San Diego Community College District

Black Student Success Week, an annual event aimed at building Black student success at California’s community colleges, will be celebrated this year with workshops, webinars and more starting April 19 at San Diego City, Mesa and Miramar colleges and the San Diego College of Continuing Education.

The theme of this year’s Black Student Success Week is Building a Better Future Together. The Urgency is Now.

The San Diego Community College District is kicking off Black Student Success Week on Friday morning, April 19, with a virtual SDCCD Black Student Success Summit featuring keynote speaker Dr. Abdimalik Buul, a City College professor serving as the California Community Colleges’ Visiting Executive of the Educational Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity Program. The event is limited to SDCCD students, faculty and professional staff.

“The San Diego Community College District’s vision is firmly grounded in creating an environment where everybody who comes here is welcomed, supported and provided with resources helping them reach their career and educational goals,” said Chancellor Gregory Smith. “We are honored and privileged that our colleges are taking the lead in hosting so many events that are in line with this mission.”

Among the SDCCD events:

Monday, April 22

Harambe
A City College kickoff with food, music, games and community.
From 11 a.m. to noon
San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., A-Terrace Patio. Free and open to the public.

#TheBlackHour: California Community Colleges’ Bachelor’s Degree Programs: Are They Delivering on the Dream for Black Students
From noon to 1 p.m.
A statewide webinar. San Diego Miramar College, 10440 Black Mountain Road, will host a webinar watch party with food, in Room L-310. San Diego College of Continuing Education will have a webinar watch party in Room 214 at the Mid-City Campus, 3792 Fairmount Ave. Register here.

Haitian Student Experience: A Journey of 2,000 miles
From 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Led by SDCCE Black Student Success Program coordinator Terry Sivers, this session with a student panel will shed light on recent events leading to significant Haitian migration and their integration through education. SDCCE, Mid-City Campus, 3792 Fairmount Ave., Room 203 or Zoom (Meeting ID: 894 3235 7953; Passcode: 088085). Free and open to the public.

#TheStudent Hour: Financial Intelligence and Basic Needs
From 6 to 7 p.m.
Statewide webinar. Register here.

Tuesday, April 23

Advocacy Day
From 11 a.m. to noon
Learn more about City College Black advocacy. San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., Room MS-140. Free and open to the public.

Transfer Transitions Panel
From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A panel discussion to help students complete their transfer pathway to a four-year college or university. San Diego Mesa College, 7250 Mesa College Drive, Room 14-213. Free and open to the public.

#TheBlackHour: Combatting the Affirmative Action Ban: Levers for Increasing Black Student Success at the State and Federal Level
From noon to 1 p.m.
A statewide webinar. San Diego Miramar College, 10440 Black Mountain Road, will host a webinar watch party with food, in Room L-310. San Diego College of Continuing Education will have webinar watch parties in Room 214 at the Mid-City Campus, 3792 Fairmount Ave. Register here.

Career Transitions: A Black Perspective
From 4 to 5:30 p.m.
An empowering program led by SDCCE’s workforce development professional Zuri Williams and designed to support Black students’ career aspirations and reveal pathways to success. SDCCE, Mid-City Campus, 3792 Fairmount Ave., Room 203 or Zoom (Meeting ID: 894 3235 7953; Passcode: 088085). Free and open to the public.

#TheStudent Hour: Community College Day
From 6 to 7 p.m.
Statewide webinar. Register here.

Wednesday, April 24

Department of Labor
From 11 a.m. to noon
A discussion about labor conditions and opportunities. San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., Room MS-140. Free and open to the public.

#TheBlackHour:  Empowering Black Excellence: Policies, Workforce Development, and Apprenticeships for College-to-Career Success
From noon to 1 p.m.
A statewide webinar. San Diego Miramar College, 10440 Black Mountain Road, will host a webinar watch party with food in Room L-310. San Diego College of Continuing Education will have a webinar watch party in Room 214 at the Mid-City Campus, 3792 Fairmount Ave. Register here.

Stepping Class
From 12 to 1 p.m.
Learn footsteps, speech and handclaps that serve to create intricate rhythms and sounds. San Diego Mesa College Quad, 7250 Mesa College Drive. Free and open to the public.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health – Racial Battle Fatigue
From 4 to 5:30 p.m.
San Diego College of Continuing Education mental health counselor Janisha Street leads a deep dive into racial battle fatigue, a term for the cumulative effects of experiencing racism and discrimination over time. SDCCE, Mid-City Campus, 3792 Fairmount Ave., Room 203 or Zoom (Meeting ID: 894 3235 7953; Passcode: 088085). Free and open to the public.

#TheStudent Hour: Careers of Today and Tomorrow
From 6 to 7 p.m.
Statewide webinar. Registration is required. Register here.

Thursday, April 25

A Focus on Practitioners
From 11 a.m. to noon
A discussion centering on practitioners working with and working for the Black and African American community. San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., Room MS-140. Free and open to the public.

#TheBlackHour: Just Because We Make It Look Easy, Doesn’t Mean It Is
From noon to 1 p.m.
A statewide webinar. San Diego Miramar College, 10440 Black Mountain Road, will hold a webinar watch party with food, in Room L-310. San Diego College of Continuing Education will have a webinar watch party in Room 214 at the Mid-City Campus. Register for the Watch Party here.

Becoming Your Own Self-Validation
From 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Professor Starla Lewis and her daughter, Ishe Hollins share wisdom and personal insights on cultivating self-love and confidence. SDCCE, Mid-City Campus, 3792 Fairmount Ave., Room 203 or Zoom (Meeting ID: 894 3235 7953; Passcode: 088085). Free and open to the public.

Open Mic Night
From 5 to 7 p.m.
A showcase for talent or to simply enjoy an early evening of music, poetry, comedy and more. San Diego Mesa College, 7250 Mesa College Drive, Room G-102. Free and open to the public.

#TheStudent Hour: Cash for College Workshop
From 6 to 7 p.m.
Statewide webinar. Register here. 

Friday, April 26

Black Faculty Panel
From 11 a.m. to noon
San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., Room MS-140. Free and open to the public.

#TheBlackHour: AI and Racial Equity
From noon to 1 p.m.
A statewide webinar. San Diego Miramar College, 10440 Black Mountain Road, will have a webinar watch party with food, in Room L-310. San Diego College of Continuing Education will have a webinar watch party in Room 214 at the Mid-City Campus. Others can register via the Black Student Success website

Path to Black Excellence Library Scavenger Hunt
From 1 to 2 p.m., and from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Students will unleash their inner detective in this Black Student Success Week-themed event. San Diego Mesa College, 7250 Mesa College Drive, Learning Resource Center. Free and open to the public.

 

Initiatives such as Black Student Success Week are believed to have played a key role in raising the ratio of African Americans at the SDCCD from 7% of all students in the fall of 2021 to 10% of all students in the fall of 2022. Statewide, enrollment of Black and African American students was up by 7% from the 2021-22 academic year to 2022-23.