I am pleased to share with you that last month’s 2nd Annual Alameda County Behavioral Health Department Re-Entry Conference, which Merritt College had the honor of hosting again this year, proved to be a phenomenal success. The theme: "Beyond Survival: Reclaiming Power, Purpose, and Possibility," exemplified the transformative power of cross-sector collaboration in service of our most vulnerable community members.
On March 26, the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) held a "topping off" ceremony to celebrate progress on the new senior housing complex that is being built across the street from the Laney Campus. The new building will have 97 units of affordable senior housing and commercial space on the lower level.
As CoA approaches the culmination of the academic year, the college community continues to demonstrate the power of connection, engagement, and student-centered programming. Across instructional and student services areas, our campus has activated a wide range of experiences designed to support persistence, build belonging, and celebrate the holistic development of our students.
Welcome back, students! We hope you had a good spring break last week.
Early enrollment began on Monday, April 8 and runs this week for many current students.
Peralta students now have a new option for convenient, discounted hot meals on campus. In partnership with Peralta District leadership, Foodture, a robotic hot food vending company, has installed hot food vending machines at each campus. Foodture machines offer chef-prepared hot meals for around $5 with easy payment options including credit/debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
On Friday, March 6, Peralta hosted its annual district-wide celebration of the Lunar New Year alongside the college presidents and Board Trustee Nicky Gonzalez Yuen. This is the Year of the Fire Horse, a symbol of energy, courage, and bold transformation. In many traditions, the Fire Horse represents momentum, independence, and the willingness to move forward with confidence, even when the path ahead is new.
On February 18, Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson attended the 50th Annual Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA) Conference, which was held in Long Beach. She currently serves on the ACCCA Board as theImmediate Past President, alongside Dr. Ajani Byrd, who is currently serving as the Acting VP of Student Services at Berkeley City College. The conference itself was both celebratory and grounding, marking fifty years of leadership and service across the California community college system.
On February 10, Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson was joined by a strong PCCD cohort, including Basic Needs Coordinators Izzie Villanueva, Katrina Santos, and Jeremy Simmons, and student leaders from BCC and Laney, in representing the Peralta Community College District at the California Higher Education Basic Needs Alliance (CHEBNA) Summit in Sacramento. This vital intersegmental convening, held in partnership between California Community Colleges and the CSU and UC systems, brought together over 800 leaders, practitioners, and students to focus on transforming how colleges address food & housing insecurity, mental health, and financial stability.
On March 17, Merritt College hosted the Career and Wellness Resource Fair. This incredible event was the product of intentional collaboration and strategic partnership development, with our Sankofa Program successfully partnering with the group Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), as well as key campus programs including EOPS, SAS &, ASMC, and the Basic Needs Center.
Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an important opportunity to celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals while also raising awareness of the barriers they continue to face. It is both a moment of recognition and a call to action, affirming the right of all people to live authentically, safely, and with dignity.
