BCC Summer Session- July 14, 2022

July 14, 2022

Dear Berkeley City College Community,

We have had a busy start to the summer and I can hardly believe we are already in July. Summer school is in session and I am enjoying meeting new students every day.

BCC in the Community

Earlier this week, we launched the BCC in the Community outreach effort, where a team of BCC colleagues join me to welcome new and continuing students to BCC. I was joined by Student Ambassador Noel Arikew, PIO Tom Rizza, Outreach Coordinator Gail Pendleton, and Dr. Martín De Mucha Flores to visit new and continuing BCC students.

During two visits (Monday & Thursday), we visited 5 BCC students at their homes or place of employment. From a recent BHS graduate to a returning student who is a single parent, these students represent the diversity of BCC. I appreciated driving throughout our local community and the students for welcoming us to their front stoop, their place of employment at a summer camp, the Lawrence National Science Laboratory, and even a local Dance studio. They are remarkable humans and our community is richer because of them. BCC in the Community Inaugural Visit (Tik Tok Video) BCC in the Community- BHS recent grad (Tik Tok Video)

Students received an Undocumented Community Resource Center (UCRC) bag with BCC items, including a clipper card and a visa gift card. This outreach effort is supported by funds raised with the Peralta Colleges Foundation. I would like to acknowledge that this idea grew from a colleague and friend, Dr. Claudia Schrader, President of Kingsborough Community College, who has been doing the “KCC Welcome Wagon” for the past year and half. We even called her from our drive on Monday so she could see our “BCC in the Community” in action.

If you know of a new student beginning with BCC this fall, please contact Tom Rizza at trizza@peralta.edu. Please stay tuned for more information and for photos on social media and via BCC Announcements. In the meantime, enjoy these initial Tik Tok Video productions of the first day visits: BCC in the Community Inaugural Visit (Tik Tok Video) BCC in the Community- BHS recent grad (Tik Tok Video)

Our next BCC in the Community is scheduled for the first week of August.

President’s Messages

I have been reflecting on the most effective and meaningful ways to share critical communications regarding the college. For the past two years, I have held monthly gatherings of Cafecito with the President, held office hours for individual meetings, joined department meetings, and provided written messages. This past summer, I have learned from our student ambassadors that shorter video messages resonate with students. So, in addition to my written messages, I will be trying out some new methods for communication and ask for your patience and grace. Additionally, I will work with Tom Rizza to ensure that the News for the Board Reports are posted on our website for ease of reference. Please reach out to me with any suggestions you might have for how to share critical messages.

Campus Engagement

If you were on campus today, you likely experienced a vibrant day with various services and programs bringing new, current, and prospective students to campus. Amidst the backdrop of students receiving support from Admissions & Records, Financial Aid and Counseling, the two campus tour groups also benefited from the BCC Food Pantry. Scholars in the third cohort of “Networking Opportunities, Vision, and Action” (NOVA) held a Gallery Walk in the Atrium of their summer projects. In partnership with the Berkeley High School RISE program, rising 9th grade scholars are completing a series of two BCC Career Exploration courses, a dual enrollment pathway filled with enrichment, networking, exploration, and more. Their final projects displayed their lifestyle dreams and goals, accelerating forward with a “College and Career Ahead” mentality. It was such a joy to see their work, energy, and focus to present their poster boards.

Closing Comments

These past weeks have been filled with global and national events that have impacted me, my family, our community deeply. The violent actors that are inflicting, pain, suffering, and even death for political, religious, racial, or patriarchal motives are a reminder that the work of building a democratic community is still very much needed. BCC is an anchor to the democracy for the local community. We have the potential and capacity to end generational poverty and to stop and repair the impacts of gentrification. I believe that we are precisely the community of students, classified professionals, faculty, and administrators that can make this a reality.

It is an honor to be in community with such gifted and dedicated colleagues who are committed to students.