On November 6, 2024, Peralta Community College District Chancellor, Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, sent the following message to employees. We share it here for the broader Peralta Community. 

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Dear Beloved District Community,

Yesterday morning, I woke up to find yet another window on my car shattered—a familiar scene. Outside my home in Oakland, this is the fourth smashed window in less than a year and one of many in the city. Frustration settled in as I stood in my VOTE t-shirt and jeans, staring at the broken glass. I felt the weight of everything: the national and local elections, our District's relentless focus on quality education rooted in equity and social justice, and prioritizing the well-being of loved ones and our Peralta community.

And yet, standing there in that moment of frustration, I knew what I had to do—I had to choose hope.

Choosing hope means committing to the long journey, not just for one election cycle but for all the work that follows. It's a choice to believe that change is always worth pursuing, though it may be slow and sometimes feel out of reach. This choice keeps us moving forward, even when the obstacles seem relentless. Hope might feel fragile, especially when outcomes don't align with our dreams, but it is powerful because it's a decision—a decision I am making over and over.

Angela Davis once said, "You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time." Choosing hope means standing back up after every setback, staying committed even when the road gets hard, and holding to our values—not just for a moment, but for the long haul.

Our district community inspires me to make that choice every day. We are part of a movement defined by resilience. While progress may come in inches rather than leaps, each inch is gained because you continue showing up for our students, colleagues, and community. Thank you for your courage and commitment and for turning our shared hope into real, meaningful action daily. The role each and every one of you play in our community is valued and necessary.

No matter how you feel about the election results, I invite you to choose hope—not because it's easy, but because it's transformative. The work ahead is real, but so is our resolve. Our students need us, and we need each other.

Let's make the choice, today and every day, to hold onto our vision and push for progress—not as an abstract ideal but as a reality we build together. 

With gratitude and hope,

Tammeil