National Hispanic Heritage Month – September 20

September 20, 2022 

Dear Berkeley City College community – 

Beginning September 15 through October 15, we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating the contributions of Hispanic/Latinx communities to the United States and the importance of Americans whose ancestry originates from Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. As a Chicana and first-generation college graduate and professional, I’m proud to be in community with each of you at Berkeley City College, a college that has a vibrant Latinx representation in our student body and employees.  

As a Hispanic Serving Institution, Berkeley City College is dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and improving academic access to Latinx and Chicanx students. You can see this firsthand in our thriving Society of Scholars Puente Learning community, the Undocumented Resource center that provides critical resources for our undocumented communities, and the continued work of the Conocimiento Los Caminos program supporting Latinx and other students of color in retention and graduation.  

I am extremely proud of the collective work from our administration, faculty, and classified professionals towards building a community college committed to equity, racial justice, and student success for these historically minoritized communities. Our institutional growth in serving the needs of Latinx students and their families has put us in a strong position to be considered a thought leader and institutional model for community colleges.  Next week, I will have the opportunity to join HSI college leaders at the Excelencia in Education convening in Washington, DC, which will include the recognition of four-evidence based programs for accelerating Latino student success in higher education.  I believe that Berkeley City College can be a top contender and finalist for the 2023 Celebración de Excelencia award, given our increased numbers of Latinx students who complete and transfer to a four-year institution.  

Berkeley City College colleagues have organized an exciting schedule of events celebrating BCC’s Latinx Heritage Month, encompassing all students that identify as Latina, Latino, Latinx, and Chicanx. Everyone is welcome to connect, build community, and celebrate excellence among the Latinx community.  

I look forward to seeing many of you at these events and encourage you to share broadly with students, your family and friends, and our local community partners.  

En Comunidad,