On Nov. 14, Fresno City College hosted their Fifth annual Men of Color Summit In the Old Administration building. The summit opened with speeches from higher education leaders, including FCC President Denise Whisenhunt and State Center Community College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith.
The goal of this year’s summit was to address the decline in higher education enrollment and to show young men of color that they belong in college and can thrive to have impactful careers. High schoolers who attend the summit also receive breakfast and lunch, provided by SCCCD and T-shirts are also given to the students for attending the event.
SCCCD brought over 300 local high schoolers to the Men of Color Summit, all from across the Central Valley. Seniors and juniors in high school are invited to register and attend the summit to encourage them to choose a four-year institution or a community college that will advance them in life.
The young men heard a speech from Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, president of CSU, Fresno State university and Richard “TJ” Jennings, head basketball coach at Reedley College gave the keynote address.
The inspirational speeches were also followed by workshops. These sessions provided students with practical knowledge and skills they can use immediately in their college applications.
The workshops at the summit included a variety of topics. These topics ranged from discussing financial aid, careers in fire and EMT, discussing public safety in today’s society to name a few.
Each session was designed to present information to help students learn about higher education and successfully meet future academic goals.
Aaron Sanchez, an 11th grader at Kerman high school, attended the men of color summit hoping to learn new things to help him decide his future and improve his social skills.
“Talking to more people has helped me get a clearer idea of what I want to do with my future,” Sanchez said. “School is a very social place, so being able to talk to people really helps.”
Angel Reyna, president of Madera Community College, explained that the summit’s growth reflects the strength of the partnerships each campus maintains with unified school districts throughout the region.
“All of us have community relationships that make it easier to reach out and invite students to an event that uplifts our men of color and helps them see themselves in higher education,” Reyna said. “Through our partnerships, we’re able to pull more students here, and this year’s turnout shows the impact spreading across the Valley.”