It is hard to believe it has been 25 years since the horrific events of September 11, 2001. On that tragic day, 2,977 people lost their lives as four planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the Pennsylvania countryside.
In the years since, an additional 6,000 deaths have been attributed to toxic dust, air quality, and illnesses contracted by first responders, recovery workers, and survivors at Ground Zero.
As we solemnly remember that day, the victims and everyone affected, here is an excerpt from a poem written by poet and journalist Keven Powell in November 2011, in reaction to the terrorist attacks:
September 11: A Poem
From the remains of this madness
I detect a heartbeat called life
From the remains of this madness
I smell an aroma called love
From the remains of this madness
I embrace a body called humanity
From the remains of this madness
I construct a dream called hope
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Shifting gears…..
This week I was in Santa Clara at the third Futures Summit.
I captured this 1:35 video of the hologram right by the registration desk… kinda fun!
In my speech…. as I usually do I referred to the move The Matrix and my favorite character Trinity…..
One of my colleagues from the audience immediately created this photo and sent it to me.
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Good morning California.
It is September 12, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
Hartnell College Breaks Ground on Soledad Career Technical Education Facility
Hartnell College recently broke ground on a new career technical education facility in Soledad, beginning construction on a two-level building that will become the dedicated home of the college’s Advanced Diesel Technology program and expand hands-on workforce training in South Monterey County. The roughly 9,700-square-foot building will include a diesel and heavy-equipment training shop, classrooms, a mechanical lab, welding bays, instructional support space, tool and material storage, offices, lockers and restrooms, mezzanine storage, and 40 new parking stalls.
New Student-Created Mural on Display at Mendocino College
A new student-created mural is now on display in the dining area near Schat’s Café in the Lowery Student Center at Mendocino College. Measuring 8 feet high by 16 feet wide, the mural was created by the first cohort of students enrolled in Mendocino College’s new Mural Painting course (ART 224). The project began with a guiding question: What does Mendocino College mean to you, and how would you express that visually? Students Kelly Foutz, Angel Garcia, Patience Gruey, Jessica Hernandez, Thalia Luciani, Sarah Reith, and Brigid Roche collaborated throughout the development of the mural, with guidance and technical support from instructors Lisa Rosenstreich and Jazzminh Moore.
Investing in Wonder: How Chevron’s Support Is Building
the Next Generation of STEM Leaders at Coalinga College, Firebaugh Center
Through a partnership with the West Hills Community College Foundation, Chevron has invested more than $1 million in programs that expand access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Those investments have helped create opportunities for students from elementary school through college, strengthening STEM pathways and inspiring future scientists, engineers, healthcare professionals, and innovators. One of the most visible examples is the Chevron Science Summer Camp, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2026.
In Case You Missed It
Better coordination needed to meet student basic needs
Colleges must build closer partnerships with community organizations, public agencies and benefit programs to help students navigate an increasingly complex support system, according to a new report from Ithaka S+R.
The report examines how federal and state policies shape students’ ability to access support services and highlights collaboration as a critical component of student success. The report finds that student basic needs insecurity remains widespread across higher education and often reflects broader economic and policy challenges rather than individual circumstances.
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Community colleges: Where the first rung of the career ladder gets rebuilt
Community college leaders should pay attention to something that happened in the youth labor market this summer. After a quarter-century decline, summer employment of 16- to 19-year-olds ticked up to 35.5% from 33.8% last year, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of federal employment data.
The low point came in the summers of 2010 and 2011, when just 29.6% of teens worked for pay. This small gain leaves teen employment nowhere near the peak in 1978, when roughly 58% worked summers. After 25 years of nearly uninterrupted decline, even a small gain is worth noticing.
This suggests that the first rung of the career ladder is starting to get rebuilt, piece by piece, by families, young people, schools and employers acting on their own. The first rung is where everyday, low-stakes work experiences teach young people to show up, take direction and function inside an organization before the stakes get high.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From LA City College:
In honor of Founder’s day, LACC celebrated its 97th anniversary with an ice cream social. Thank you to all the students, staff, and faculty that came out to celebrate with us!
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From Norco College:
We launched the Farmers Market yesterday, featuring an amazing array of fresh produce.
Take a look at their happy friends enjoying this beautiful day!
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From Mission College:
Thank you to everyone who joined us today for the Basic Needs and Beyond fair!
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From San Diego College of Continuing Education:
Thank you to our Administrative Services for partnering with College Police to host A.L.I.C.E. Training at West City Campus and help equip our campus community with the knowledge and skills to respond when it matters most.
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Hosts Fall 2026 Student Involvement Festival
Recently, the Office of Student Life at Bakersfield College hosted their annual Student Involvement Festival. This exciting and engaging event brings together a multitude of campus and community resource booths with representatives ready to provide information and promote student opportunities.
Hundreds of Renegades visited the festival throughout the day and had the opportunity to preview booths from the Umoja Community, Financial Aid, BC STEM programs, Kern Transit, and many more. There were also food trucks on hand so students could get a bite and take a break from their busy days.
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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.
That’s all for today.
See you next Saturday!
With much hope and joy,
Your Chancellor,
-sonya
#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora
