The College of Alameda Gymnasium was filled with music, pride, and shared joy on May 14, 2026, as the Peralta Community College District hosted its annual Raíces Peralta Latinx Graduation Ceremony. This special districtwide event brought together graduates from Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College to celebrate not just their academic milestones, but their rich cultural heritage and the families who supported them along the way.
Under the open skies of the UC Berkeley Memorial Glade on May 21, 2026, Berkeley City College (BCC) dismissed its latest class of graduates into the world. It wasn't just a celebration of final exams passed and credits earned; it was a testament to boundary-pushing resilience. Guided by the poignant, student-selected theme, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!”, the commencement ceremony honored a massive, record-breaking cohort poised to shake up academia and industry alike.
The energy on the Laney College football field was electric as family, friends, faculty, and community partners gathered to honor the incredible journeys of the Class of 2026. This wasn’t just a graduation; it was a mass celebration of collective triumph, stubborn resilience, and the deep-seated Oakland pride that defines the Laney spirit.
Brian Belt first got hooked on automotive repair from watching Fast and Furious movies. And once he started learning about automotive repair at CoA, he was hooked. He is now employed at an Acura dealership and loves to repair vehicles for friends and family whenever he can. He says that this scholarship will help him pursue his academic, professional, and personal goals.
Update from Friday, May 8, 2026:
Canvas is back up and all Canvas apps and services have been restored.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation during the outage. Students should now be able to log back in and resume access to course materials, assignments, messages, and other class resources.
As a reminder, please continue to use caution with any suspicious emails or links related to Canvas and rely on official communication from Peralta and your instructors for updates.
If you continue experiencing login or access issues, please contact your instructor or campus support services for assistance.
During the April 14 Board of Trustees meeting, Davina Malbrough, current President of the Associated Students of Merritt College (ASMC), announced that she has been elected to serve as the next president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC). Congratulations Davina!
On April 22, Adult Education project manager Nik Howell and faculty member Marla Leech led a group of Laney College students on an inspiring behind-the-scenes tour of the KQED headquarters in San Francisco. The visit was more than just a tour; it was an exciting opportunity to see the "Peralta-to-professional" pipeline in action.
At the April 14, 2026, meeting of the Board of Trustees, Peralta Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson celebrated the third cohort of the "Flying Pig Awards." The awards, established in 2024, honor those within the Peralta community who go above and beyond to serve students and the District in ways that often seem improbable.
Written by (Anonymous), an International Student Parent & Spring 2026 Basic Needs Center Intern
Have you ever walked through the Berkeley City College (BCC) campus on a Thursday afternoon and wondered why tables are lined with fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, milk, beans, and more?
You've probably heard of ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages but are you familiar with VESL? That stands for Vocational English as a Second Language. This term refers to English language programs that specifically integrate job skills and workplace competencies to improve the employability of students. Our colleague Jamille Teer (District Service Center Department of General Services and 4CS Board Member) recently attended a Laney VESL graduation ceremony and found it to be a moving experience.
