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 watched the Grammy’s on Sunday. Apparently this is the last year on CBS – next year it will be on a streaming service ….. feels like a sign of the times …. a little bittersweet for those of us who made a night of it. I’ve always loved watching the Grammys. The anticipation, the surprise performances, the talent, the sense that for a few hours we were all tuned in together.
And since Superbowl is tomorrow I thought I would mention the hilarious scene with Trevor Noah and Bad Bunny.
You see, although Bad Bunny won big at the Grammys taking home major awards, he couldn’t officially perform on music’s biggest night because he’s contractually committed to headlining the SuperBowl LX halftime show which I will be watching tomorrow. Trevor Noah cheekily coaxed him into a spontaneous mini performance by singing Bad Bunny’s hit “DtMF” and bringing out a live band. Check it out….
I could not possibly list all my favorite parts….. but here is another – a tribute to Roberta Flack.
My favorite song:
Yesterday, after a loooong work week, I sank into the start of the Winter Olympics. Here are two of the many favorite moments from the Opening Ceremony.
One cool segment – Fantasia. In this surreal and joyful piece, dancers appeared with oversized heads representing the towering figures of Italian opera history, Rossini, Verdi, and Puccini. Loved the swirling colors, choreographed motion, and references to everything from opera to Renaissance aesthetics. Check it out. Check out the video on YouTube.
And a performance of Italy’s National Anthem by Laura Pausini. Before the national anthem, the stadium transformed into a runway in celebration of Giorgio Armani. Models moved across the field in silk suits the colors of the Italian flag, their silhouettes unmistakably Armani. Check out the video on YouTube.
Good morning California. It is February 7, 2026. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Coastline College Launches First Dolphin Tank Pitch Competition to Support Former Foster Youth Entrepreneurs
Coastline College successfully hosted its first Dolphin Tank Pitch Competition, an innovative, Shark Tank–inspired capstone experience designed to support aspiring student entrepreneurs, with a special focus on students who are current or former foster youth. The event served as both a graduation celebration and a live pitch competition, giving students the opportunity to present their business ideas to a panel of experienced community leaders while receiving real-time feedback and mentorship.
Pending Sacramento City College Program Enhancement Will Address National Air Traffic Controller Shortage
Last month, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) joined leaders from the Los Rios Community College District, Sacramento County, and the aviation industry at Mather Airport to celebrate Sacramento City College’s (SCC) progress toward becoming one of the nation’s only dual-certified Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) programs. Upon final approval, Sacramento City College would be the first Enhanced AT-CTI program on the West Coast, and one of only two institutions in the country with dual certification to train students for both tower and en route air traffic control careers.
A First Day, Reimagined: Inside San José City College’s New Career Education Complex
The Career Education Complex, now open for instruction, represents a significant shift in how San José City College imagines learning spaces. Over the course of the spring semester, 140 class sections will be taught inside the new facility, spanning career education programs and general education courses alike. English classes meet alongside high-tech labs. Students heading to their first lecture pass classmates gathering in open study areas and sunlit corridors.
Long Beach City College And Congressman Robert Garcia Announce $1.5 Million Community Project Funding
Thanks to the advocacy of Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42), Long Beach City College will receive $1.5 million in Community Project Funding to support the LBCC Child Development Center (CDC) at the Trades, Technology, and Community Learning Campus (TTC). The funding will be used to purchase and install new playground equipment at the TTC CDC. The funding will support a redesign of the center’s outdoor play area, replacing outdated equipment and creating a more functional space tailored specifically to early childhood use. The new playground equipment will serve children ages 3–5.
How Community Colleges Are Becoming America’s AI Talent Engine
In August 2024, while the technology world fixated on billion-dollar AI startups, something quieter but potentially more consequential was happening in American education. The National Science Foundation announced a $2.8 million grant to establish the National Applied AI Consortium—an initiative placing community colleges, not elite research universities, at the center of America’s AI workforce strategy.
The idea was deceptively simple: if artificial intelligence is going to reshape every industry from healthcare to manufacturing, then the technicians who implement, maintain, and work alongside these systems should come from the institutions that have always served as on-ramps to the American middle class.
Here are 5 reasons why 2026 is an exciting year for community colleges
Rising enrollment in short-term credential courses and community colleges is not a fluke.
Students—including young cohorts—are favoring affordable programs that lead directly to career opportunities, and community colleges are answering the call.
EAB, a higher education consulting firm, recently outlined five macro trends that help explain record-setting interest in the community colleges.
Giving tours = our favorite thing. Sharing the tech = even better. Thank you, @toyotausa community!
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From Napa Valley College:
Thank you, Congressman Mike Thompson, for taking the time to visit our campus and meet with our student leaders. We truly appreciate the opportunity to share the work happening at NVC and explore ways to further support student success. Your continued dedication to expanding educational opportunities makes a meaningful impact on our community.
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From Evergreen Valley College:
Retired judge LaDoris Cordell returned to EVC to speak to the campus as part of Black History Month.
Cordell was the first African American woman to serve on the bench in Northern California, serving on the Superior Court of Santa Clara County. Cordell graduated from Stanford Law School and became a respected jurist and advocate in the Bay Area, generations after her great-great-grandmother was a slave.
Cordell discussed being an “Upstander” and shared stories of those who caused good trouble. She ended with a quote from slave Araminta Ross, who said, Always remember, you have within you the strength, patience, and passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
Ross changed her name to Harriet Tubman and became an American abolitionist, social activist, and upstander herself during the Civil War.
Cordell’s book, “Her Honor,” tells much of her story to readers.
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From Allan Hancock College:
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department donated one of its ambulances to AHC’s Public Safety Training Complex February 3.
The ambulance will be used by PSTC’s Emergency Medical Services program, and will help provide EMS students with realistic training.
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And Las Positas College shared some photos from their Winter Club & Resource Fair:
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Celebrates Recognition as a Black Serving Institution
Earlier this week, faculty, staff, students, and community members gathered on the CSS Lawn to kick off Black History Month and celebrate Bakersfield College’s recent recognition as a California designated Black-Serving Institution (BSI). The distinction is an important milestone highlighting BC’s commitment to advancing equity, access, and student success for Black students.
The event featured remarks from BC administrators, BC faculty, and community members, including BC President Dr. Stacey Pfluger, BC Faculty member Dr. Tommy Tunson, NAACP President of the Bakersfield Branch Patrick Jackson, and others. The event also included a special singing of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ by the Agapeland Christian Academy choir and concluded with food samples and a time for networking. It was an exciting way to kick off Black History Month at Bakersfield College.
This week was the AI Futures Summit in Santa Clara. This year’s theme was Educational Innovation in the Digital Era.
One highlight of the summit was that the Chancellor’s Office AI Fellows Program hosted its first retreat for the inaugural cohort. This group includes 13 AI Fellows that will develop frameworks, guidelines, and resources that support the responsible adoption of AI technologies across all 116 colleges.
Good morning California. It is September 13, 2025. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Butte College Breaks Ground on Chico Center Expansion
Butte College officially broke ground on its Chico Center Expansion Project, a $27.2 million investment that will add nearly 24,000 square feet of new facilities to serve students in Chico and the surrounding communities.
Norco College Sees Success with Disposable Glove Recycling Pilot Study
Last spring, Norco College’s Sustainability and Climate Action Committee launched an initiative to redirect disposable glove waste away from landfills and into recycling centers. The project salvaged nearly six pounds of gloves, masks, and hairnets from the Coral in just one month.
Yuba College Manufacturing Team Wins National Championship in Project MFG’s Clash of Trades
Yuba College’s Advanced Manufacturing program is celebrating a national victory after three of its students claimed first place in Project MFG’s Clash of Trades, a televised competition that challenges the best and brightest in advanced manufacturing, computer numerical control (CNC) machining and additive technologies. Competing June 10 to 12 at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Illinois, students Phoenix Farrell, 19, Adam Davis, 21, and Wyatt Curry, 21, represented Yuba College in the final round against Central Alabama Community College, Everett Community College and Autry Technology Center. The trio walked away as national champions and with $100,000 in prize money. Half will go to support the college’s manufacturing program, while the other half was split among the three students.
California Community Colleges & Google Launch Nation’s Largest Higher Education Systemwide AI Partnership
Google today unveiled a major collaboration with the California Community Colleges that will provide more than 2 million students and faculty across the state’s 116 community colleges with free access to AI training, Google Career Certificates, and some of Google’s cutting-edge AI tools including Gemini for Education and NotebookLM. The announcement came during the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Futures Summit 2025, an event designed to drive digital transformation and innovation across the California Community Colleges. The system will also be one of the first members of Google’s AI for Education Accelerator, an initiative specifically designed to help prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow. This announcement with Google represents a significant expansion and investment in workforce development within higher education, positioning California’s community college students at the forefront of the AI-driven economy.
California Community Colleges Launches Nation’s Most Ambitious AI Integration Initiative
This week at the Futures Summit 2025, the California Community Colleges – the largest and most diverse higher education system in the country – will officially announce the launch of its Chancellor’s Office AI Fellows program, a bold new initiative aligned with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statewide AI agenda and designed to make California the national leader in equitable AI education and workforce development.
The inaugural cohort of 13 AI Fellows will develop frameworks, guidelines, and resources that support the responsible adoption of AI technologies across all 116 colleges, which serve 2.1 million students and employ 88,000 professionals. Fellows will specialize in critical focus areas including AI assessment and learning analytics, AI infrastructure, AI professional development, AI research and innovation, AI student support services, AI in teaching and learning, and AI workforce development.
California faces a nursing shortage. Community colleges can help
The road to becoming a nurse in California has been paved with roadblocks, sharp turns and bottlenecks. Where that education is offered has a lot to do with it.
As someone who has lived every long mile and continued to drive forward, I believe the solution lies in expanding the ability for California’s community colleges to offer bachelor of science degrees in nursing.
Community colleges are where many nurses start. They should be where we have the chance to finish as we shift into our careers.
Many of our original and early faculty (or their families) from our opening in 1975… Walter Soellner, Linda Roy, Ron Fisher, Sami Ibrahim, Evonne Davenport, Karen Strelitz (wife of our first president, Gerald Strelitz), Rose Higashi and Susan Morgado (daughter of Gene Morgado, our original auto faculty)
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From College of San Mateo:
What an incredible Transfer Day at CSM! Nearly 60 colleges, universities, and private schools from across California and beyond visited campus, providing students with the opportunity to meet representatives, ask questions, and learn about some of their dream schools. A huge thank-you to our Transfer Services team for organizing this packed event and to our amazing student leaders for helping spread the word and guiding students to the fair.
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From Diablo Valley College:
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 9/11 Tribute Run at DVC Pleasant Hill yesterday! Our amazing DVC student veterans and supporters ran together across campus to honor the lives lost and the heroes who rose in service after September 11, 2001. A special thank you to our DVC student veterans for leading this meaningful tribute and reminding us of the values of unity, resilience, and service.
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From Victor Valley College:
Earlier this month, Victor Valley College’s Workforce Development celebrated the Industrial Maintenance Mechanic (IMM) Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony at the High Desert Training Center!
We proudly honored 10 outstanding employees from employer partners, including Mitsubishi Cement Corporation, Rio Tinto, CEMEX, Church & Dwight, and Exquadrum. These graduates completed their year-long Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI) and are now returning to their organizations with advanced technical skills.
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From Saddleback College:
This summer, the voices of Saddleback were heard around the world. Our Chamber Singers and Emeritus Chorale came together for Saddleback College Choir’s first international tour. From ages 18 to 90, singers shared the stage across four countries, proving that music truly connects generations and cultures.
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From Allan Hancock College:
Cadets in our fire academy climbed the six-story tower at the AHC Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc to memorialize the first responders killed in the September 11th attacks. They made the trip up the tower 19 times, the equivalent of the World Trade Center’s 110 stories.
And From the Home of the Renegades
Transfer Pathways Hosts Transfer Day for Fall 2025
On Monday, September 8, Bakersfield College’s Transfer Pathways department hosted Transfer Day for the Fall 2025 semester. This exciting event brings several colleges and universities to the Panorama Campus, giving students an incredible opportunity to learn more about their academic options once they have completed their time at BC.
More than 50 colleges and universities participated in the event, and representatives were eager to provide students with details about admissions, campus environments, degree options, campus housing, and more. The event drew several hundred student participants over the course of the day, and each attendee walked away with valuable information, and swag, from a variety of local, private, and national institutions.
I got to enjoy a few days in Toronto last weekend.
Here are a few pics:
Good morning California. It is June 7, 2025. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
Cerritos College Engineering Technology Club Excels at VEX Robotics World Championship
The Cerritos College Engineering Technology Club broke new ground at the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship as one of only three community colleges to compete among nearly 750 elite teams from around the world. In their debut appearance, the team placed 25th in the Technology Division, outscoring dozens of four-year universities and proving that community colleges can lead in innovation, talent, and technical excellence on a global stage.
Los Angeles Pierce College Faculty and Administrators Participate in NSF-Sponsored STEM Education Workshop
Three Los Angeles Pierce College faculty and staff members recently participated in the InnovATEBIO Undergraduate Research Strategic Planning Workshop, held in Dallas, Texas. The workshop, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, brought together community college representatives from across the country to discuss strategies for improving STEM education through undergraduate research.
The Radiologic Technology Program recently installed new equipment in its classrooms, modernizing the previous technology in place for more than 12 years. Now students have, according to Program Director Michael Frianeza, two fully energized X-ray rooms to practice technical skills and apply classroom learning before beginning clinical training.
EdSource: ‘Serving adult learners’ – California community colleges are expanding short-term career programs
Joanne Scott had been without full-time work for about two decades and was struggling to reenter the workforce. Then she learned this year about a short-term pharmacy technician program at Mt. San Antonio College in eastern Los Angeles County.
The program is one of 48 short-term vocational programs that Mt. San Antonio has added in the past five years as part of an effort to serve more adults and prepare them for the workforce. Most of the new programs are in health fields, but the college has also added programs in areas such as tax accounting, welding and appliance repair.
Staff, faculty, and administrators participated in NCORE in New York City last week, a five-day conference focused on access, opportunity, and success for our students, as well as ways to enhance their experience.
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From Gavilan College:
Rebekah Children’s Services and Gavilan College are launching a culinary career pathway for at-risk youth in South County. With support from Supervisor Sylvia Arenas, students will earn college credit and train at Kneaded Café. This is what opportunity looks like.
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From Porterville College:
Exceptional progress on the Fine Arts Mural is underway! It’s amazing what our student volunteers and Art professors have accomplished in only just one week. This is an excellent example of how far a bit of time, effort, and dedication can take you.
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From LA City College:
President Gebru hosted Cookies & Coffee on May 15 to celebrate Chocolate Chip Day with treats baked by dietetics students. Everyone, from kids to staff, enjoyed cookies and coffee under the Heritage Tree.
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And check out this video showing Life at Feather River College:
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Hosts Culinary Demonstration and Tasting
In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month, BC Food Services and the Office of Student Life hosted a culinary demonstration and tasting that featured dishes highlighting the unique flavors and ingredients of AANHPI cuisine.
The event started with an introduction and demonstration by Fidel Cabuena, Director of Food Services at BC, as he cooked a traditional Chicken Pad Thai. He talked about the main ingredients he was using, how to cook them, and how to beautifully plate the finished product.
Spring is in bloom! A friend shared this pic with me, with a text –
“Flowering Plum Trees are in bloom. When there’s a slight breeze the flower petals sometimes fall off as if there are snow flakes.”
I started my week in San Francisco, presenting at the CISOA conference on Monday – the annual conference for the Chief Technology Officers of the California Community Colleges.
Monday afternoon, I dropped by for the student March in March event. Here are some photos.
The fabulous Linda Vasquez selfie.
With Board of Governors Member Cirian Villavicencio
With Ivan Hernandez – SSCCC President
On Thursday, I spoke at the A2MEND Conference with Board of Governors member Pam Haynes.
Chris Ferguson, Rowena Tomenang, Sonya Christian, Ebony Jeffries
Chris Ferguson, Rowena Tomenang, Sonya Christian, Don Daves-Rougeaux
And with a group of students from Southwestern College:
Good morning California. It is March 8, 2025. A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges. Our Time is Now!
The Human Library® Returns to Cuesta College
Cuesta College, in collaboration with the Cuesta College Library, Cuesta College Student Health Services, and San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health, is proud to announce the return of The Human Library® to its San Luis Obispo campus on March 5.
Originating in Denmark over two decades ago, The Human Library® is a global movement designed to challenge stereotypes and biases through open and meaningful conversations. The event creates a safe and inclusive space where topics are discussed openly between the human books and their readers, providing an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and foster deeper understanding.
Peralta CCD Hosts Event With House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
On February 21, 2025, the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center in partnership with the Peralta Community College District hosted a forum dedicated to civic engagement, bringing together community leaders, elected officials, and citizens to discuss the vital importance of defending democratic principles in today’s challenging political climate.
Mt. SAC Turf Teams recently mowed the competition at the annual Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) contest, taking first, second and third place and beating out major universities. Three teams of four competed in the Student Challenge, a two-hour exam testing knowledge of the sports turf industry, covered subjects as diverse as Turfgrass Identification, Selection and Morphology, Soil Management, Soil Fertility, Water Management, Drainage, Turfgrass Mathematics, Pest Identification and Management, and both turf and non-turf Sports Field Management.
Mendocino College Announces the Purchase of Property for Future Student Housing
Mendocino College is pleased to announce the purchase of a property at the corner of Perkins and Main Streets in downtown Ukiah, marking the first phase of a multi-year initiative to develop future student housing. This project aims to increase the availability of affordable housing for students and support the local community.
Victor Valley College’s inaugural Community Education — Paint Night Experience in VVC Performing Arts Center Black Box Room was a sold-out success! It was incredible to watch our lead instructor, Theresa Shellcroft, guide and inspire participants as they brought their unique Desert Sunset masterpieces to life.
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From San Diego College of Continuing Education:
What an amazing afternoon we had celebrating Women’s History Month! We came together to share inspiring affirmations, create uplifting messages, and take home a beautiful flower. Thank you to everyone who joined us in spreading joy and empowerment!
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From Madera Community College:
On February 25, we held another CAMP Seminar for the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) 2024-25 Cohort at Madera Community College! This event offered a valuable opportunity to engage with CAMP students. They received essential information regarding academic advising, CSU/UC transfer requirements, financial aid, health services, psychological services, and tutoring resources available on campus.
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From Imperial Valley College:
Step right up! We’re all set inside the Preble Building at the California Mid-Winter Fair, ready to hear your big ideas for Imperial Valley College’s future.
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From Rio Hondo College:
This weekend, we hosted the LA Regional Science Olympiad Tournament, where Division B & C teams from across LA County showcased their STEM skills! Congrats to those advancing to the State Tournament in April! Thanks to Ryan Wong & all the volunteers!
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And check out this video from Evergreen Valley College –
McTate Stroman, a staff member at Evergreen Valley College, whose hometown of Altadena was devastated by the Los Angeles Fires, wrote and recited this poem. McTate also curated an art exhibit in his hometown.
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Students Travel to Arizona for Theatre Arts Festival
Recently, twenty-seven BC Theatre students traveled to Mesa, Arizona to participate in the Region 7/Region 8 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) at Mesa Community College. This Festival is a celebration of the work in Theatre Arts that college students in these regions have done throughout the year, as well as a place to audition and compete for scholarships, gain knowledge and skills through workshops, see plays, and network with students from other schools.
Three BC students – Riss Halbwachs, Savanna Lux, and Jesse Magdaleno – and their partners advanced to the Semi-Final Round of the Irene Ryan auditions, which is a huge accomplishment! Out of hundreds of preliminary participants, only sixty make it to the Semi-Final Round. Then, Jesse Magdaleno and his partner Nathan Armendariz made it to the Final Round of the audition– the top fifteen participants of the entire festival. This is the first time a BC student has made it to the Final Round of the Irene Ryans.
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.
A special thank you to our DVC student veterans for leading this meaningful tribute and reminding us of the values of unity, resilience, and service.
