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
Good morning California. It is August 2, 2025. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
San Diego College of Continuing Education Awarded $169k Grant to Launch First-Ever Rising Scholars Program for Justice-Impacted Students
San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) has been awarded a $169,387 three-year grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to launch its first-ever Rising Scholars Program at the Educational Cultural Complex (ECC), a milestone achievement to advancing restorative education and reentry support.
Coastline College Makes History with Launch of Pace+ Competency-Based Education Program
On July 14, 2025, Coastline College officially launched Pace+, the first direct assessment Competency-Based Education (CBE) program in the California Community College system—marking a transformative milestone in higher education. Designed to expand access, flexibility, and equity, Pace+ empowers students to earn college credit by demonstrating mastery of skills rather than adhering to traditional semester timelines. Unlike traditional models based on classroom hours and academic calendars, Pace+ measures learning by what students know and can do, not by how long they sit in class. Students advance by mastering real-world competencies, allowing them to move faster, study flexibly, and save money.
MiraCosta Grant Targets 46 Percent RN Shortage with Apprenticeships and CSU Partnerships
To combat a critical 46 percent shortfall of registered nurses in the San Diego region, MiraCosta College has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the Rebuilding Nursing Infrastructure state grant to significantly expand its nursing program. The funding will allow the college to increase student enrollment by 26 percent, enhance clinical training through new simulation technologies, establish CSU transfer partnerships, and create an innovative LVN-to-RN apprenticeship model.
Glendale Community College Professional Development Center Partners with City of Glendale to Strengthen Workforce Development
The Professional Development Center (PDC) of Glendale Community College recently announced it partnered with the city to provide more than 300 Glendale employees with training on standard operating processes, customer service, leadership development and project management through a California Community Colleges Fund grant from the state’s Employment Training Panel (ETP).
Community College Daily: Nudging for success: How behavioral science can support smarter student decisions at community colleges
Community college students face a maze of high-stakes decisions — applying for aid, selecting courses, managing work schedules, and taking on loans. Yet many of these choices are made quickly, emotionally, and sometimes without fully understanding the long-term consequences.
Commentary: Let’s ensure every California student can fearlessly apply for financial aid
We are witnessing in real time the fears and worries of students from immigrant families become reality under the Trump administration. Worry that if they apply for federal financial aid, they could jeopardize the safety of their parents. Fear that working towards their educational goals could result in Immigration and Customs Enforcement showing up at their families’ homes and detaining them.
Now the college dreams of many California students are in jeopardy as they contemplate how to pursue an affordable higher education because accessing financial aid for college — including the state’s Cal Grants — requires filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a federal form managed by the US Department of Education.
It’s been an exciting month for Career Technical Education at Shasta College! Students from TRIO Upward Bound Summer Program got hands-on experience in CTE programs: Welding, Auto, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Agriculture, GIS, Water Treatment Technology, and Digital Arts.
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From Gavilan College:
Gavilan College showed up strong at the Gilroy Garlic Festival! We joined the opening ceremony, lit the Giant Garlic, and spent the weekend connecting with our community. Shoutout to our team who made it happen. Yes, we had garlic stress balls.
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From DeAnza College:
We were pleased to welcome the Hwaseong City Talent Development Foundation, their student delegates and the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce to campus today! Thank you to President Omar Torres and Kat Filley, CEO of the @SVChamb, for speaking at the event.
And From the Home of the Renegades
Performing Arts Hosting Afrocuban Folkloric Percussion Concert
Bakersfield College’s Performing Arts Department has announced details for a special concert presented by students and musicians in the Afrocuban Folkloric Percussion summer class. The concert will present traditional Afrocuban music telling the stories of Yoruba folklore. This unique opportunity will take place Sunday, August 3 at 2:00 PM in the Edward Simonsen Indoor Theatre. Admission is free and open to the public.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced two appointments to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors:
Congratulations! I am looking forward to working with them as we continue our work on Vision 2030.
Wrapped up my week with beautiful clouds and snapped this photo while walking Neo.
Thursday and Friday were hectic with events at my home grounds — Farewell reception for Steve Watkin, acting President of BC; KCCD welcome dinner hosted by Chancellor Tom Burke for the Board of Governors visiting Kern; event at McFarland High with the Board of Governors showcasing what wall-to-wall dual enrollment looks like; visit to the Kern Valley State Prison to connect with students who are enrolled in BC pathways. All four events were food for my soul and as I write this blog on Saturday, I could not be more grateful to BC and KCCD. A picture is worth a 1000 words….. Enjoy!
At the Steve Watkin event.
Chancellor Burke, BOG MedinaBOG student member Paul Medina at BC
At the KCCD dinner
Chancellor Tom BurkeTrustee Romeo Agbalog
McFarland High School’s Early College program.
The students at McFarland, Cougar-Renegades, and truly remarkable. Could do an entire blog on our visit. For now, here are a few photos.
Paul Medina, Sonya Christian, McFarland Health Pathways students, Bill Rawlings, Cheryl Aschenbach
Kern Valley State Prison Visit
The visit to see our Renegades taking classes in the Kern Valley State Prison was amazing. Again, I could probably do a whole blog on this experience. Instead here is one photo of Rich McCrow, the founding Dean of the program, and Bryan Hirayama, founding faculty along with two members of the Board of Governors – Bill Rawlings and Paul Medina.
Good morning California. It is March 2, 2024 A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Las Positas College Hosts Science on Saturday Lecture Series
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) popular lecture series, “Science on Saturday,” returned Feb. 4 through Feb. 25 at Las Positas College’s Mertes Theater. The series offered four different lectures with the theme, “70 Years of Science.” Each lecture was presented by leading LLNL researchers, joined by high school science teachers.
Saddleback College Cuts Ribbon on Gateway Building
Saddleback College and the South Orange County Community College District unveiled the latest addition to the Saddleback campus, the Gateway Building, with a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony. The ceremony was led by Board of Trustees President Tim Jemal, SOCCCD Chancellor Julianna Barnes, and Saddleback College President Elliot Stern. The ultramodern, three-story building contains two floors dedicated to student support services and a third floor featuring modern classrooms.
West Hills Community College District Celebrates Selection as a Parks California 2024 Route to Parks Grantee
West Hills Community College District (WHCCD) is thrilled to announce its selection as one of the 29 Parks California 2024 Route to Parks grant recipients. Now in its fourth year, the program aims to break down barriers to accessing state parks and foster a deep appreciation for nature among participants. WHCCD’s project, known as the CATCH (Creating Access to California’s Heritage) project, is set to engage underserved, underrepresented, multi-generational, and “park poor” families in outdoor education opportunities.
Santa Barbara City College Nurtures Pathway for Professional Journalism
The Channels, the student news outlet of Santa Barbara City College (SBCC), welcomed the campus and community to tour their new collaborative workspace on the East Cliff Campus during a grand opening celebration on February 8. The Channels newsroom has relocated from a portable classroom on the edge of the East Cliff Campus to a newly redesigned space in the Administration Building at the heart of SBCC. This places students in the center of the action, giving them easier access to the administration, faculty, and staff and fellow media arts programs on campus. This move and investment emphasizes SBCC’s commitment to supporting and valuing students’ freedom of press and expression, recognizing journalism’s critical role in democracy and social justice, and operating with transparency.
Vision 2030: Access, Success and Support with Equity for High School and Justice Involved Youth
Join a two-day convening exploring dual enrollment’s vital role, including opportunities for justice involved youth. This transformative initiative is led by dual enrollment and rising scholars practitioners bringing college experiences to students.
Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15 in Riverside
Please join us on Wednesday, March 6 from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. for the next System Webinar and mark your calendars for the upcoming webinars. All webinars will be on Wednesdays from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Vibrant poppies brightening up our day near the Science and Math Building!
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From Long Beach City College:
State of the College 2024 was a hit! “BeLong Beach” came alive with stories of progress from Dr. Muñoz & Vivian Malauulu, celebrating our amazing community, faculty, and student achievements. Thanks to all who made it our biggest yet!
In honor of Nan’s new appointment, I thought it fitting to share her video of remarks from Bakersfield College Opening Day 2020.
And From the Home of the Renegades
Panorama Invitational Exhibit Creates Unique Opportunity For Young Artists
The Bakersfield College Wylie and May Louise Jones Art Gallery is currently hosting the Panorama Invitational 2024. This unique event has taken place annually for more than twenty years, highlighting diverse artwork from local high school students. This year, there are more than sixty art pieces on display, ranging from a variety of different mediums including 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, and multimedia.
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.
