean energy and electric transportation.
Ventura College Holds Annual Diversity in Culture Festival
Ventura College held the 2024 Diversity in Culture Festival April 10-11. This year’s theme was returning to our roots with nature and highlighting Indigenous Culture worldwide.
Woodland Community College hosts Lake County Restaurant Expo
On January 29, Lake County Campus was host to the Lake County Restaurant Expo organized by the Lake County Economic Development Corporation. The event is part of an initiative to support the local food service and restaurant industry.
Four student leaders, dedicated to equity and inclusion on campus and in their communities, have been honored with the California Community College’s annual Student Leadership Award.
April Brown of Long Beach City College, Claudette Clark of Cuyamaca College, Jessica Lopez of Coastline College and Nikhil Masand of Contra Costa College were recognized April 5th at the Student Senate for California Community Colleges 28th General Assembly in Santa Clara.
Bridge Program founders Kate Pluta and Kim Flachman
A literary love story: Local colleges collaborate on English programs at conference
Kim Flachmann, the coordinator of the writing program at CSUB, and Kate Pluta, a retired English professor from BC, originally started the conference with a $13,000 grant and a goal to create a smoother pathway for English students to transfer from BC to CSUB.
Flachmann and Pluta chose to collaborate on their English programming rather than compete in the interest of their students. Flachmann calls it “the love story” between the two colleges that started more than 30 years ago.
Making an Impact in California – Higher Education Leaders on Learning & the Ed Tech Revolution
On Monday, April 15, at 10:30 am, I will join ASU President Michael Crow at the ASU+GSV Summit. We will present a session – “Making an Impact in California – Higher Education Leaders on Learning & the Ed Tech Revolution.”
I was honored to be invited to speak on a student panel to open the California Community Colleges Pathways to Equity Conference on Monday. Seeing Chancellor Christian’s commitment to equity and accessibility within the higher education was impactful, and I appreciated the opportunity to share my story with the leaders of the community college system.
Here are the key takeaways I hope the audience received from my story: • Online education may not be for everyone, but it’s necessary to offer it. It expands access to higher education in ways traditional education has never done. Coastline College served 56% percent of all disabled students within the Coast Community College School District. This represents the fact that disabled students are drawn to online learning formats. • Accessibility is not about compliance, it’s about culture. With over 1 billion disabled people in the world, we make up a wide variety of artists, inventors, administrators, and leaders. Schools that highlight diversity will serve their disabled students better by elevating disability as a culture and celebrating it as an identity, rather than just a compliance issue. • Schools that allow their online students to participate through hybrid events will find higher student engagement. Not everyone can make it to an in-person event, but it doesn’t mean they don’t want to participate.
The biggest takeaway from my story is that my story isn’t unique at all, it’s extremely common. As such, my place within this world isn’t to make people feel good or inspired, it’s to teach them how to serve.
I was approached by many people after the student panel who told me that my story was inspiring. That may be intended as a compliment and I appreciate that sentiment. However, a true compliment would be to tell me that my story made you rethink how you do your work. My goal is for people to come away with a direct policy you’ve identified that can be changed to make your institution more inclusive to disabled people. That’s true inspiration.
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From Cerro Coso Community College:
It was an amazing evening at Cerro Coso Community College’s Denim and Diamonds event. A great opportunity to focus on how Cerro Coso Community College gives the Eastern Sierra region access to higher education. President Sean Hancock shared how their college is an engine of opportunity for thousands of students. Dr. Richard Jones, the first President of the college, honored the attendees with his inspirational speech about the beginning of the college. Such an uplifting night at one of our sister colleges in the Kern Community College District. #collaboration #studentsuccess #highereducation
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From West Valley College:
What an amazing day on campus as we welcomed students from 16 Bay Area high schools for the Black Student Summit! Major props to Phil Severe for leading this effort and our Umoja Community of student leaders for showing our prospective Vikings a great day at WVC! #gowest#getfutureready
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From Los Angeles Harbor College:
LAHC Dual Enrollment Team in the House @ San Pedro High! Come see us at the San Pedro High Open House. So Pirates and Go Seahawks!
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And check out this video from Folsom Lake College:
Here are my remarks from the Educators for Peace virtual event back in 2021:
And From the Home of the Renegades
Garden Fest at Bakersfield College Postponed to April 27th Due to Weather
Garden Fest, previously scheduled for Saturday, April 13, 2024, has been postponed due to anticipated adverse weather conditions. The event will now take place on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Check out this photo collage (less than 5-min) video of the first 6 months of Vision 2030:
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This week started with a Monday holiday honoring Cesar Chavez. After that, it was another busy week of travel!
On Tuesday, I joined fellow members of the Governor’s Council for Career Education to visit Sierra College’s workforce programs. Before the Council meeting the First Partner swung by to do a tour of the mechatronics program.
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On Wednesday, we had a System Webinar, “Our Time is Now! Advancing California’s Economy Through Community Colleges.” This month, I was joined by Assemblymember Dawn Addis, who is the author of our sponsored bill, AB 1885, College Access for Students with Disabilities Act.
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On Thursday, I spent much of the day visiting San Bernardino Community College District. Chancellor Diana Rodriguez is a rock star. All the trustees came out in full force.
It was great to see BOG member Joseph Williams on his home turf!
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Back at home, I was able to enjoy Neo and the start of the rose season.
Good morning California. It is April 6, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Norco College Receives RP Group Outstanding Project Award for Faculty Impact on Black Student Success
Norco College announces its recognition as the recipient of the 2024 RP Group Outstanding Project of the Year Award for its groundbreaking initiative, “Faculty Impact on Black Student Success.” The project, led by Dr. Greg Aycock, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, and Caitlin Busso, Institutional Research Specialist, has been lauded for its significant contributions to student success and institutional effectiveness.
Santa Monica College Law Pathway Program Receives Diversity Champion Award
The Santa Monica College (SMC) Law Pathway program has been honored with the Diversity Champion Award, established in 2016 by the California LAW Pathways Advisory Council to recognize outstanding organizations for their efforts in supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the law field. The award was announced at the Annual Pathways to Law Summit held Feb. 23 – 24 at UC Davis School of Law. Past awardees include UC Berkeley School of Law, UCLA School of Law, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, Rio Hondo College, and Saddleback College, among many others.
Fresno City College Celebrates Social Justice Center Grand Opening
Last month, Fresno City College celebrated the grand opening of the Social Justice Center. The new center is designed to engage the campus and greater community in cultivating and promoting social justice and equity on campus, locally, nationally, and globally.
Laney College Eagle’s Nest Addresses Clothing Insecurity with Popup Event
On March 20, 2024, in the Laney College Student Center, the Laney College Eagle’s Nest, which is the College’s Basic Needs Center, hosted a “pop-up” style event focusing on giving away clothing to students in need. All items were free, gently worn items, including shoes, for women, men, and children. In addition to these much-needed resources for students, students were also offered hygiene kits and other basic needs resources.
Challenges for Higher Education: An Emerging Skills Shortage and Inequity in the Workforce
George Boggs and I co-wrote this piece in Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.
American higher education is called upon to serve a variety of purposes: advancement of knowledge, expansion of cultural appreciation, extending understanding of societal benefits and obligations, and preparing a diversity of students with the skills they need for a successful and rewarding life. These missions are important to the well-being of our people and the strength of our country. Recently, it has become apparent that higher education must give increased attention to skill development and educational attainment.
The 2024 Black Student Success Week is scheduled for April 22-26, 2024. This year’s theme is Building a Better Future Together: the Urgency is Now. The 2024 Black Student Success Week will focus on innovative approaches to ensure Black and African American students succeed in community colleges. Administrators, faculty, staff & students from across the California Community Colleges are invited to join for a series of daily webinars.
ICYMI: On 3/29, students in the Citrus College Cosmetology & Esthetician programs provided Whitcomb High School students with hairstyles, makeup & manicures for their prom! This was a free community service event & about 25 Citrus College students participated. Way to go, Owls!
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From Gavilan College:
GAV COLLABORATES WITH UC MASTER GARDENERS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY ON CESAR CHAVEZ DAY! Thank you to Gav’s Dean of Counseling, Student Success and Equity, Diego Espinoza (pictured standing, second from left) for coordinating a Cesar Chavez Day of Service with the South County Teaching and Demo Garden in San Martin. Despite the cold and drizzle, students, and even President Avila, came out to honor the legacy of labor rights leader, Cesar Chavez, by volunteering, and led by Master Gardeners.
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And check out this video from San Diego College of Continuing Education, highlighting the 2024 surviveHEADSTRONG Walk and Health Fair:
Blast from the Past
Here are my video remarks from the Jean Fuller Women in Leadership Panel on March 4, 2021:
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC And Wonderful Industrial Park Support Local Workforce
Bakersfield College was honored to gather with leaders from the Wonderful Industrial Park (WIP) to learn more about the exciting growth opportunities taking place in the WIP! Leaders from organizations such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, the City of Shafter, and others came together to provide updates on their operations. It was a valuable opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the dynamic ecosystem that drives economic development in the region.
I started my week at the Board of Governors meeting in Sacramento.
I hope you are all enjoying a beautiful and restful Easter weekend.
Good morning California. It is March 30, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Six New Bachelor’s Degree Programs Approved for California Community Colleges
As part of a continued effort to enhance accessibility to four-year degrees, California Community Colleges will soon offer six new bachelor’s degrees programs, bringing the total number of bachelor’s degree programs that are now offered, or soon to be available, within the system to 39.
The new programs are Respiratory Care at Antelope Valley College, Paramedicine at College of the Siskiyous, Dental Hygiene at Cypress College and Oxnard College, Paralegal Studies at Santa Ana College and Respiratory Care Therapist at Victor Valley College.
Hartnell College Unveils El Mercado to Combat Student Food Insecurity
Hartnell College proudly announces the grand opening of El Mercado, an on-campus market set to launch on April 1, 2024. Developed by the Hartnell College SOUL Center (Office of Basic Needs), El Mercado is an innovative initiative designed to provide students with free, easy access to essential groceries, personal care items, and basic necessities throughout the year.
College of Alameda Launches its Rising Scholars Initiative for Student Success
College of Alameda’s Rising Scholars initiative kicked off with its first meeting in early February, bringing together college members and various community partners to launch a program aimed at supporting student academic success.
Chaffey College’s Unity in Community Draws Hundreds
More than 200 students, faculty and staff members gathered for Chaffey College’s “Unity in Community” event Jan. 31, enjoying an afternoon of food, music and program information.
The event featured eight groups including Prism and the Lavender Coalition – supporting the undocumented and LGBTQIA+ community – as well as Umoja, Puente, the Center for Culture and Social Justice, Rising Scholars, the ethnic studies program and the Veterans Resource Center.
EdSource: California’s new cradle-to-career system can illuminate student pathways
California recently took a big step toward making data available in tangible, easy-to-access ways. The new California Cradle-to-Career Data System (C2C) connects the dots from early and K-12 education, to higher education and the workforce. It’s a new, longitudinal data system that can enable people to make more informed decisions about their lives. As early as 2024, Californians will have access to C2C’s first planned dashboard.
California Competes, Ed Trust West Announce New Digital Hub for Student Parent Success
California Competes and Ed Trust West launched a new digital hub for student parents. The website brings together resources, advocacy efforts & engagement opportunities aimed at empowering student parents statewide.
Yesterday we hosted our second annual Big Time. Thank you to our Native American Center, and Student Services for creating this event and space for our students and community.
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From BOG Member Paul Medina:
Meet Lorenzo Valdez-Larios. He is a student at LA Pierce College. Although he isn’t officially in student government, he loves helping out with many activities such as this @piercecollegeaso sponsored Block Party.
Fun fact: I never met Lorenzo until yesterday. He recognized me from my Instagram page and we struck up a conversation.
Next to me is Dean Will Marmolejo. I first met him a few weeks ago at a Vision 2030 event on dual enrollment at LA Southwest College.
He is a well liked leader on campus and loves to champion student centered issues. I’m glad that @pierce_college has good people like Lorenzo and Dean Will.
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From Mt. San Jacinto College:
Last night, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society held its induction ceremony to recognize the outstanding students of Mt. San Jacinto College! Welcome the new members of the chapter and organization.
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Blast from the Past
Check out this video from Bakersfield College’s 2016 Chicano Commencement – less than 5 minutes.
And From the Home of the Renegades
The 2024 Bakersfield College Garden Fest
Get ready for one of the community’s favorite events of the year! Bakersfield College’s Garden Fest will take place Saturday, April 13, 2024.
Attendees can take part in various gardening seminars where experts will share tricks and tips to cultivate your green thumb, browse various plants and decor items for home and garden, and splurge at one of the food trucks.
Spring 2024 is officially here … and with it beautiful skies and bursts of spring flowers to enjoy during my sunrise and sunset Neo walks.
Another busy week of traveling
On Tuesday, I presented Vision 2030 at Citrus College.
I headed to San Diego on Wednesday to co-present with Eloy Oakley at the California Guided Pathways Institute. It was a lot of fun and we got an opportunity to visit on designing a potential project on Guided Pathways in the space of economic mobility.
On Thursday, March 21st, I joined Pam Haynes and Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg on a panel moderated by Cindy Miles at the ACCT Governance Leadership Institute in Long Beach.
And we celebrated Neo’s seventh birthday on March 17, 2024. Spent a lot of time in the backyard which is what he loves doing.
Good morning California. It is March 23, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Netflix Partners with LATTC for Work Study Program Benefitting CMU Pathway Students
This past January, Netflix partnered with LATTC to host a paid three-week work study program for students in the college’s Construction Maintenance and Utilities (CMU) pathway. During the program, students were exposed to real world work situations, and enhanced their proficiency in leadership development, building operations, and construction.
West Hills College Coalinga Firebaugh Center and Fresno Pacific University Celebrate Historic Educational Partnership
In a landmark event held on March 4 at the Firebaugh Center, West Hills College Coalinga (WHCC) and Fresno Pacific University (FPU) officially unveiled their innovative educational partnership, marking a significant milestone in their commitment to enhancing learning opportunities and academic resources in the region. The ceremony, attended by community leaders, faculty, students, and media partners, highlighted the collaboration’s aim to create seamless educational pathways and foster academic innovation.
Lake Tahoe Community College Celebrates 50th Anniversary
On March 5th LTCC celebrated a significant milestone: its 50th Anniversary. The event united community members, students, past and current employees, and local officials to honor this remarkable moment in their long journey as a respected institution of education.
Inside Higher Ed: To Transform Transfer, Key Barriers Must Be Overcome
Understanding the barriers students face on the transfer pathway is key to improving transfer outcomes. Successful transfer from community college to a four-year university has the potential to improve access, completion and racial equity gains in higher education and produce the educated workforce that California needs.
Board of Governors member Joseph Williams presented at a Vision 2030 event at Riverside Community College District:
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From East Los Angeles College:
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis celebrated the accomplishments of women in community colleges at the President’s First Women’s History Month Celebration & Teatime. She was in a panel discussion with Lenore French of Transformation Arts and Dr. Martha Garcia, Mt. San Antonio President.
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From Fresno City College:
Pancakes & Peeps for staff & faculty at FCC
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And from El Camino College, the latest ElCoChats podcast discusses first generation students:
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Performing Arts Hosts Flute Masterclass
BC’s Performing Arts department recently hosted a Flute Masterclass on March 7 with the legendary Trudy Kane, the first female Principal Flute at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the longest-serving principal to date. Flutists from across the Central Valley gathered in the Performing Arts Center’s choir room for performances by Kane and BC Professor of Flute Tracy Harris, open lessons with Kane, and a general clinic.
The Workforce & Economic Mobility Blog blog shares approaches to workforce and economic development, with a goal of supporting economic mobility for our community while staying committed to the health of our people and the health of our environment.
In the Bhambi & Christian blog, Dr. Brijesh Bhambi join together joined together with the goal of facilitating healing and conversation in our community.
