City College’s wellness center “The Well”, Raíces and Basic Needs Center collaborated in holding their Spring Wellness Bienvenida event at the Great Meadow on west campus, Thursday, Feb. 27.
Students were invited to enjoy a variety of food while also being given the opportunity to explore over 20 different City College programs and departments who were tabling their resources and support services.
“It’s super, super difficult to learn and retain information when you are hungry,” said basic needs advisor Alondra Lazaro Gonzalez.
Therefore, the Basic Needs Center provided a food share pop up where students were able to get nutritious food while learning about the services provided to them. Located on East Campus room 14, The Basic Needs Center provides students with a place to turn for nutrients at zero cost.
“We just want to make sure that folks know that we’re here and that whenever they need our service, our doors are always open for them,” Gonzalez said.
While at the event, Raíces handed out churros and Mexican pancakes to students while showcasing the many services they offer. Raíces is a first-year experience and student empowerment program that centers Latine students by celebrating culture, knowledge and community.
“As we approach midterms and the transferring process, feelings of, ‘What am I doing next?’ ‘What’s appropriate?’ ‘How can I make the most of my time at SBCC?’ come to mind,” Raíces program coordinator Nathalie Quintero said. “Raíces is happy to help you, we offer things that help balance being a student, of course, but being a whole person outside of that.”
Raíces offers courses and programs to assist students in things such as, but not limited to, applying for scholarships and jobs, just needing someone to chat with, or seeing a counselor with little to no wait time.
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic also partnered up with The Well for the event, providing free STI testing, Medi-Cal, Covered California and CalFresh sign-ups, as well as helping students get connected to birth control and other health services.
The Well offers a range of health and wellness workshops. Their mission is to ensure the diverse student community at City College feels heard, respected and encouraged to gain the knowledge and tools they need to move toward optimal lifelong health and wellness.
The Well also offers group counseling and events all around from mind to body spirit and health.
At the wellness center students have access to many useful things such as healthy snacks, tea, hygiene and dental hygiene kits, “quit” kits for tobacco users and condoms.
“So really today is about coming together as a community of shared wellness, mental health and academic support services for our students so they know that we are here for them,” said Becky Bean, student program advisor and social worker with The Well. “We are excited to provide this support.”
Correction: March 11
A previous version of this story misspelled Alondra Lazaro Gonzalez’s last name as “Gonzales” The Channels has fixed this and regrets this error. Additionally, A previous version of this story misspelled Nathalie Quintero’s first name as “Nathlie” The Channels has fixed this and regrets this error.
