My introduction to you happened in the late 1990s.
I arrived in Los Angeles, a foreign graduate student, trying to understand America through textbooks and LA’s RTD routes.
And then I met you.
An institution built on virtues I could not quite comprehend.
Infinite hope. Untiring patience. Radical non-judgment. You met people where they were.
Not where they should have been. Not where someone thought they ought to be. But where they were.
You were born long before I met you in the Central Valley, where community colleges first took root in California soil. Practical. Accessible. Close to home. Built for possibility.
And then you spread.
From the Central Valley – Fresno, Bakersfield, Merced you reached into the Inland Empire – Riverside, San Bernardino out to the eastern edge of our state – the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert, Indio up the North State – Chico, Redding across the Bay – Oakland, Hayward, San José down the Central Coast – Monterey, San Luis Obispo into Los Angeles – every corner, every neighborhood in LA and all the way to the borderlands – San Diego, Imperial Valley.
Across the Sierra foothills. Along Highway 99. Down the 5 and the 101.
Into farmworker towns. Into port cities. Into rural mountain communities. Into urban corridors. Where opportunity needed a doorway you became that doorway.
You evolved.
You empowered people. You improved constantly You innovated for students. You added programs. Added pathways. Added chances.
And over three decades, I have watched you love Californians by taking action in real tangible ways.
I have seen the foster youth who carried everything they owned in a backpack walk across a commencement stage because someone at a community college refused to give up on them.
I have seen the formerly incarcerated Californian who found purpose through education, completed a certificate, earned a degree, and now gives back to their community.
I have seen the veteran, resilient, carrying both visible and invisible weight, find a Veterans Resource Center and a faculty member who said, “You belong here.”
I have seen the student with a disability navigate hallways that were once barriers and find accommodations, allies, and a future not defined by limitation but by capacity.
You do not ask for perfection. You ask for effort. You do not require pedigree. You require courage.
Over two million students a year.
Two million stories of trying again. Starting over. Leveling up.
You are accessible. You are practical. You are relentless in your belief that Californians deserve more.
On this Valentine’s Day, I say it plainly:
I love you, California Community Colleges, – for your open doors. – for your stubborn optimism. – for believing in people before they believe in themselves.
You are California at its best.
And after three decades of watching you in motion … through reform, recession, innovation, and renewal,
I am convinced of this:
If there is an institution built on hope in America,
It is you!
With gratitude, admiration, and love Your chancellor, sonya
I had a wonderful time at the C3CONVERGE: The Community College Climate Summit this week in Anaheim. It was a great discussion on climate leadership and workforce innovation with Josh Fryday, GO-Serve Director.
Check out these pictures from BOG member Dr. Cirian Villavicencio:
We also visited Feather River College this week.
We got a look at their student housing, as well as fire management and equine programs.
Thank you to BOG member Joseph Williams, who shared this video:
As Joseph said, “Feather River College is proof that rural colleges are anchors of opportunity — preparing students, protecting communities, and shaping California’s future.”
Good morning California. It is October 4, 2025. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Golden Globe Foundation Awards Grants to Santa Monica College Journalism & Film Programs
The Golden Globe Foundation has given the Santa Monica College Foundation two grant awards to support the award-winning Santa Monica College film production and journalism programs. The Foundation provided a renewed grant award of $17,000 for SMC journalism students who work for/intern on the award-winning student-run media outlet The Corsair and $43,000 to help fund the film production program’s capstone class, “Making the Short Film.”
College of the Canyons Faculty Member Honored with NEA Award
Wendy Brill-Wynkoop, chair of the College of the Canyons photography department, has been named a 2026 National Education Association (NEA) Foundation Global Learning Fellowship Traveler’s Award recipient for California, joining a distinguished cohort of just 48 educators nationwide. Wendy Brill-Wynkoop, chair of the College of the Canyons photography department, has been named a 2026 National Education Association (NEA) Foundation Global Learning Fellowship Traveler’s Award recipient for California, joining a distinguished cohort of just 48 educators nationwide.
Cerritos College Secures $1.25 Million Grant to Break Barriers for Women in Construction
Cerritos College is breaking new ground for women in construction. The college has secured a transformative $1.25 million Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) grant from the California Department of Industrial Relations to expand pathways into one of the region’s highest-paying and fastest-growing industries. This funding will help women and underrepresented populations access stable, high-wage careers, uplifting families and communities across Southeast Los Angeles.
Riverside City College Donates Backpacks to Central Middle School Students
On Thursday, September 25, the Riverside City College (RCC) Black Faculty & Staff Association (BFSA), in partnership with Umoja, donated backpacks filled with school supplies to students at Central Middle School in the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD). The event highlighted RCC’s ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and community connection.
Contextualizing Completion Gaps for First-Generation Students
irst-generation students are twice as likely to leave college without completing a bachelor’s degree than their peers, even if they come from higher-income backgrounds and come to college academically prepared, according to a new report from the Common App. The findings suggest these factors do make a difference for student success outcomes but don’t erase other barriers first-generation students might face.
The report, released Thursday and the fourth in a series on first-generation students, used data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center to track enrollment, persistence and completion rates for 785,300 Common App applicants in the 2016–17 application cycle. (Students whose parents didn’t complete bachelor’s degrees made up 32 percent of the sample.) The report also took into account how a range of factors could affect student outcomes, including students’ incomes, their levels of academic preparation and how well-resourced their colleges are.
What a celebratory morning! Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz broke ground on their 624-bed, affordable student housing project! Special thanks to State Senator John Laird, UCSC Chancellor Cynthia Larive, and all of our project partners and members of the Cabrillo and UCSC housing teams! Leases will be available in Summer 2026 for move-in Summer 2027!
*****
From San Jose City College:
Yesterday, the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) hosted its Mid-Autumn Festival! The event featured music, tasty food, and even lantern decorating!
*****
From Cerro Coso Community College:
What a Night Under the Stars! A huge thank-you to everyone who came out and made the Cerro Coso Foundation’s Astronomical Star Party & Barbecue such a success!
*****
From Columbia College:
Columbia College is happy to welcome over 1,000 High School Juniors and Seniors from 26 different High Schools to Claim Jumper Day! This annual preview day gives prospective students a glimpse of everything Columbia College has to offer with special presentations and tour stops all over campus.
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Hosting Series of Events to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Bakersfield College is hosting a series of exciting events and activities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The festivities began on September 15th with the Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off and will continue through October 15th. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are coming together to enjoy a variety of Hispanic-themed games, crafts, food, and more.
Raymond Chandler in his 1938 book Red Wind famously describes the Santa Ana winds as a force that can “curl your hair and make our nerves jump.” That was my experience when I came to USC as a foreign grad student many decades ago. The wind speed is typically 30-40 mph.
Last week, these winds were clocked at times over 100 mph …. combined with the fires …. the devastation at a scale we have not seen before …. 11 confirmed deaths, and more than 12,000 structures damaged or destroyed. More than 150,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation.
Even after the fires are extinguished, these communities will face harrowing times as they return and rebuild entire neighborhoods. Let us pray for our communities in LA.
In addition to many other organizations, the Foundation for California Community Colleges is raising money for wildfire & disaster relief. Learn more & donate!
Los Angeles Pierce College serves as an animal evacuation site for large animals.
And deepest thanks to the brave firefighters and first responders who are working day and night to put out the blaze and keep our communities safe.
Good morning California. It is January 11, 2025. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
College of San Mateo, College of Marin MESA Students Win STEM Entrepreneurship Contest
A team of future STEM entrepreneurs claimed the top title of a month’s long business pitch competition. Isabelle Ablao of San Diego State University, Michelle Gantos of College of Marin and Auner Barrios Vasquez of College of San Mateo are champions of the 2024 MESA Idea Accelerator. The program empowers undergraduate students to become innovative entrepreneurs. Using the Human-Centered Design process students gain the skills to create real-world solutions for their communities.
Johnson Controls Renews Sacramento City College Workforce Development Grant
Sacramento City College received a $100,000grant for the third year as part of the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program. This funding enhances on-campus training and educational opportunities for future leaders in the HVAC, digital, fire and security industries. Sacramento City College remains committed to addressing the skilled trades gap through strategic investments to equip the future skilled trades workforce and foster strong communities.
Santa Ana College Journalism Students Win Top National Honors at Pacemaker and Pinnacle Awards
Santa Ana College journalism students took home over 40 awards from the National College Media Convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana, earning recognition for their work at el Don, Santa Ana College’s student-run news organization that has been in circulation for over 100 years. The Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Pacemaker awards and the College Media Advisers (CMA) Pinnacle Awards were both presented at the conference which was held from Oct. 30- Nov. 2, 2024.
Chaffey College Manufacturing Day Brings Together 600 Inland Empire Students
Hundreds of middle and high school students from 15 San Bernardino and Riverside County schools visited InTech to meet with employers, try their hand at welding simulators, program robots and more. Manufacturing Day is an event that gives companies and schools a chance to showcase modern manufacturing careers to students, parents and the public.
Tune In to January 2025 Board of Governors Meeting
The January 2025 meeting of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors is Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a Closed Session from 9:05 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., in-person in Sacramento and viewable via Zoom.
Recently our Student Food Pantry not only reached their fundraising goal, but surpassed it! All thanks to the incredible generosity of many, the pantry raised over $6,000. From monetary donations to campus contributions — thank you for fueling our students’ futures!
*****
From De Anza College:
We’re excited to welcome our new college President Omar Torres! Here, he’s pictured with former Interim President Christina Espinosa-Pieb. Welcome Dr. Torres, and thank you to Ms. Espinosa-Pieb!
*****
From San Bernardino Valley College:
Some of our fav pics from 2024!
*****
And check out this video of highlights from 2024 Cabrillo Talks:
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Library Welcomes Special Guests from Romania
The Grace Van Dyke Byrd Library at BC welcomed several distinguished guests from Romania as part of Friendship Force of Kern County’s initiative to expand literacy and informal education to institutions outside the US. The Romanian visitors were all library workers striving to improve the services and educational resources they provide in their home libraries.
Last Sunday, The US’s Noah Lyles took gold in the men’s 100M final. It was a photo-finish; he beat the silver medalist, Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, by only .005 seconds. It was another in a series of amazing finishes and great story lines that have been all over these Olympic Games.
A huge congratulations to Diablo Valley College student Amit Elor, who took gold in 68kg women’s wrestling. Her cumulative score during the Games? 31-2.
20-year-old Amit is the youngest American to ever win wrestling gold at the Olympics.
Former Giant Quincy Hall made College of the Sequoias proud with a comeback win to take the men’s 400M gold. College of the Sequoias hosted a watch party –
And congratulations to MiraCosta College student Bryce Wettstein, who made the finals for Women’s Sktateboarding Park, ending up in 6th place.
*****
As for me …..
This week I signed a MOU with Jensen Huang of NVIDIA and Governor Gavin Newsom as we launched a new state initiative to expand AI tools and resources for students, educators and workers.
This initiative will help our more than 2 million students get prepared with industry aligned skills in AI, and will support our Vision 2030 work about Generative AI and the Future of Learning.
Next I made a stop in Orange County to attend the Credit for Prior Learning workshop. It was a great conversation of how we can scale this work and bring it from the margins to the mainstream.
Valerie Lundy-Wagner, Erin Larson, Gar Adams, Sam Lee, Gina Browne, Don Daves-Rougeaux, Michelle Smith, David O’Brien, Sonya Christian, Billy Wagner, Ginni May
Then I headed south to San Diego to speak at the Hunt Institute. I try to always squeeze in a walk when I am in San Diego.
*****
Good morning California. It is August 10, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
U.S. Department of Commerce Leader Alejandra Castillo Tours Chaffey College’s InTech Center
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo visited the Industrial Technical Learning Center with Congresswoman Norma Torres on July 26 to learn how the federal government can support workforce development in the Inland Empire.
College of the Canyons Aerospace and Science Team Receives $136,000 Grant from NASA
It’s all systems go for the College of the Canyons Aerospace and Science Team (AST), which has received a $136,000 grant from NASA to support its High-Altitude Student Platform (HASP), RockOn, and RockSat-X suborbital rocket programs. To date, COC is the only community college that has successfully participated in HASP eight years in a row, as well as four RockSatX missions and two RockOn missions.
Norco College’s Rising Scholars Program at CRC Achieves Unprecedented Success
In June 2024, 52 students graduated from Norco College’s Rising Scholars Program at CRC with Associate Degrees for Transfer. This milestone was marked by the first graduation ceremony since 2019 that allowed the presence of family and friends, making it a particularly special event for the graduates and their loved ones. According to the 2024 Rehabilitative Programming Report by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Norco College’s Rising Scholars Program at CRC has awarded more college degrees than any other CDCR institution.
MSJC’s Roger Schultz Elected as League Board Chair, CEOCCC Board President
Roger Schultz, Ph.D., Mt. San Jacinto College’s President/Superintendent, has been elected as the President of the Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges (CEOCCC) Board of the Community College League of California. Schultz will also serve as the Chair for the Community College League of California (League) Board of Directors.
California Community Colleges Expanding Nursing Programs to Meet State’s Regional Nursing Shortages
The California Community Colleges announced the launch of a new initiative to increase the number of nurses to meet the growing needs of California’s aging and diverse population.
Twelve community colleges convened in a virtual kick-off of the associate degree for nursing demonstration project led by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The goal of the initiative, part of the community colleges’ Vision 2030 strategic framework, is to increase enrollment in associate degree nursing programs to address the shortage of registered nurses in rural and remote areas while ensuring equity in access to the profession.
The 12 colleges participating in the demonstration project are: Butte College, Cabrillo College, Monterey Peninsula College, Bakersfield College, Modesto Junior College, Cuesta College, Ventura College, Golden West College, Saddleback College, Mt. San Jacinto College, Riverside City College, and College of the Desert.
Harbor College celebrating DSPS pride month College President, Dr. Dorado and VP, Dr. Dorado welcoming students Go Seahawks!!
*****
From Bakersfield College’s Kimberly Bligh:
Love love love our Bridge to BC team. One week to go for Summer 24… 10 years and over 15,000 students served!
*****
From Allan Hancock College:
The Santa Maria Valley YMCA, in collaboration with Allan Hancock College, hosted a RiseUP Bridging Ceremony Aug. 2 celebrating the achievements of local youth as they transition to higher education and future careers.
*****
From Ventura College President Claudia Lourido-Habib:
I’m grateful for my admin team’s openness & contributions during a productive leadership retreat. Grounded in the student experience, we worked towards increasing team cohesion and collaboration so we can lead and support our colleagues
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC History Highlight: Memorial Stadium
The Bakersfield College Memorial Stadium was not an easy feat for those credited with its creation, but certainly a triumph! The stadium was the first structure completed on Bakersfield College’s Panorama campus, and the construction plans were meticulously assembled. It required intensive research and close attention to detail by Theron McCuen, then Superintendent of the Kern County Union High School and Junior College District and its Board of Trustees, and then BC President Ralph Prator, who contributed significantly to realizing Grace Bird’s vision of a college on a hill.
39 years ago today, on July 13, 1985, the Live Aid concert was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. One of the most memorable performances was Queen. Check out this video of “Radio Ga Ga”:
***
On July 14th, eight years ago in 2016, the Kern CCD Board of Trustees voted to put Measure J on the November ballot.
***
Was in Clayton, Georgia last weekend for a family reunion. My first visit to this beautiful state… so green with majestic oaks, pines, rhododendrons…. Woke up in the morning to birds chirping away. Did not snap pictures for you like I usually do. Just close your eyes and imagine.
Good morning California. It is July 13, 2024. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Cabrillo, Clovis Take Top Honors at MATE ROV Competition
Cabrillo College TeamClovis Community College Team
Each year, the MATE ROV Competition pushes students to the forefront of real-world underwater technology. The 2024 competition is no exception, with innovative mission tasks designed to address critical global issues under the theme of ‘CREATING SOLUTIONS.’
In preparation, participants have engaged in diverse and impactful projects, from expanding the Global Ocean Observing System, protecting and restoring ecosystems, and developing ocean-based climate solutions. This year’s tasks include deploying advanced ocean observing assets for data collection, installing state-of-the-art submarine telecommunications cables, administering probiotics to heal diseased coral, identifying healthy habitats for lake sturgeon, and deploying autonomous robotic floats to monitor ocean health.
The Cabrillo College team won in the EXPLORER Class Category.
How Calbright College Connected With San Diego (And Camp Pendleton)
Calbright is statewide – right now they have students in 52 of California’s 58 counties – and they’re always looking to make new connections with new communities in every corner of the state. In May and June that meant a special emphasis on southern California, where Calbright attended three different events in Oceanside and San Diego.
Crafton Hills College and CONFIRE: Pioneering Partnership for EMT Training and Employment
In a groundbreaking move, Crafton Hills College has forged a partnership with local employers to address a pressing need in the community: emergency medical technicians (EMTs). With a vision to bridge the gap between education and employment, the college has collaborated with CONFIRE’s Priority Ambulance to launch a program that not only trains aspiring EMTs but also guarantees them employment.
CalMatters: California Boosts Spending to Help Students Earn Math and Science Degrees
California allotted millions of dollars in 2022 to create MESA programs at community colleges across the state. Currently, 91 out of 115 campuses have programs established, with three more set to create one next year. The state hopes the expansion will reduce barriers to STEM jobs for “underserved and underrepresented” students. As the initiative rolls out statewide, questions remain about how long the funding will last, and how the programs can track how well they’re working.
This summer, our Trio Upward Bound Program welcomes over 50 students from Hueneme and Channel Islands High schools to participate in its Summer Program. This week, the students took a break from classes by having a field day!
*****
From San Bernardino Valley College:
SBVC collaborated with the San Bernardino Symphony for the third annual SummerFest last Saturday!
*****
From College of the Sequoias:
Former Giant Quincy Hall just ran a 43.8 in the 400m in a tune up race for the Olympics. He ran a 44.18 to win the USA trials just a few weeks ago. His 43.8 is the best time in the world this year in the 400m. Go Giants!
*****
And check out this video from American River College celebrating their Early College Academy graduates:
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Hosts Project HireUp Summer 2024 Graduation
It was a day of celebration and optimism as Bakersfield College and CityServe Educational Collaborative celebrated the graduating participants of Cohort #12 of Project HireUp. This unique project provides education and training to adults seeking reentry into the workforce or higher education programs. Project HireUp aims to decrease homelessness in the community through a creative and innovative partnership that supports students currently experiencing housing insecurity or other setbacks.
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.
