We at Peralta TV would like to wish all of our LGBTQ+ brothers, sisters, and siblings a happy and safe Pride Month. This month, our selection of programming covers diversity in its many different forms across the country.

OAKLAND, Calif., May 24, 2023 – Last night, the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Dr. Denise Richardson to serve as Interim President of Berkeley City College effective July 1, 2023, and extending to June 30, 2024, or until a permanent president is hired. Dr. Richardson is currently the Vice President of Instruction at Merritt College, a role she began in March 2020. She has been an employee of the district for over 20 years, starting as a faculty member at Laney College in 2001.

The quote “Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle” may have come from self-help author Napoleon Hill, but it certainly epitomizes the approach that Ms. Esperiza Kimble (affectionately known as Carmela) has taken to achieve her academic goals. Arriving in the United States from the Philippines at age 17, seeking a better life for herself and her daughter, Carmela had to overcome many obstacles—challenges that included poverty, depression, and self-doubt.

The National Cyber League (NCL) Spring 2023 season just concluded, and Peralta would like to congratulate Merritt College’s team of students/scholars (they go by the name Merrittocracy). The mission of the NCL is to prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professionals by providing college students with an online, safe platform for real-world cybersecurity challenges. Hundreds of colleges (including four-year institutions) and thousands of teams participate every year.

Students from the College of Alameda Umoja program came together to create a sense of community and camaraderie on campus while enjoying a movie day. The students loved the event and are looking forward to even more exciting occasions in the future. Food, entertainment, and laughing were all in attendance. The event was organized by Umoja Counselor Valarie Carey and attended by students Saji Muanza, Chanceline Zannou, Muhammad, and Kholood B.

BCC Multimedia Art students are holding an exhibition in the Jerry Adams Gallery titled “Rethink Your Drink”, displaying poster advertisements promoting water of sugary sweetened beverages. This art exhibit is sponsored by CHEI, a community grantee of Healthy Berkeley, a program of the City of Berkeley’s Public Health Division. Students Jerry Hsaio and Brian Travis Williams won awards for their pieces “Water Wins” and “Don’t Listen to the Devil.”

The Peralta Colleges are often mentioned in news media outlets. Recently, our colleges have seen a lot of positive press from national news outlets, such as when Dr. Angélica Garcia was appointed to a presidential committee including celebrities resulting in the mention of Berkeley City College in publications ranging from InStyle (12 Million readers) to Telemundo Puerto Rico (471 Thousand readers). Here are a few other recent news items mentioning our colleges. 

The Peralta Community College District is proud to celebrate the granting of tenure to seven members of our faculty by the Board of Trustees in March, with tenure taking effect with the 2023-24 academic year. These seven join the ranks of tenured faculty at our four colleges, adding ever more experience and talent to the core of our distinguished faculty, the foundation of our ability to help our students reach their educational goals. Congratulations to all for earning this distinction and for your dedication to our students.

To view all the photos taken during the event, click here.