Advocacy and Awareness at Undocumented Student Action Week
Berkeley City College celebrated the 7th annual Undocumented Student Action Week with a series of events organized by BCC’s Undocumented Community Resource Center in collaboration with community partners at E14 Gallery, Immigrant Legal Defense, and Freight & Salvage. The events were designed to promote awareness and solidarity with undocumented students and the broader community. On Monday, October 16, BCC hosted a kickoff event with national best-selling author Julissa Arce with a plática in collaboration with the Undocumented Community Resource Centers at Laney College, College of Alameda, and Merritt College. Julissa is the author of critically acclaimed books, “My (Underground) American Dream” and “Someone Like Me.” She shared her personal journey, from living in the shadows as an undocumented immigrant to becoming a prominent Wall Street executive. She opened up to students about using her platform to raise awareness about immigration issues, education, and social justice. All students in attendance were given free copies of her newest book “You Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation.”
On Tuesday, October 17, E14 Gallery Director and Curator Viviana Rodriguez-Smith visited BCC for an art workshop titled “Make Arte Repujado” crafting butterfly tin ornaments. Students had the opportunity to create their own butterfly-themed tin ornaments, symbolizing the beauty of transformation and resilience using supplies and guidance provided by Rodriguez-Smith.
On Wednesday, October 18, students were invited to a webinar hosted by Immigrant Legal Defense titled “What’s Going On with DACA & Advanced Parole.” The webinar offered students tips and recommendations for traveling on advance parole, and a forum to get their questions answered.
On Thursday, October 19, immigration activist and social media star Carlos Eduardo Espina visited BCC to take us through his personal journey, from discovering his passion for advocacy to discussing the power of social media in promoting and educating the masses about immigration-related issues. Espina has built a social media presence with 6 million followers on TikTok and 500,000 followers on Instagram and is the founder of non-profits designated to provide free soccer and afterschool programs for children from low-income families and advocacy for immigrants held in ICE detention centers. The event was streamed on Instagram Live. On Friday, October 20 the week of events wrapped up with a special field trip to the UC Berkeley Undocumented Student Program. It was a unique opportunity for ALL Peralta scholars to explore the resources and support systems available for undocumented students at one of California’s most prestigious institutions. Students discovered the wide range of resources, scholarships, and services available to undocumented students at UC Berkeley & more.
A special thank you to BCC UCRC Founder Carolina Martinez, UCRC counselors Angelica Peña and Anthony Zelaya-Umanzor, and our community partners for making this special week of action possible.
Cultivando Cultura Y Communidad con La Pachanga Y Julio Salgado
BCC’s Latinx Heritage Month celebration Cultivando Cultura Y Communidad (Cultivating Culture and Community) continued with two events during the week of October 9. On Tuesday, October 10, Berkeley City College was visited by trailblazing queer activist and artist Julio Salgado for an event titled Undocumented & Unapologetic. Salgado engaged students about his educational journey and career in art. Salgado shared his art and inspired students with his activism in the undocumented community. The event was a collaboration with community partner Freight and Salvage.
On Thursday, October 12, Berkeley City College hosted its second annual Pachanga block party and community resource fair at the Downtown Berkeley BART plaza at the corner of Shattuck and Center Street. Hundreds of Berkeley High School students, BCC students, and community members were acquainted with BCC resources, including the Undocumented Community Resource Center, the Basic Needs Center, EOPS, the Learning Resource Center, and the Dual Enrolled Student Club. Students visited each table and were given stamps on a bingo card to get free tacos from Tacos Sinaloa. DJ Ome provided live music and inspirational words for all in attendance. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Downtown Berkeley Association. Cultivando Cultura Y Comunidad will continue with a final event on October 25 with a celebration of Dia De Los Muertos. We thank Berkeley City College’s Hispanic Serving Institution grant Conocimiento Los Caminos, Undocumented Community Resource Center, Puente Project, and the Latinx Unidos club for all their work in organizing the event schedule.
Transfer & Career Center Application Workshops
The BCC Transfer & Career Center is hosting transfer events beginning Monday, October 16 through Thursday, October 19 for students interested in transferring to CSU, UC, and other campuses across the nation. Students got assistance with answering their UC Personal Insight Questions as well as application support for UC, CSU, and other institutions.
Sneak Peek: Basic Needs Awareness Week
The first Berkeley City College Basic Needs Awareness Week begins Monday, October 23rd. The Berkeley City College Basic Needs Center is hosting a series of events to provide essential resources and basic needs to all Berkeley City College students! Come learn about housing rights, get free clothes, find out if you can get free money for groceries, and take care of your mental health with the arts!
Monday, October 23 - Housing & Renting Info Session - “Know Your Rights” Workshop presented by the Unity Council Room 431 from 12:20pm - 1:20pm Who knows about housing rights? The Unity Council is collaborating with lawyers from El Centro Legal De La Raza to present their housing workshop “Know Your Rights” at BCC! The presentation will go over your legal rights as a tenant, tenant practices, and other housing-related information. We encourage anyone to attend! Even if this is not relevant to you now, it might be in the future for yourself or those around you. The workshop will be held in Room 431 from 12:20 - 1:20pm. The Basic Needs Team will be there to provide sandwiches for attendees.
Tuesday, October 24 - Basic Needs Buddies Closet FREE Clothing Flea Market
BCC Atrium 12:20pm to 2:20pm
The Basic Needs Buddies Closet has collected hundreds of new and lightly used clothing items donated by you and BCC employees. You’ll find an assortment of FREE items, including sweaters, pants, jeans, shoes, accessories, and more. We invite you to come and explore sustainable and stylish threads that resonate with your style!!
Wednesday, October 25 - Celebrando Día de Los Muertos (lunch provided)
BCC Atrium 12:20pm - 1:20pm
Happy Latinx Heritage Month! The HSI Team and Basic Needs Team presents a Day of the Dead celebration. Come honor your departed loved ones, and visit our ofrenda (altar) adorned with marigolds, candles, and cherished memories. We will provide a variety of tamales from Otaez: pork, chicken, and veggie.
Wednesday, October 25 - CalFresh Support Hours
Room 126 3:15pm - 5:00pm
Do you know you might have FREE money to claim? We know that as a student, every dollar counts. That’s why we are here to promote our CalFresh Support-Hours! See if you qualify for CalFresh and make your life more affordable. Our dedicated student assistants are here EVERY WEEK to guide you through the process, answer your questions, and help you secure the resources you deserve.
Thursday, October 26 - Mental Health Art Day - BNC and P2P Collab
BCC Atrium 12:20pm - 2:20pm
The Basic Needs Center and Wellness Center are bringing you the first mental health basic needs collaboration! Join us to paint and create art with your peers and decompress from an overwhelming fall semester. Mental Health Ambassadors will be on hand to talk or vent stresses in school, life, and more.
Thursday, October 26 - Food Pantry
BCC Atrium 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Bring your reusable bag and student ID with the Fall 2023 sticker to shop fresh produce, canned, and dried goods.
Mid-Semester Flex Day at BCC
On Wednesday, October 20, Berkeley City College hosted its Mid-Semester Flex Day presented by BCC’s Professional Development Committee. After a meet and greet and welcome from BCC participatory governance, union, and administrative leadership, the morning plenary session took place with a dual-enrollment teaching panel facilitated by Kate Koelle and Dri Regalado. Instructors Drew Braithwaite, Michael Seidel, and Charis Woodward talked about their experiences being instructors for local high schoolers attending BCC. After the morning plenary, four breakout sessions included the second in a four-part series from Success Inc Mental Health Ambassadors, a re-imagining of Institutional Learning
Outcomes, Program Pathway Maps and Curriculum, and a financial wellness session for classified professionals. The afternoon plenary session was titled “Possibility and Peril: AI in the Classroom” facilitated by TLC Coordinator Jennie Braman. The discussion addressed how the emergence of AI requires colleges to respond to this emergent, and disruptive technology. Participants discussed the technology and use of ChatGPT to address urgent and practical concerns such as plagiarism, faculty, and classified professional workflow and ethics.
After the afternoon plenary, four more breakout sessions included an introduction of the Culturally Responsive Pedagogies and Practices Grant that was awarded by the CCC Chancellor’s Office, course design for ALL modalities discussing the California Virtual Campus, District-wide technologies led by Jonathan Olkowski, and a discussion with Classified Staff focused on professional development opportunities with IEPI funding. We thank the Professional Development Committee co-chairs Heather Dodge and Scott Hoshida, as well as the rest of the PD Committee officers, for their work in organizing another great Flex Day.
Welcoming New Colleagues at Berkeley City College
Berkeley City College would like to welcome new colleagues in the Office of Instruction!
Emily Segal, Science Coordinator
Emily (she/her) is excited to be joining BCC as Science Coordinator. She is a graduate of the biotechnology AS at BCC and had such a great time, she wanted to stay! Previous studies include a B.A at UCSB in Comparative Literature and Spanish. She is a trained E.M.T and worked in the health care industry for the last few years while she was a student. She is passionate about working in harm reduction and enjoys Science Fiction!
Angel Kim, Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Instruction
Prior to joining BCC, Angel (he/they) worked in various sectors of education, including a charter school; private education in the form of standardized test prep, tutoring, and college consulting; and an acupuncture college. He also had stints in corporate non-profits and most recently for an event production company in the private sector. Craving a workplace that is most aligned with his values and passion for social justice and education, he is excited to lend his support to the Office of Instruction. Angel is a proud queer, non-binary transmasculine Korean-American immigrant. In his free time, you’ll find him cooking, connecting with his community, and singing karaoke.
Berkeley City College Joins Bayer’s Creating the Future of Biotech Event
BCC President Dr. Denise Richardson and Dean Chris Lewis were happy to join Bayer on October 10th for Creating the Future of Biotech, a celebration of Bayer’s 30 years in Berkeley. The event highlighted the accomplishments of Bayer and the renewal of their agreement with the City of Berkeley for the next 30 years. As part of this renewed agreement, Bayer has awarded BCC and the community-based organization, Biotech Partners, funding to enhance opportunities for underrepresented BUSD students to matriculate into biotechnology and other STEAM pathways at BCC. Along with this funding, Bayer is supporting up to 8 paid internships each year for scholars eligible through this program. Also in attendance that day were project manager Natalia Fedorova, and Biotechnology Program lead, and science department co-chair, Dr. Barbara Des Rochers, biology faculty member, Dr. Erika Yeh, and students. In addition to the celebration, our team was treated to tours of the research and production facilities and met with Bayer scientists to begin identifying mentorship opportunities and calibrating expectations.
This article is taken from the President’s Report, written by Dr. Denise Richardson, Berkeley City College President, that was presented to the PCCD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. To view it as a PDF, click here.