Happy Halloween all!
The sound of work…
For the past two weeks, we have had some flooring and painting work going on at home. Which meant that for two weeks, my house was no longer quite my home.
There were workers coming and going, tools everywhere, furniture moved out of place, music playing loudly, and conversations happening at a volume that suggested everyone needed to be heard over everyone else. At times, I wondered whether we were renovating the house or hosting a music festival…. I found myself actually enjoying the whole production.
The camaraderie among the workers…They talked constantly. They laughed. They teased one another. The music kept playing. And through it all, the work got done. There was a rhythm to it, a kind of choreography that comes from people who know their craft and know how to work together.
This Saturday marked the end of the two weeks, the floors looked beautiful, the walls were freshly painted, and the house was finally back in order.
And then the workers left.
The tools disappeared. The music stopped. The conversations faded. The house became quiet again.
I enjoyed the quiet.
But I have to admit, I missed the noise and chaos a little.
It was the sound of people enjoying their work. And what a lovely sound that is.
California has lost an extraordinary leader, and the California Community Colleges has lost a distinguished alumni.
Dolores Huerta attended San Joaquin Delta College, where she prepared to become a teacher. What she witnessed in the lives of farmworker children inspired a lifetime of advocacy for dignity, justice, and opportunity.
On a personal note, as an immigrant who has come to call California’s Central Valley home, I have seen firsthand the lasting impact of her work on families and communities across the region. She understood that lasting change begins when people find their voice and come together to shape their future.
Her life reminds us of the transformative role of education and the difference one person can make.
On behalf of our California community colleges, I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family and all who mourn her passing.
Also, for stories on Dolores Huerta read Michele Siqueiros’ piece in the LA Local –
McFarland Early College: From a Bold Idea to a Statewide Movement
On Thursday, October 29, we celebrated a wonderful milestone at McFarland High School in Kern County – the launch of California’s Early College Demonstration Initiative and the McFarland Early College Hub.
This moment was especially meaningful to me. In 2019, McFarland High School and Bakersfield College came together around a bold idea: What if every high school student could begin college in ninth grade and graduate with a meaningful head start toward a certificate or degree?
The state has invested in this idea to see if we can scale the McFarland wall-to-wall dual enrollment into a statewide model.
The initiative will support the expansion of early college opportunities across California, with the goal of ensuring that every high school student can earn at least 12 college units before graduation. Over the next three years, we aim to reach 5,000 to 7,000 students and save families more than $42 million in college costs.
And the students are already showing us what is possible. McFarland graduates have earned associate degrees before receiving their high school diplomas. Students are pursuing pathways in public health, business, welding, and media. They are discovering their interests, building confidence, and beginning to see college as something they are already part of.
It was wonderful to celebrate alongside so many people who believe in the power of education to transform communities.
My thanks to McFarland Unified School District Superintendent Aaron Resendez, McFarland High School Principal Dario Diaz, and McFarland trustees Liz Gutierrez and Jim Beltran for their leadership and for joining us. Dario went big with the set up at McFarland High School. It was truly incredible. Aaron vision and steady leadership right from the beginning was what made this idea a reality. Romeo Agbalog was on the Kern District Board and was all in right from the state. We missed former Senator Jean Fuller who has been a true champion. Steve Watkin was leading out outreach program.
A special thank you to the Kern Community College District trustees who attended — Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, Kay Meek, Yovani Jimenez, and Danny Diaz — and to KCCD Chancellor Sean Hancock for their continued commitment to making college accessible to students while they are still in high school.
We had Pam Haynes from the Board of Governors join us and a great group from the Chancellor’s Office.
We were also delighted to have John Mendiburu, Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Senator Melissa Hurtado, and former Assemblymember Rudy Salas with us. Their presence reflected the broad community support that has helped make this work possible.
And there was a wonderful connection to McFarland’s history. Jim White, the legendary cross-country coach whose story was brought to the big screen by Kevin Costner in the film McFarland, USA, joined us for the celebration. If you have not seen it, the movie is streaming on Disney and Amazon Prime. Maybe one of these rainy weekends, you should settle down and watch the movie.
McFarland has long been a community that reminds us what happens when someone believes in the potential of young people. It was special to have him there as we celebrated another chapter in that story.
And perhaps that is what makes McFarland such a fitting place for this movement to grow. A community known nationally for a coach who saw extraordinary potential in his students is now helping California rethink when and how students begin their college journeys.
What began in McFarland is now helping shape what is possible for students across California. This is Vision 2030 in action.
We brought back Kylie Campbell to lead the implementation of the Statewide Early College Demonstration Project.
In the news:
- 23ABC (KERO): McFarland’s Early College Model Goes Statewide
- KGET: McFarland High School Launches Program for Students to Earn Early College Credits
Good morning California.
It is October 31, 2026
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
San Bernardino Valley College’s First Bachelor’s Degree Off to Successful Start
San Bernardino Valley College’s first bachelor’s degree cohort is off to a running start in the fall 2026 semester.
The new bachelor’s degree in water resources management drew more than 100 applicants for fall 2026, leading the program to expand from 20 spots to 35.
The program aims to supply new workers in the local water industry, where more than a third of employees are expected to retire within the next decade, according to a 2024 SBVC labor analysis. The Inland Empire ranks among the top regions nationally for water-related careers, with strong salaries and persistent demand for qualified candidates.
Lemoore College and Fresno State expand transfer opportunities
with opening of Fresno State Success Center
Lemoore College and Fresno State are strengthening their partnership to expand educational opportunities for Central Valley students with the opening of the Fresno State Success Center on the Lemoore College campus. The new center provides students with direct access to Fresno State resources, guidance and support as they prepare to transfer and continue their education. By bringing university services directly to Lemoore College through the Bulldog Bound transfer program, the partnership is designed to simplify the transfer process, strengthen academic pathways and help more students pursue bachelor’s degrees.
Chaffey College Black and Brown Minds & Mattering Conference Celebrates Superheroes
Star Rivera-Lacey, deputy chancellor and provost for the Riverside Community College District, delivered her message of resilience and strength to about 450 higher education leaders, students and community members at Chaffey College’s Black and Brown Minds & Mattering Conference on Oct. 23. The conference, focusing on the theme of superheroes, included a variety of workshops on supporting and lifting up communities of color, as well as keynote presentations by Rivera-Lacey and Nikkolas Smith, artivist and bestselling author.
In Case You Missed It
Report: 6.4 Million Adults Are California’s Untapped Workforce
Nearly half of the 6.4 million California adults of prime working age who hold a high school diploma but no college degree have already taken college courses, and three in four are employed, according to a new analysis that urges the state to remake its higher education system around them.
The report, “Untapped Opportunity: Meet California’s 6.4 Million Potential Graduates,” was released this month by California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy, a nonpartisan research and policy organization based in Oakland. It profiles residents ages 25 to 54 who finished high school or earned an equivalent credential but never completed an associate degree or higher, a group the organization calls “potential graduates.” The study refreshes a statewide portrait California Competes first published in 2021.
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Inside California’s decadelong higher education expansion in prisons
In 2014, then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation to fund community college courses inside jails and prisons, part of a slate of criminal justice and prison reforms to reduce the rate of people returning to prison after serving their sentences. More than a decade later, California’s higher education offerings in prisons now include 13 bachelor’s degree programs with nearly 500 graduates to date, with plans for further expansion.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From Los Angeles City College:
Los Angeles City College (LACC) welcomed more than 3,500 Los Angeles Unified School District students and family members to campus on Tuesday, September 29, for the LAUSD Region West College & Career Fair, one of the region’s largest events focused on helping students explore their options after high school.
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From Monterey Peninsula College:
A name that honors a legacy.
Today, we celebrated the official ribbon-cutting and dedication of The Walker Center (Building 10), named in honor of the late Laurence E. “Larry” Walker, Sr. An MPC alumnus and first-generation college student, Larry dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to expanding educational opportunities, supporting student success, and making sure every student had the resources they needed to thrive.
Now home to MPC’s Welcome Center, student programs, and support services, The Walker Center will continue the work Larry was so passionate about: helping students feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed. We were honored to celebrate this special milestone alongside the Walker family and our campus community.
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From Citrus College:
We had a gourd time in the Campus Mall today! Students got into the fall spirit with pumpkin painting, games, friendly competitions, seasonal treats, music and more at Pumpkin Palooza! Thank you to the Pride Center, Black Scholars and Rising Scholars programs for hosting this festive event and bringing our campus community together.
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And San Joaquin Delta College shared that alum Robert Gasser would be playing for the Milwaukee Brewers in this year’s World Series. His efforts helped his team secure their franchise’s first World Series championship.
And From the Home of the Renegades
BC Receives $100,000 Grant to Support Students Pursuing Healthcare Careers
Last week, Bank of America hosted their annual Community Roundtable and Celebration in the Renegade Event Center. The event brings together local community members and businesses to discuss public relations, charitable contributions and strategizing, and more. During the event, the BC Foundation received the 2026 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Grant for $100,000 to support the Aspiring Medical Professionals Pathway.
Karen Zuber, President of Bakersfield Local Market at Bank of America, was excited to announce the recipient of the grant. “We are so honored to present this year’s Neighborhood Builder Award to the Bakersfield College Foundation,” she said to the attendees, “we thank you for believing in students, we thank for believing in the community, and for helping create opportunities that can change the course of a person’s life.”
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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
