Chancellor's News Brief

I am thrilled to share that on Friday, September 20, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1805 (AB1805) into law, ensuring that the landmark case Mendez et al. v. Westminster et al. will be incorporated into K-12 curricula across California. This case ended segregation in California schools and is a crucial part of our history. While uncomfortable to acknowledge, the case is essential for our collective understanding.

Growing up in California, I did not learn about the significance of Mendez et al. v. Westminster et al.

until I was an adult. The case was brought by five families against their respective school districts in 1945 to challenge the practice of school segregation in Orange County. The Ninth Court of Appeals’ ruling on the case upheld the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and strengthened the argument for Brown v. Education which would not be heard until 1949.

When the Leadership of the OCC Academic Senate introduced me to Sylvia Mendez, one of the young children at the center of this case, my appreciation for these families’ struggles deepened. Now in her mid-80s, Sylvia’s dream of seeing this vital history taught in all K-12 schools has come true. With the signing of AB1805, a significant step was taken toward honoring the Mendez, Guzman, Palomino, Ramirez, and Estrada families, whose courage and resolve were equally pivotal in this fight for justice.

This legislation arose from a partnership between the Westminster School District and the Coast Community College District, driven by a shared commitment to educate our students about this groundbreaking case. Our collaborative efforts included a traveling art exhibit at the Coast District offices last fall, attended by Assemblymember Tri Ta, who sparked important discussions about the need for this legislation.

Thanks to Assemblymember Ta’s leadership, the bill gained substantial support in both the Assembly and the Senate, with Senator Umberg stepping up as a primary co-author. Our Board of Trustees and Academic Senates officially endorsed the bill last spring, joined by the Westminster, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, and Santa Ana School Districts, as well as the City of Westminster.

As we move forward, let us ensure that the legacy of Mendez et al. v. Westminster et al.—and the stories of all families involved—are taught in our classrooms. Acknowledging these histories empowers future generations to learn from the past and work towards a more just and equitable society.

Thank you for your support in this vital endeavor.

With gratitude,

Dr. Whitney Yamamura
Chancellor

As part of a regional Strong Workforce Program project led by Coast District, Orange County community colleges are moving beyond the status quo of single college advisories to maximize employer engagement by adopting a regional approach. Though advisories are required for career education programs, there is flexibility in how they can be structured and organized. Single college advisories are common but there are several limitations including challenges in recruiting employers, time constraints, and limited industry involvement. Regional advisories provide a model to bridge the gap between education and the workplace by helping to assure program quality and equip students with the knowledge, skills and competencies expected of industry professionals.

In partnership with the California New Car Dealers Association Foundation with support from the Orange County Regional Consortium, Coast District hosted a regional advisory on Friday, September 13, 2024, where over 20 automotive faculty and 10 automotive service managers participated in a pilot using the Building Industry Leadership Teams (BILT) model.

The BILT model, originated by the National Science Foundation Convergence Technology Center of Excellence at Collin College in Texas, places businesses in a co-leadership role for college technical programs. This ensures direct input into the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that program graduates should possess 12-36 months into the future, producing candidates more likely to be hired by businesses. The BILT meeting was facilitated by Dr. Ann Beheler, a former dean at Orange Coast College.

The regional SWP Workforce Development, Support, and Coordination project worked with OC faculty to inventory the skills students gain in college courses and programs. This skills inventory was cross-referenced with automotive apprenticeship competencies and the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) standards for program certification. This provided the basis for the pro-forma KSA list that employers reviewed and vote on for job skills validation during the regional BILT.

The BILT model is a successful variation of the standard advisory board. Pilot participants gave high ratings to the regional advisory. Eighty eight percent agreed/strong agreed that the meeting was efficiently run and a valuable use of time. Ninety four percent agreed/strongly agreed that they would likely recommend the meeting to others. The pilot will include follow-up surveys and data collection to further develop and scale up regional advisories to other programs and sectors.

For more information contact: Stephanie Feger, Program Director, Career Education and Workforce Development via email sfeger@cccd.edu

Please send examples of persistent innovation, by which I mean having a good idea and then putting in the hard work to make that vision a reality. The more examples submitted, the better I can highlight your successes in future letters and in the community!

Please save the date for the Eighth Annual California Community Colleges' Undocumented Student Action Week (USAW) on October 14 - 18, 2024.

This year Coastline, Golden West and Orange Coast have partnered to host a series of “USAW” events for the Coast District Community, following this year’s theme: Education and Career UndocuDreams Made Possible. Throughout October, The Coast District will offer events, workshops and training sessions that highlight policies, resources and the experiences of undocumented students. Together, Coastline, Orange Coast and Golden West College are committed to supporting all students in their pursuit of higher education. Join us in empowering and supporting our students by participating in and sharing these events:

• Monday, October 14 | Student UndocuSocial - Arts & Crafts | 11 am - 1 pm
• Tuesday, October 15 | Know Your Rights by CHIRLA | 2 pm – 3:30 pm
• Wednesday, October 16 | UndocuStartup Bootcamp #1 - Entrepreneurship Series | 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
• Thursday, October 17 | UNDOCUADVOCATE TRAINING | 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Faculty/Staff/Administration Only Event
• Friday, October 18 | Empowering Your Career: Job Search Strategies for Undocumented Students | 4 pm – 5 pm

To register for these events, please visit the Coast CCD Undocumented Student Action Week website.

In addition, the California Community College’s Chancellor’s office will be offering a series of virtual webinars from 9 am - 10 am starting Monday, October 14 through Thursday, October 17. You can register and learn more by clicking on https://www.cccco.edu/Students/Support-Services/Special-population/Undocumented-Students/Undocumented-Student-Action-Week.

The courtyard at Le-Jao was transformed into a vibrant celebration for National Hispanic Heritage Month, adorned with festive papel picado and Coastline College dolphin-themed piñatas. Organized by Javier Alcala, Claudia Mojica, and Carlos Amescua, the events “Painting with Cochinilla” and “Fiesta en El Barrio” brought the sights and flavors of Latin America to Westminster, attracting over 130 students and guests, including Trustee board member Mary Hornbuckle.

Attendees enjoyed a delightful paleta cart featuring more than a dozen flavors, along with an aguas frescas stand that highlighted the rich culinary traditions of various Latin American countries. The menu offered a diverse selection of dishes: empanadas from Argentina, papa rellena and pastelitos de guayaba from Cuba, pupusas from El Salvador, arroz con pollo from Peru, tacos de papa from Mexico, and arepas and tequeños from Venezuela.

The event aimed to immerse attendees in the authentic flavors, colors, and sounds of Latin American culture while fostering a sense of community and understanding of our diverse neighbors to the south. Each student received a passport to sample the delicious offerings, creating a memorable cultural learning experience. The beautifully decorated space reflected traditional styles, made possible by the hard work of our dedicated team of volunteers.

The Orange Coast College Symphony will present “A Halloween Haunt” featuring spooky symphonic music for its annual fall showcase on Saturday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert B. Moore Theatre.

OCC Symphony Conductor Dr. Mathew Ward will lead musicians in the program complete with Halloween favorites, beginning with “Masquerade Suite: Waltz” written by Aram Khachaturian. The popular piece has been described as spooky, haunting, dark and Halloweeny.

Next, the symphony will perform “Danse macabre” and the “Carnival of the Animals” written by French composer Camille Saint-Saens. The program will conclude with works by Modest Mussorgsky, including “Night on Bald Mountain.”

“Even if people don’t know the pieces by name, the program is just exciting music everyone is familiar with either from Disney’s Fantasia or candy commercials and is worth experiencing in person,” says Dr. Mathew Ward.

The OCC Symphony is composed of OCC students and community members.

Tickets are available for purchase online at OCC Tickets for $10 for OCC students and $15 for general admission. Parking is available in Lots C and D near the Robert B. Moore Theatre.

Chancellor, Week of September 30
Dr. Yamamura is in the District, Monday through Thursday.

Vice Chancellor Dr. Serban is Acting Chancellor on Friday.