By Dianne Anderson
Youth activists, students and staff keep the lines of communication open at Chaffey College’s second annual event, where the heart of the discussions focuses on possible solutions to systemic failure.
“This is a project of great significance, not only for our students, but also for the community. We really focused on the bridge, the faculty, staff, students and the local community, both Black and brown,” said Taisha McMickens, Ph.D., Chaffey College professor of communication studies.
On Wednesday, November 1, the “Black and Brown Minds & Mattering Conference” is open to the public, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a free event covering many current topics that the community knows all too well.
This year, McMickens is on the planning committee and said the event promises more than just conversation starters. Last year, her workshop attracted a large turnout and focused on how dialogue can be used as a tool to discuss controversial issues across culture.
She said this year, students will also leave with tangible skills and information they will need to apply in their lives.
“I think Black and Brown voices have been silenced for so long, especially in today’s political and social climate. We see many systemic issues facing these communities. We don’t talk about it enough,” she said.
Among the Professional Stream workshops, keynote speakers will examine how critical whiteness and invisible structures of white privilege can perpetuate racism and racial inequity. Other discussions focus on Afro-Latinx identity and inclusion, as well as an overview of lessons learned from the experiences of Black and Brown scholars impacted by the system.
For high school students, workshops will focus on student leadership, mentoring and academic resources. They will also explore the barriers faced by Latino and African American community college students.
On the entertainment side, black Greek step dances are arriving from Los Angeles, with the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.
The conference presents a series of thought-provoking questions and solutions focused on faculty and staff working to achieve equity. Presenters include Dr. Daisy Gonzales, vice chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and Dr. Tina M. King, president of the San Diego College of Continuing Education. Artist and author Nikkolas Smith, film illustrator for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” will also be present.
Students will also hear testimony from formerly incarcerated students.
“We will have people covering the issues that undocumented students face. We’re going to talk about white supremacists and unpack that. It’s not just a dialogue,” she said.
The campus spread the word to local high school partners regarding transfer workshops to Chaffey, UC and the CSU system. Students will also learn how to apply for scholarships.
“It’s about finding out who I am as a black and brown person in this society,” she said. “Once people understand and see the workshop titles, you can’t help but get excited. There’s definitely a buzz.
Culturally speaking, McMickens reflects on the irony of her own last name – unique in that she is black, not Irish.
“My family started delving into ancestry, and from what I understand, our last name went through different iterations throughout slavery. I don’t know how we landed on the McMickens, out of all the options,” she said.
In addition to the many overwhelming social issues that black and brown students face on a daily basis, there are economic challenges. For struggling students, the campus has a food pantry, as well as grants available for various items or necessities they may need.
Discussions are on the agenda for mentoring black men. Across the state, there have been problems with the retention of black men at community colleges.
“We want you to talk about these conversations and how they impact your communities,” she said. “If it’s an economic issue, a lack of economic growth, this is the perfect space to attend workshops and talk about these things.”
Melissa Pinion, a spokesperson for Chaffey College, said their students have also had a lot of support since the pandemic. With federal funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, she said millions of dollars in emergency grants have been awarded to their students, including grants covering books and supplies as well as ‘other expenses.
“We provide strong support for basic needs, including a twice-monthly food pantry distribution, giving students bags of food and other supplies to help them get through.” We have also held numerous phone events where we have called students who are drifting, giving them the support and encouragement they need to return to Chaffey,” she said.
As student loan payments begin to ramp up nationally, money and academic savings are at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
This year, a special session aimed at high school students and also open to college students will cover topics such as applying for scholarships, transferring to four-year universities and financial literacy.
Another big concern among education advocates in many parts of the country is efforts to derail K-12 ethnic studies through book banning and 1619 Project censorship.
Pinion said they are aware of the problems and how they are handled in other parts of the country.
“Chaffey College is fortunate to have launched an ethnic studies program in fall 2022. Students are now learning about social justice, social responsibility, and social change through this program, which is taught by a team of talented full-time and part-time faculty,” she said. said.
To register for the event, see https://www.chaffey.edu/spops/bbmm-conference.php
