On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Peralta Association of African American Affairs (PAAAA) proudly hosted its 17th Annual African/African American Graduation for the Peralta Community College District. The vibrant event, open to all, celebrated the rich tapestry of the African diaspora while honoring the remarkable achievements of graduates from Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College.

OAKLAND, CA – On Friday, May 9, 2025, the Peralta Community College District hosted its second annual district-wide Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Graduation Celebration, bringing together students, families, faculty, and staff from Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College to honor the achievements of the graduating class of 2025.

The Peralta Colleges Foundation hosted a vibrant and inspiring "Spring Forward Meet and Greet" on Tuesday evening, April 29th, in downtown Oakland, bringing together students, alumni, educators, and community leaders to celebrate the Peralta Community College District and the vital role the Foundation plays in supporting its students.

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, on a glorious spring day in Oakland, we kicked off “Smile Season” and the month-long celebration of student successes throughout the district. Following the tradition of Libations by Kimm Blackwell, Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson warmly welcomed attendees to the Peralta Association of African American Affairs (PAAAA) Scholarship Awardee Reception, expressing her joy in celebrating the extraordinary student scholars. She began by acknowledging and thanking the PAAAA Scholarship Committee for their dedication in making the event possible.

A dedicated group of faculty representatives from the Peralta Community College District recently joined colleagues from across the state at the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) 2025 Spring Plenary Session.

Are you looking for an exciting way to serve your community? The Peralta Community College District is looking for new members to serve on the Citizens' Parcel Tax Measures Oversight Committee.  

At the April 8th Board of Trustees meeting, Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson proudly recognized five exceptional classified professionals as the 2025 Classified Employees of the Year. These individuals, representing Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, and the District Service Center, were celebrated for their unwavering dedication, professionalism, and profound impact on our district and the wider community.

The Peralta Community College District recently celebrated its third Classified Professional Symposium of the school year, themed “Rethinking Our Possibilities.” The event benefited from beautiful weather, both within the welcoming Laney Student Center and in the surrounding outdoor spaces.

Recently, both the Laney College and Merritt College Child Care Centers were reviewed by the Oakland Head Start Program. Both centers exceeded expectations and received glowing reviews! The reviewer even commented, “A few families did not know why I was there but made a point to let me know their child loves their teachers and I was lucky to be observing the best classroom at the school."

We have more exciting news from Women’s History Month in March, this time focusing on honors for Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson.