On November 11, 2017, the CCC + LGBTQ Summit will
bring together California Community College students, faculty, staff,
administrators, and advocates for a free higher education conference on
supporting and creating resources for LGBTQ people in the CCC system. The
Summit is hosted by the University of California, Riverside and open to all who
register online by October 27. Learn more at https://cccqsummit.blogspot.com
“I am proud to partner with the UC Riverside LGBT
Resource Center, the California Community Colleges, and the Puente Project to
bring this LGBTQ Summit forward,” says Assemblymember Jose Medina. “As Chair of
the Assembly Higher Education Committee, it is important to me that we create
and enhance resources for LGBTQ students at all 114 community college campuses
throughout California. This is an important step to insuring that all students
have the access and resources needed to have a successful college experience.”
The CCC + LGBTQ Summit will offer a plenary
on the current state of resources and support for LGBTQ people at CCC campuses,
workshop sessions on best practices and strategies for change, caucus spaces,
and a closing plenary on next steps for the system.
“We are behind the curve for serving the needs of
LGBTQ people compared to the UC and CSU systems,” says Steven Deineh, MiraCosta
College librarian and chair of the LGBTQIA Caucus of the Academic Senate for
California Community Colleges. “The Summit will provide the biggest and best
opportunity to set the stage for change across the CCC system of 114 campuses,
2.1 million students, and 90,000 employees.”
The CCC has made some strides in recent years. In
2016, Mt. San Antonio College and Sierra College doubled the number of two-year
institutions in the nation offering a professionally-staffed campus LGBT center
when they each opened a Pride Center. However, a 2015 review of CCC websites
showed few to no efforts to address LGBTQ campus climate, student engagement,
curriculum, or equity issues.
“This conference is the beginning of empowering
community colleges to focus more on LGBT+ needs,” says student Rocio Aguayo.
“As former President of the Associated Student Government of San Bernardino
Valley College and incoming transfer student of UCR, I love the collaboration
taking place between different leaders and know this will help folks create and
bring more resources to their campus."
Organizers hope the CCC + LGBTQ Summit will not
just be a space for sharing current efforts, but a catalyst for system-wide
change.
“Trying to make systemic change
institution-by-institution or classroom by classroom can feel impossible, and
can be excruciatingly painful,” says Romagnoli, Santa Rosa Junior College
faculty and former chair of SRJC’s LGBTQ President’s Advisory Committee. “I am looking
forward to this opportunity to work, and to heal, alongside my comrades from
across the state, so that we are better able to serve and empower California’s
delightfully diverse community college students, faculty, and staff.”
The CCC + LGBTQ Summit is organized by campus
members from over 15 California Community Colleges, with logistical support
provided by the LGBT Resource Center of the University of California,
Riverside.
“Community college students are future UCR
students, and the more support LGBTQ students experience at CCC campuses, the
more likely they will persist to transfer to a 4-year college,” says Nancy Jean
Tubbs, director of the LGBT Resource Center.
Adds Aguayo, "The California Community
College system is a beautiful place for anyone, that's why we are working with
UCR to continue to build on the inclusiveness of our system.”
