“Your performance and presence truly stood out, and we are honored to recognize your excellence,” wrote Charles Peoples of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., in an announcement to the college.
SDCCE’s award-winning float, themed “Hope in Action: A Dream Still Unfolding,” was designed and built by welding students and faculty at the college’s Educational Cultural Complex in Southeast San Diego. The 30-foot-long, 9-foot-wide float featured a metal-crafted pop-up book symbolizing Dr. King’s dream, alongside rotating crowds, descriptive flags, and vibrant motion banners.
“Each year we challenge our students with a float design that pushes them to expand what they believe they can accomplish as individuals and as a team,” said Mike Bradbury, welding instructor who leads the college’s MLK Parade float entry. “Project-based learning is a valuable teaching tool because it develops skills that are difficult to cultivate in a traditional welding booth. Teamwork, time management, and working within budget constraints are all part of the experience.”
Among the students who helped fabricate the float was Rodney L. Fowler, Sr., 64, a lifelong resident of southeastern San Diego. Growing up near Valencia Park, Fowler recalls his seventh birthday coinciding with Dr. King’s assassination, a moment that shaped his understanding of justice and inequality.
“The Educational Cultural Complex has always been a beacon of hope for our community,” Fowler said. “Dr. King’s vision was about education and opportunity for all, and this parade gives me the chance to give back, honor that dream, and celebrate a place that continues to uplift generations of students.”
The parade shares deep historic ties with ECC. In 1980, former SDCCE President Robert Matthews joined members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc - Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter to help launch the annual San Diego Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. Established in 1957, the chapter continues to advance education, public service, mentorship, and scholarships in partnership with the San Diego Alpha Foundation.
“We look forward to our welding students creating a dynamic tribute to civil rights and community empowerment each year,” said Dr. Tina M. King, President of San Diego College of Continuing Education. “The parade is a cherished tradition for us; it unites our college with our community as we march alongside our longtime partners and civil rights advocates at Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, carrying forward the life’s work and enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
For nearly 50 years, ECC has served as a cornerstone of education and arts in southeastern San Diego, welcoming civil rights leaders such as Coretta Scott King, Stevie Wonder, and Maya Angelou.
The college is also undergoing a $65 million renovation, including $35 million in state grant funding and Measure HH Bond funding toward the ECC Theatre, that will preserve decades of MLK Parade trophies awarded by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc and display large-scale welding sculptures created by students and faculty.
Today, SDCCE serves approximately 30,000 students annually across its seven campuses, providing tuition-free workforce training and high school diploma and equivalency programs to those 18 and older, advancing its mission to expand access, equity, and opportunity for all.
