Media Center
Press Room
Press releases and media mentions highlighting FoundationCCC’s role in statewide transformation, cross-sector collaboration, and driving meaningful outcomes for California’s community colleges.
Please direct media inquiries to:
Elisa Smith
Senior Director, Strategic Communications
and External Affairs
FoundationCCC Fieldnotes
Insights and highlights from program experts in the field.
September 30, 2026
Student Leadership Transforms Campus Communities
When I began my educational journey at Sacramento City College, I quickly learned how transformative it is for students to feel seen, supported, and valued. As a first-generation DACAmented student from Mexico with temporary protections under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), I enrolled in English as a Second Language courses and found community through...
FoundationCCC News
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Event: Board Meeting Agenda
October 2, 2026
FoundationCCC Board of Directors Meeting on October, 7, 2027
Event: Strengthening a Statewide Network of Registered Apprenticeship Programs
September 21, 2026
On August 6, Grow Apprenticeship California hosted a statewide learning lab, “Scaling Apprenticeship Through Regional Partnership,” in Emeryville, California. The event brought together regional partners from across the state to explore how collaboration and shared strategies can expand apprenticeship pathways for more California workers. Attendees included community colleges, workforce boards, intermediaries, K–12 partners, employers, labor...
Event: Futures Summit 2026 | Human Skills in an Autonomous World
September 18, 2026
The event brought together over 800 visionaries, educators, and industry leaders to explore the intersection of emerging technologies, policy, and curriculum development with a focus on equity, access, and innovation
Program: Growing the Next Generation of Forestry Leaders
August 25, 2026
Our newly expanded partnership with the California Conversation Corps under the California Resilient Careers in Forestry initiative will recruit, train, and place Californians into lasting careers in the forestry and wildland fire sector.
Program: Expanding Nursing Education Capacity in Underserved Regions
August 25, 2026
A collaborative effort between FoundationCCC and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office has recently expanded nursing education opportunities in underserved regions while helping address California’s critical nursing shortage.
Program: Announcing the 2026 Real Estate Education Grant Program Awardee
July 27, 2026
The South Orange County Community College District / Saddleback College was recently selected as the recipient of the 2026 Real Estate Education Grant, awarded $105,000 to continue serving as the home of the California Community Colleges Real Estate Education Center. For the past decade, Saddleback College has hosted the Center, which serves as a statewide...
Event: Board Meeting Agenda
October 2, 2026
FoundationCCC Board of Directors Meeting on October, 7, 2027
Event: Strengthening a Statewide Network of Registered Apprenticeship Programs
September 21, 2026
On August 6, Grow Apprenticeship California hosted a statewide learning lab, “Scaling Apprenticeship Through Regional Partnership,” in Emeryville, California. The event brought together regional partners from across the state to explore how collaboration and shared strategies can expand apprenticeship pathways for more California workers. Attendees included community colleges, workforce boards, intermediaries, K–12 partners, employers, labor...
Event: Futures Summit 2026 | Human Skills in an Autonomous World
September 18, 2026
The event brought together over 800 visionaries, educators, and industry leaders to explore the intersection of emerging technologies, policy, and curriculum development with a focus on equity, access, and innovation
Impact Report: Three Years of Statewide Investment in LGBTQ+ Student Success
July 29, 2026
Over the last three years, the California Community Colleges have grown a robust infrastructure to support LGBTQ+ students statewide. Learn about how expanded resources are strengthening a sense of belonging and creating lasting positive change across California’s community colleges.
Social Highlights
What does it take to sustain an LGBTQIA2S+ Employee Resource Group on a community college campus?
At this week’s Collective Equity Impact Institute, hosted by the @californiacommunitycolleges Chancellor’s Office, four colleagues brought practical strategies to that question. (pictured left to right)
• Emilie Mitchell PhD, Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, @choosecrc
• Kelly Ramos, Senior Manager, Equity, @foundationccc
• Lucio Lira, Ed.D., Pride Center Counselor Coordinator, San Diego Mesa College
• Julie Olson, Program Specialist, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (not pictured)
Their session drew on a statewide guidebook developed by a workgroup of the California Community Colleges LGBTQIA2S+ Advisory Committee. Participants explored how to build institutional support and launch or strengthen employee resource groups on their campuses.
Through our partnership with the Chancellor’s Office, FoundationCCC helps coordinate LGBTQIA2S+ resources and support across California`s community college system. We’re grateful to Kelly, Emilie, Lucio, and Julie for giving colleges practical ways to support the people building more welcoming campuses. 🏳️🌈
Learn more about LGBTQ+ Initiatives & Student Support: Link in bio👆
We’re excited to see FoundationCCC’s Tim Aldinger take the stage at the @cccaoe’s Fall 2026 Conference on October 15.
As Vice President of Workforce and Climate Innovation, Tim has spent more than two decades bringing education and workforce partners together to create meaningful career opportunities. He’ll join four fellow leaders for a keynote conversation on how stronger connections across policy, practice, and industry can open more pathways for Californians.
Learn more and register through CCCAOE - link in bio✅
#CCCAOE #CCCAOEStronger2026
FoundationCCC is at Climate Week NYC!
Tomorrow, FoundationCCC will co-host Community Colleges, Climate Pedagogy, and Adaptive Workforce Development, bringing together educators and workforce leaders to explore how community colleges are preparing students and communities for a changing climate and evolving green economy.
The event will also kick off the third installment of our Community Colleges and Climate Futures webinar series. Over the past two years, the series has grown into a strong national community of practice connecting people working at the intersection of community colleges, climate education, workforce development, and community resilience.
We’re proud to continue that work alongside the @cunyedu Climate Consortium, @snleadonclimate , @communityccrc, and The Red House @georgetownuniversity and to bring this conversation to #ClimateWeekNYC.
Learn more and register to join in person or online: Link in bio☝
Congratulations to FoundationCCC Board Chair Patrick Mulvaney and his wife and business partner, Bobbin, on 20 years of @mulvaneysbl`s!
The @sacbiz recently featured the restaurant in its Milestone Anniversaries series, recognizing the community, collaboration, and creativity the Mulvaneys have fostered in Sacramento since 2006.
Patrick brings that same spirit of connection and service to his leadership at FoundationCCC, and we’re proud to celebrate this milestone with him.
Read more: #linkinbio ☝
Program Pathways Mapper was on the national stage at the AI for Economic Opportunity Demo Day in Washington, D.C.
Hosted by the GitLab Foundation and OpenAI, Demo Day brought together organizations exploring how AI can address real economic challenges. FoundationCCC shared how PPM and MapperGPT can help California community college students better navigate academic, transfer, and career pathways.
MapperGPT grew from a vision advanced through the @californiacommunitycolleges Chancellor’s Office, led by Craig Hayward, Vice Chancellor of AI Strategy and Digital Transformation, who engaged teams at San Francisco State University and Merced College to bring the idea to life. Students helped develop the initial prototype, creating a tool for students, by students.
@nectir.io is now serving as the implementation partner, helping move MapperGPT from prototype to production within PPM.
Featured in the Demo Day recap video is Shirley Asher, Senior Director, Technology Solutions and Special Projects at FoundationCCC, representing FoundationCCC and PPM alongside leaders from across the cohort.
PPM already helps students turn complex curriculum into clear, faculty-informed pathways. MapperGPT builds on that foundation by helping students ask questions, explore options, and better understand where their choices can lead.
Learn more about PPM at programmapper.org.
At #futuressummit26, Program Pathways Mapper took the stage for “Mapping Student Success: Intelligent Pathways That Think Like Students.”
Presented by Jordan Long, Co-Founder, @nectir.io , and Shirley Asher, PPM Chief Operations Officer, @foundationccc, the session explored how PPM is evolving to give students clearer, more connected ways to navigate academic, transfer, and career pathways.
The session also introduced MapperGPT, an AI-powered companion designed to help students ask questions, compare options, and better understand the “why” behind their pathway.
Also representing PPM at the Summit were Rudy Gonzalez, Sr. Vice President, Future Bridge Solutions; Jazellerae Quinto Griswold, PPM Product Manager; Jacie Grimes, PPM Senior Program Specialist; and Bryan Miller, Executive Vice President of Communications and Technology Solutions, FoundationCCC.
Together, this team represented PPM and helped advance the conversation around clearer, more connected pathways and stronger student support across California.
Learn more about PPM: programmapper.org
The conversations at Futures Summit 2026 are reaching well beyond the room.
@sacramentobee covered Ambassador @rahmemanuel ‘s conversation at #futuressummit26, including @californiacommunitycolleges Chancellor @sonya_christian’s perspective on how California’s community colleges are preparing students for a rapidly changing economy and the broader conversation about the future of higher education.
The Futures Summit continues to create space for important conversations about what comes next for higher education, work, and opportunity. ##linkinbio to read the full story
Day 2 of Futures Summit 2026 gets underway today.
Follow @californiacommunitycolleges to see what’s happening ✅
We were especially proud to see Jennifer Perry, FoundationCCC Board Vice Chair and Vice President of the @californiacommunitycolleges Board of Governors, take part in today’s main-stage conversation with Chancellor @sonya_christian and Ambassador @rahmemanuel.
Their discussion on access and the future of higher education reflects what #futuressummit26 is all about: bringing leaders together to explore what is ahead while keeping students, opportunity, and our shared values at the center.
