The Board of Trustees was greeted with 11 members of Umoja to speak on equity and success on April 17.
The meeting opened with a public comment from Chelsea Lancaster, a long-time advocate for CalWORKS (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids) students and single mothers at City College. Lancaster, who was a lead peer mentor and program adviser for Umoja for 17 years before being dismissed, spoke about the institution’s lack of support for student parents.
CalWORKS supports low-income students who are parents or pregnant by providing cash aid, job services and support resources.
“Had I walked onto this campus as a CalWORKs single mother today who was trying to save my own life and my daughter’s life, I would not be here before you because there has not been a CalWORKs program at the Schott center for 17 years despite the fact that it says so on our website,” Lancaster said.
Lancaster shared the personal challenges she faced as a CalWORKS participant and highlighted the systematic barriers faced by students like her. She pointed out an absence of a trained academic counselor and the impact of administrative decisions on their safety nets.
Lancaster criticized the administration for not providing adequate support and resources despite claims of commitment to equity and inclusion.
11 Umoja members spoke in support of the resolution for Black Student Success Week, sharing their reflections after their recent tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) earlier this month.
“HBCU presents importance and culture,” Umoja Program Assistant Franciele Pereira said. “We were able to get a feel for what the HBCU experience is like walking through those campuses. It allowed them to be encouraged and see representation of what black students can do and what the community felt like.”
Umoja student and single mother Crystal Lee said that she was unable to attend this trip because the institution denied additional funding to support her daughter.
“Why is it that I, this single mother student, am not given the same opportunity to access this educational experience that too could possibly change my life,” Lee said. “I don’t have the resources, I don’t have the family support to leave my child behind so I can dream, I can imagine, but as it stands right now because I don’t have equity access to the same opportunities as my fellow students . . . all I can do is dream.”
She expressed that she sent out emails and requests for funding, emphasizing her need and desire to attend the HBCU tours. Lee made it known that she was a part of CalWORKS and a single mother, but was denied due to a lack of available funds.
“When you focus on this resolution and we’re talking about black student success, please include parent-students,” Lee said, looking toward Lancaster in the crowd.
President of the Board Jonathan Abboud said that we are an institution of continuous improvement and will continue to improve in serving all students.
“I was trying to hold back the tears,” Trustee Charlotte Gullap-Moore said. “What I don’t see is the school making a collective effort to make intentional spaces and activities for Black History Month or Black Student Success Week.”
Gullap-Moore’s comment was met with a burst of applause from Umoja.
The Board passed the resolution marking Black Student Success Week April 21 through April 24.
Additionally, the Board passed four resolutions recognizing May as Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Desi American Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Foster Care Awareness Month and Classified Employee Week (May 18 through May 24).
The next Board meeting will take place on May 16.
