Clovis Community College stands in solidarity with those fighting for equality and racial justice and in doing so, we affirm our commitment to identifying, addressing, and eliminating all forms of racism and ethnic biases. We are committed to establishing and sustaining an anti-racism learning and working environment by becoming racially literate and understanding the ways in which our biases (both conscious and unconscious), power, and privilege influence our institutional services, policies, and practices.
Clovis Community College and the District commits to advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of college life and creating a community that embraces the richness of our differences. Clovis Community College and the SCCCD are committed to promoting DEIA to ensure that all students, faculty, classified professionals feel safe, respected, and supported.
Dear Clovis Community College Students,
We send this message with hurt in our hearts as we mourn the senseless death of Mr. George Floyd, a 46-year-old Minneapolis man who was killed by a police officer last week. His name is added to a list with Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others as reminders of the work we still need to do in our country toward social justice and equity. We understand that these continued acts of unjustified violence can affect our students of color, specifically our Black students.
We empathize with the range of emotions that many of our students and employees have felt over the past week – anger, outrage, fear, trauma, and sadness. We want you to know that we stand in solidarity with those who choose to express their emotions and support the call for action by participating in peaceful protests. We want you to know that Clovis Community College is here for you.
We are proud of our cities and the powerful message sent by the community members who participated in this weekend’s peaceful demonstration organized by Fresno State’s NAACP. We want to acknowledge the members of our campus community who marched in solidarity at this event.
At Clovis Community College we are working together to organize several events to allow you, as students, to have courageous conversations in a safe space to express what you are feeling during this time. Our Psychological Services office has organized a Justice and Healing Circle that will be held this Thursday, June 4th at noon via zoom. You can register for the event by clicking on this link: https://justiceandhealingcircle.eventbrite.com.
Clovis Community College has a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will continue to work together to expand our list of actions, events, and resources. It is important now, more than ever, to unite as one against systemic and historical racism. It is our responsibility to stand up and speak out for racial justice and equitable change.
In Solidarity,
Ms. Jendayi Auque, President, Clovis Community College Black Student Union
Mr. Elijah Banda, President, CCC Associated Student Government
Dr. Lori Bennett, President, Clovis Community College
Dear Colleagues,
I’m sending this message with a heavy heart as we mourn the senseless death of George Floyd, the Minneapolis man who was killed by a police officer last week. His name is added to a list with Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others as reminders of the work we still have to do in our country toward social justice and equity. Over the last few days, I have listened to many people share their stories, their pain, their fear, and their anger not just about this tragic incident, but about the ongoing cruelty of racism that they or their family members have faced over the years. Some of us, myself included, will never fully understand these feelings, but we can listen to our colleagues, offer support and kindness, and serve as allies in the work toward a more just society.
Together, we must work to stop these continued acts of unjustified violence against members of our community. As educators, we can affect change through teaching and modeling. As a college, we can participate in courageous conversations and provide safe spaces for our students to do the same. As the Crush family, we can promote respect, tolerance, inclusion, and trust through our actions and words. As mentors, we can help our students become critical thinkers who are open to new ideas and different points of view, and who are empowered to stand up for what they believe is right. Together, with our students, we can make a difference right here in our own community.
I want to reinforce our college’s commitment to equity and inclusion. As a unit, we revised our College Mission and Values Statement this past year, to begin with, this acknowledgment: we honor diversity and serve all students in our community. Over the last few years, we have provided a variety of events designed to educate and promote discussion related to cultural competency. Our guided pathways work is grounded in equity. Data analysis is helping us to understand barriers to success and focus on the specific needs of our students. We need to continue this work.
In response to the events of this past week, we are organizing a variety of events, including “Talk Circles” which are a safe space for students and employees to express what they are feeling during this difficult time. Our Psychological Services office is organizing the Talk Circles and developing a list of resources to provide information and support systems. Details will follow soon.
Going forward, it is important - now more than ever - to unite as one against both overt and subtle racism. Our students and our peers need us to stand in solidarity. I ask you to join us as we work together to expand our list of actions and events that will help us bring about real change.
In Solidarity,
Lori Bennett, Ed.D.
President
Clovis Community College
Dear Students,
Today, we learned the outcome of Derek Chauvin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd - guilty on all three counts against him. Justice has been served through this process, but to quote former President Obama, “true justice requires much more.”
This is a very emotional day, and we are experiencing very challenging times. I would like to restate our support for our African-American and Black community. I know you are hurting, and it saddens me to know the trauma this case, and others like it, have caused you.
Clovis Community College’s core values include a dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We must continue to maintain our focus on student equity and anti-racism by supporting the State Center Community College District’s anti-racist resolution and participating in activities such as staff professional development, Black Student Success Week, advocacy work, and Student Justice and Healing Circles.
It is important now, more than ever, to work together to disrupt and change actions or events that support systemic racism. As a college, we will continue to promote racial justice through our actions, our teaching, and our inclusive support for all our students. As students, I ask you to join us in learning more, standing together, and speaking out for racial justice and equitable change. I also ask for your help in creating and maintaining a campus culture of inclusion and support for every student who chooses to attend this college.
Together, we can make a difference on our campus and in our community.
Following are free college resources available to students:
In Solidarity,
Lori Bennett, Ed.D.
President
Clovis Community College
Dear Colleagues,
Today, we learned the outcome of Derek Chauvin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd - guilty on all three counts against him. Justice has been served through this process, but to quote former President Obama, “true, justice requires much more.”
This is a very emotional day, and we are experiencing very challenging times. I would like to restate our support for our African-American and Black community. I know you are hurting, and it saddens me to know the trauma this case, and others like it, have caused you.
Clovis Community College’s core values include a dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We must continue to maintain our focus on student equity and anti-racism by supporting the State Center Community College District’s anti-racist resolution and participating in activities such as the USC Equity Leadership Alliance, Lasana Hotep workshops, and Justice and Healing Circles. Activities like these are helping us become leaders, advocates, and allies as we work together to make significant changes – both at the college and in the community.
As educators, we play a critical role in promoting racial justice through our actions, our teaching, and our inclusive support for all our students and each other. We decide what we teach. Our actions model for our students. We must continue to analyze our policies, our procedures, our class content, our services, and our student completion outcomes through an equity-minded lens so that we can disrupt and change activities that support or create systemic racism.
I want to offer my sincere thanks for the work that you do to create a culture that values and supports every employee and student at this college. Some of this work is hard and will continue to be hard, but if we work together and focus on our core values, we can make changes that will benefit our students for a lifetime.
Please know that faculty, staff, and administrators can contact Halcyon at 1-888-HAL-4800 or Halcyoneap.com. You may find additional mental health support through The Fresno Center, and
Fresno County Behavioral Health.
In Solidarity,
Lori Bennett, Ed.D.
President
Clovis Community College
Dear Students,
It is with sadness that I send this message to acknowledge and condemn the mass shootings that took place in Atlanta, Georgia this week, killing eight people, including six Asian women. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. In California, there were two separate attacks this week on older Asian people. These violent acts are just a small number of the hate crimes that have been committed against Asian Americans over the last year. According to the group Stop AAPI Hate, over the past year, there have been almost 4,000 attacks against Asian citizens in the United States.1 While there has been a significant increase over the last year of anti-Asian hate crimes, our country has a long history of mistreating Asian Americans.
I want to acknowledge the pain, anger, and fear that our AAPI students, faculty, staff, and administrators are feeling due to the on-going anti-Asian incidents of hate against their communities. As a College, we condemn these acts. We want our Clovis Crush AAPI family members to know that we stand in solidarity with you and we will support the work needed to make our community safe and supportive.
Clovis Community College’s core values include a dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We have embedded these values into our mission statement and our new strategic plan. We are developing ethnic studies curriculum to help teach students about the sources of racism and promote empathy and solidarity. We invite students to join one of our many inclusive student clubs. We also hold a weekly Student Justice and Healing Circle. Whether on-ground or online, we will continue to provide a safe space for students to express their feelings and receive support from faculty, staff, and peers.
As a district, our Board of Trustees and Chancellor’s Cabinet (including all four college presidents) have approved anti-racism resolutions. Our own Trustee, Debbie Ikeda, is President of the Community College League of California Asian Pacific Islander Trustees & Administrators Caucus (APITA) and our college is a member of the caucus.
In addition, we have the following resources for students:
We will continue to promote racial justice through our actions, our teaching, and our inclusive support for all our students and each other. Let us continue to unite as one against both overt and subtle racism. Thank you for your dedication to the college, our students, and the community.
In Solidarity,
Lori Lori Bennett, Ed.D.
President Clovis Community College
Dear Colleagues,
It is with sadness that I send this message to acknowledge and condemn the mass shootings that took place in Atlanta, Georgia this week, killing eight people, including six Asian women. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. In California, there were two separate attacks this week on older Asian people. These violent acts are just a small number of the hate crimes that have been committed against Asian Americans over the last year. According to the group Stop AAPI Hate, over the past year, there have been almost 4,000 attacks against Asian citizens in the United States. 1 While there has been a significant increase over the last year of anti-Asian hate crimes, our country has a long history of mistreating Asian Americans.
I want to acknowledge the pain, anger, and fear that our AAPI colleagues and students are feeling due to the on-going anti-Asian incidents of hate against their communities. As a College, we condemn these acts. We want our Clovis Crush AAPI family members to know that we stand in solidarity with you and we will support the work needed to make our community safe and supportive.
Clovis Community College’s core values include a dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We have embedded these values into our mission statement and our new strategic plan. We are developing ethnic studies curriculum that can help teach students about the sources of racism and promote empathy and solidarity. We have started an Employees of Color Association (EOCA) and offer weekly Justice and Healing Circle sessions. Whether on-ground or online, we will continue to provide a safe space for students and employees to express their feelings and receive support from their peers.
As a district, our Chancellor’s Cabinet and Board of Trustees have both approved anti-racism resolutions. Our own Trustee, Debbie Ikeda, is President of the Community College League of California Asian Pacific Islander Trustees & Administrators Caucus (APITA) and our college is a member of the caucus.
Through our insurance, the district also offers the following Employee Resource:
Halycon EAP is a confidential resource that is always available to help you and members of your household manage mental health concerns. Employees and their eligible household members are provided three (3) free counseling sessions every six (6) months, per issue, per family member. To find confidential support, call Halycon EAP at 1-888-HAL-4800 (425-4800). A certified counselor will talk with you and help you with referrals.
We will continue to promote racial justice through our actions, our teaching, and our inclusive support for all our students and each other. Let us continue to unite as one against both overt and subtle racism. Thank you for your dedication to the college, our students, and the community.
In Solidarity,
Lori Bennett, Ed.D.
President
Clovis Community College
SCCCD Employees can access links to join the Employee Justice and Healing Circle via SharePoint.
Login to SharePoint via MyPortal required.
Next Fall 2020 EOCA Meeting to be announced.
APITA is a coalition of California Asian Pacific Islander Community College Trustees and Administrators that serve to enhance educational opportunities for API community college students and professional development opportunities for API administrators.
Formally launched in 2014, APITA strives to promote and advocate to ensure Asian Pacific Islander students' opportunity for access, retention, degrees, certificates, and promoting student success. We are dedicated to advocating for disaggregated student and employee data.
For more information visit apita.org.
CCC is proud to be a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
HBCUs have historically been a place for African Americans to learn, thrive, and prosper. It continues to serve that purpose for so many who attend. Although it has historically served the higher education needs of African Americans, HBCUs campuses are welcoming to ALL ethnicities and you find many of them very diverse.
Learn more about Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The Community College League of California (League) is a nonprofit public benefit corporation whose voluntary membership consists of the 73 local public community college districts in California. We support locally elected trustees and community college CEOs to serve their students and communities by advocating on their behalf at the state and federal levels, providing continued professional development, and delivering services that employ economies of scale to minimize cost.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley issued the following statement following guilty verdicts in the Derek Chauvin murder trial:
“Today, some measure of justice has been rendered in the murder of George Floyd. While the jury’s work, in this case, has concluded, the work ahead of us as a nation and in the California Community Colleges must move forward with the urgency and moral clarity that our students demand and deserve. Over the past year, our system has made extraordinary strides to advance anti-racist practices and promote equity for students of color. This work requires the authentic partnership and support of state and federal leaders, administrators, students, faculty, and staff, and it will be guided by justice, peace, and respect. Our work is not finished, and history will be our judge.”
Dear California Community College Family,
With the goal of improving outcomes for all of our students, over the past three years, we have been committed to implementing the Vision for Success reforms with equity at the core of our work. Over the past three months, this system has mobilized to help 2.1million students in the middle of a global pandemic. With equity at the forefront of decision-making, our faculty, staff, student leaders, administrators, and trustees have responded with resources such as Wi-Fi, laptops, hot meals, emergency loans, and online education for our students. Most recently, our system and our students are hurting and they are outraged because of the systemic racial injustices that still exist in our country. In this moment, we need to use our positions of privilege, influence, and power to make a difference.
More than 69 percent of our students identify with one or more ethnic groups—this means that we serve the most diverse student populations in all of higher education. On Wednesday, the Chancellor’s Office hosted a “Call to Action” webinar. Chancellor Oakley and system leaders called for our system to actively strategize and take action against structural racism. We cannot say that we are equity champions and be afraid to have an open dialogue about structural racism. In this webinar, Chancellor Oakley called for action across six key areas that will require their own work plan and all of you to help us implement and hold us accountable. Specifically, the “Call to Action” asks for our system to mobilize around:
This call to action does not end here. Our work has just begun. Similar to the Guided Pathways work you have been engaged in, it will take all of us to host honest conversations, call out structural barriers, present solutions and continually measure our progress to hold ourselves accountable for making progress. We invite you to continue to learn with us. Several of you have already emailed us to get access to the webinar recording and resources mentioned by several of the “Call to Action” webinar speakers. Below is a list of those materials:
On behalf of our 2.1 million students and the 131 employees in the Chancellor’s Office, we thank you for joining us to learn, listen, and act. Together we are a stronger, more courageous, and creative community.
In solidarity,
Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Chancellor
Marty Alvarado, Executive Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Support
Paul Feist, Vice-Chancellor of Communications and Marketing
Barney Gomez, Vice-Chancellor of Digital Innovation and Infrastructure
Dr. John Hetts, Visiting Executive of Research and Data
Marc LeForestier, General Counsel
Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Deputy Chancellor
Dr. Aisha Lowe, Vice-Chancellor of Educational Services and Support
Kelley Maddox, Vice-Chancellor of Internal Operations
Lizette Navarette, Vice-Chancellor of College Finance and Facilities Planning
David O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor of Governmental Relations
Sheneui Weber, Vice-Chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development
Chancellor’s Office
1102 Q Street, Sacramento, CA 95811 | 916-445-8752 | www.cccco.edu
As the largest system of higher education in the country with more than 2.1 million students attending 116 colleges, the California Community Colleges serve the most diverse student population of any system of higher education in the state. The California Community Colleges and the Board of Governors are committed to ensuring our faculty, administration and staff are reflective of our diverse student population to ensure we are supporting students toward the completion of their educational goals in an equitable manner. A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion enriches the vision of equity outlined in the Vision for Success and fosters an inclusive, anti-racist campus culture.
Animated video by the Kat Blaque
By Focused.Arts.Media.Education.
Additional resources about microaggressions to aid in the discussion following the viewing.
ITVS In this mix of live-action and animation, a young boy of color navigates bias in the classroom and its impact on his future. The film also includes the voices of other children sharing their experiences, at school and at home, as they grow older.
(Filmmakers: Geeta Gandbhir and Perri Peltz)
Instagram video by Ivirlei Brookes: White Women who Truly Want to Help: Here’s how.
Inclusive teaching from the University of Michigan: This content and linked resources have been curated as a primer for instructors to better understand and attend to the ways privilege operates in the classroom.
Teaching Tolerance: Recognizing white privilege begins with truly understanding the term itself.
Teaching Tolerance provides free resources to educators—teachers, administrators, counselors, and other practitioners to supplement the curriculum, to inform their practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities where children are respected, valued, and welcome participants.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ resource from UC Berkeley covering education, advocacy, support, and more.
The California Undocumented Higher Education Coalition, The Campaign for College Opportunity, and the Foundation for California Community Colleges will be hosting a webinar, “Supporting Undocumented Students: Maximizing Community College Programs”
Virtual Townhall: A Conversation with Policymakers and Practitioners on African American Student Success. We had over 1,000 in attendance on Zoom, and more than 100 on YouTube. In addition, here are the webinar materials:
Anti-Racism Resources by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is intended to serve as a resource to people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work. if you haven’t engaged in anti-racism work in the past, start now. Feel free to circulate this document on social media and with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein (May 2020) and The University Office for Diversity & Inclusion
