On Friday, December 5th, PCCD Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson joined an especially strong contingent of representatives from the Peralta Colleges at this year’s Basic Needs Summit at Napa Valley College. 

For the past seven years, the Real College California Coalition, supported by the CEO Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce (which Chancellor Gilkerson chairs), has brought together students, practitioners, and advocates to share high-impact practices that address the diverse challenges our community college students face. 

This year’s Basic Needs Summit theme was “Sustaining Hope: Meeting Student Needs in Uncertain Times" and reflects our collective commitment to creating safe, equitable, and enduring support systems for students, even as higher education navigates political, financial, and social uncertainty.

Chancellor Gilkerson said, "Our goal is to highlight strategies that empower campuses to provide stability, belonging, and pathways to completion.  I’m pleased to share that the Berkeley City College Basic Needs Center team presented on their successful use of social media — three channels with more than 300,000 views and over 1,000 followers — to strengthen partnerships, deepen student engagement, and expand outreach. Congratulations to the team for showcasing this innovative and impactful work."

Berkeley City College Basic Needs Center Coordinator Izzie Villanueva provided some additional details from their presentation.  Here's BCC BNC by the numbers:

• 1,815 students reached from classroom presentations (in-person, online, and shared slides) thanks to 21 different BCC faculty
• 222 emergency transportation grants awarded ($150 each)
• 61 emergency food grants awarded ($100 each)
• 138 students shopped during free flea market on Tuesday October 28, and took home 472 pieces of clothing!

College of Alameda Basic Needs Coordinator Jeremy Simmons, Laney College Basic Needs Coordinator Katrina Santos, and Merritt College Basic Needs Coordinator Susana Abdurahman were also there, along with many others. Peralta Colleges showed up in force.

It was a productive conference!