This year, Election Day and Veterans Day fell within 6 days of each other, connecting with powerful imagery at both ends of the cycle and linking them inextricably together. At the end of a divisive and often toxic political campaign, Election Day on November 5 reaffirmed for us – everyday Americans that we are – that we have the power…
Continue readingCCBC is proud to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This national holiday, established by proclamation of President Biden in 2021, honors the diverse cultures and traditions that flourished long before the formation of the United States. Indigenous Peoples’ Day urges us to move beyond the narrow accounts in history books, to deepen our respect for the legacies of native communities. It…
Continue readingEmerging from the pivotal events of the Stonewall Riots in June 1969, Pride Month stands as a powerful testament to unity. It has evolved into various expressions from vibrant displays to poignant rallies that honor the resilience and advocacy of figures like James Baldwin who once said, “Everybody’s journey is individual.” At CCBC, we join our community college colleagues in…
Continue readingFor those of us who are academics, Commencement is the high point of the academic year. We pay tribute to the talent, hard work and resourcefulness of both our students and ourselves. This year, on a beautiful sunny Saturday, CCBC celebrated 2,700 graduates. Although not all 2,700 attended the event, an impressive sea of 800 caps and gowns filled the…
Continue readingJuneteenth is the oldest commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Although President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the news took two years to travel to the last enclave of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. While Juneteenth has been recognized for decades by black communities across the nation, it has gained…
Continue readingMay is a busy month in the community college world, marking the end of the academic year. It is a time devoted to celebrating not only our students as scholars, athletes and leaders, but also our faculty and staff. To that end, CCBC recently recognized eight retiring colleagues at an annual Emeritus Induction Ceremony where we honored the community college tradition…
Continue readingCommunity colleges across the country have joined the American Nurses Association in honoring America’s 5 million registered nurses during National Nurses Week. Given the nature of the community college, I have a favorite phrase that I like to use for moments like these: “Everything we do is workforce development.” I think this is true whether we are educating accountants, cyber…
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