Berkeley Mayoral Candidate Forum at Berkeley City College

Three candidates in the running to be the next Mayor of Berkeley took part in a Mayoral Candidate Forum at Berkeley City College, presented by the local League of Women Voters (LWV) of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville and in co-sponsorship with the American Association of University Women. Nearly 150 people attended filled the Auditorium for the event, which was also broadcasted and livestreamed by Berkeley Community Media. President Denise Richardson provided welcoming remarks to open the forum, “We’re happy to invite members of the community to our campus to hear from the candidates in this important race for the future of Berkeley. We’re also excited to provide the opportunity for Berkeley City College students to be involved in the political process. We thank the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women for partnering with Berkeley City College to co-sponsor this important discussion.”

The forum was moderated by Oaklandside reporter Ashley McBride. Candidates Sophie Hahn, Kate Harrison, and Adena Ishii responded to questions about revitalizing Berkeley’s downtown, public safety, strategies to reduce homelessness, and other topics. Many of the questions provided were submitted by community members and BCC students in an online questionnaire distributed before the event. We thank all involved in the organization of the event, including our sponsors LWV of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville, the American Association of University Women, and BCC student volunteers.

Fall Club Rush at BCC

BCC’s Inter-club Council hosted its Fall Club Rush on September 24th. Over 30 clubs tabled the event while students filled the atrium to meet with club representatives and learn how to apply. Some of the newest clubs included the Boating and Sailing Club, Running Club, and Business Marketing Club. President Denise Richardson also stopped by and engaged with students and club leaders alike. As an incentive, the Interclub Council offered pizza to students who visited at least 5 clubs. Big thanks to the Inter-club Council for organizing a great event, and Gail Pendleton for her support!

Fall Transfer Fair at BCC

BCC held its Fall Transfer Fair, bringing together over 40 colleges and universities on September 26th. Representatives provided students with insights into academic programs and campus life, helping them explore transfer opportunities. Students who attended also had the chance to participate in a raffle and win college swag. Special thanks to Andrea Williams, Career and Transfer Center Coordinator, for organizing this informative and successful event.

Berkeley City College Biotech Students Shine at CIRM Trainee Conference

From August 11-13, nine Berkeley City College (BCC) Biotechnology students had the unique opportunity to participate in the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Trainee and Networking Conference at the University of Southern California (USC). BCC biotechnology students joined students from universities across the state to network with Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral researchers from across the state for three days of learning, presenting, and connecting.

The conference kicked off with a reception at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, providing students a chance to mingle among exhibits while enjoying food and drinks. For many, the real excitement came during the poster presentations. Each student was required to present a poster of their research. The students involved were Dehbia Bouaziz, Olivia Doyle, Onurkan Karabulu, Nathaniel Page, Franky Reyes, Ftsum Tesfamichael, Sonia Zibouche, and Alex Zou. Three of BCC’s students—Olivia Doyle, Kay Emanuel, and Ftsum Tesfamichael —were selected to give oral presentations in workshop sessions. BCC was the only community college to have multiple students give presentations in these workshops. Ftsum presented in the Chromatin workshop, and Olivia Doyle and Kay Emanuel presented in the Tumor Organoids & Other In Vitro Models workshop. They showcased the exceptional work being developed at BCC in the field of biotechnology to their peers. You can see the full conference proceedings along with BCC students’ recognition here.

BCC’s participation at the conference highlights the college’s growing influence in the biotechnology field and underscores the power of community colleges to produce highly skilled, innovative scientists.

BCC Latinx Heritage Month Festivities

BCC’s Latinx Heritage Month festivities “Cultivando Nuestra Cultura” began on September 15. Events celebrating Latinx culture and art, as well as professional development opportunities, are taking place through the end of October. The BCC Library is featuring a display of books by Latinx authors, and the @berkeleycitycollege Instagram account is highlighting BCC’s Latinx faculty, classified professionals, and administrators throughout Latinx Heritage Month.

On Wednesday, September 18 Conocimiento Los Caminos, BCC’s MESA Program, and the library teamed up to host a special screening of A Million Miles Away, the true story of NASA astronaut José Hernández. MESA also hosted a pre-screening event to inform students about the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program.

On Wednesday, September 25 BCC’s Puente scholars and the LBGTQIA club organized the Jotería Lotería event at the Student Lounge. Students come together for a Latinx Heritage Month event celebrating our QTBIPOC community playing the Lotería and winning prizes. Prizes and food were provided by the LBGTQIA Club.

“Call & Response - En Vivo!” celebrates the Latinx/ Indigenous imagination featuring live music and live painting, with all participating artists interacting with each other to create a live, multisensory experience in the moment. Featuring visual artist Adrian Arias and musicians PC Muñoz & Javier Navarrette. The event was hosted in partnership with Freight and Salvage.

On October 10, BCC will host its annual “La Pachanga” street party at the Downtown Berkeley Plaza corner of Center St. and Shattuck Ave. BCC will be using this festive occasion to share information about campus resources while serving up free delicious tacos and featuring live music. The party will run from 11:30am-1:30pm – we hope to see you there!

Empowering Change: Announcing the SARE Scholarship at BCC

Berkeley City College is proud to announce the SARE Scholarship, established by Annie Liu, the Executive Assistant to the President, and her business partner, Nelson Lin. As co-founders of Subtle Asian Real Estate (SARE), a community dedicated to empowering Asian Americans to learn financial literacy and build generational wealth through real estate, they are committed to giving back and uplifting others.

The SARE Scholarship awards two $5,000 scholarships to non-domestic students – such as international, asylees, refugees, and undocumented students – who often face significant financial challenges due to ineligibility for traditional aid. By providing critical support, the scholarship enables students to focus on their education and make a meaningful impact in their communities.

Annie Liu’s passion for helping international students stems from over a decade of experience working with them, witnessing firsthand the financial hardships they endure. Despite paying full tuition at Peralta, their visa limitations severely restrict employment opportunities, and they are ineligible for financial aid. It was heartbreaking for Annie to hear stories of her students having to make the tough decision to sacrifice necessities, such as housing or food, to pay their tuition so that they could continue their education and keep their visa statuses active. Inspired by their resilience, Annie and Nelson created this scholarship to advocate for these often-overlooked students and to encourage others in the Peralta community to step up and help those in need. Last year, Annie raised over $6,000 for Peralta Colleges Foundation’s International Student Scholarship, which had depleted during the pandemic, and has pledged to raise another $10,000 for the new SARE Scholarship.

“The SARE Scholarship is more than financial assistance,” Annie said. “It’s about empowering the next generation of changemakers and inspiring our community to rise to the occasion. We hope this initiative sparks a movement where individuals and groups come together to uplift the underrepresented and make a lasting positive impact.” BCC students can apply for the SARE Scholarship through the PCF.