January 23, 2023

Dear Peralta Community,

Welcome to the Spring 2023 semester. Today should be a day of celebration for students returning to our colleges’ to continue their educational goals and to avail themselves of our outstanding instruction and support services. Today should also be an opportunity for us to celebrate the Lunar New Year – the Year of the Rabbit. And we do celebrate these events!

But this week, we also fly our flags at half-staff at the campuses in solidarity with US President Joe Biden and our federal government, in memory of the lives lost and people injured at the tragic shooting yesterday at Monterey Park in southern California.

Congratulations to Richard Nguyen, who was awarded the Ozzie Day Scholarship for Fall 2022 at an award ceremony on December 7^th, 2022. Richard grew up in East Oakland and his dad, Duc Nguyen, took classes from the College of Alameda Automotive Technology (ATECH) program when Duc first immigrated to the USA thirty years ago. Richard decided to follow in his dad's footsteps after graduating from high school in Oakland. Ever since his first ATECH class, he's been a straight-A student in the COA ATECH program. He expects to graduate from the Auto program next June and get a job as a technician at a local dealership.

Students Promote AMT at the Hayward Executive Airport Open House

CoA Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) program representatives were invited to participate in the Hayward Executive Airport’s Open House Salute to Veterans and First Responders event on September 11, 2022, at the Hayward Airport. AMT Facility Supervisor Esther Cheng and 14 very enthusiastic AMT student volunteers staffed CoA’s booth at the event, providing information about the College’s popular aviation technology program.

Dear Peralta Community,

Per our policy to follow Alameda County Public Health Department guidelines, and based on discussions with union leaders, it is agreed that in January 2023 masks will become optional on Peralta Community College District (PCCD) property and will no longer be required. People may choose to mask at any time.

Hello Peralta Colleagues,

I don't know about you, but I am very much looking forward to the Thanksgiving break on November 24-25, 2022. Working at Peralta Community College District can often feel like stepping on a treadmill that’s already going 10 miles per hour. There’s always so much going on. We all need this break to recharge and reflect.

Award-winning Dance Professor Danny Nguyen and his students were invited to perform at the 56th Raising of the United Nations Flag and Parade of 193 Member State Flags, held on October 8, 2022, at Jack London Square (JLS), in Oakland. Chair of the United Nations (UN) Flag Raising at JLS Dr. Veronica Ufoegbune expressed her appreciation in a letter and invited the group to perform again next year.

On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, Director of Workforce Systems Stefanie Bradshaw served as a panelist for the Alameda County Workforce Development Board’s “Expand Your Talent Pool- Job Seekers Experiencing Homelessness” panel discussion.

CoA ADAM Program students were featured in the 2022 Designer Showcase at Fibershed’s Rooted in Simplicity event, on September 17, 2022, at the Fibershed Learning Center in Point Reyes, California. ADAM students Chi Do and Lina Egutkina participated in an innovative workshop that focused on making indigo dye vats at the Fibershed Learning Center in June 2022.

The first-ever Peralta Charrette was a huge success. We really appreciate the approximately 200 community members who participated for taking the time to register, attend, and share their thoughts and concerns as the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) works on our five-year strategic plan and the Peralta Colleges – Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College – work on their educational master plans.