Bringing Communities Together to Support Men of Color
On June 27, the Men of Color Action Network (MOCAN) Chapter Committee hosted a day-long retreat at California State University, Dominguez Hills that united current and incoming MOCAN Chapters across Southern California.
The retreat served as a space for collaboration, community building, and the exchange of proven strategies to better support men of color in higher education. Teaching and counseling faculty, academic deans, graduate students, and community college students came together from partner institutions to share ideas and strengthen their commitment to student success.
Representatives from established chapters at El Camino College, Pasadena City College, and Santa Monica College were joined by colleagues from new chapters set to launch in Fall 2025 at Fullerton College, Mt. San Antonio College, Rio Hondo College, Southwestern College, and West Los Angeles College.
A highlight of the day was an inspiring presentation by Dr. Jesse Enriquez, Associate Director of the Young Men of Color (YMOC) initiative, who shared insights into the lived experiences of men of color at community colleges. Dr. Enriquez emphasized the critical importance of developing campus programs grounded in data and evidence-based practices to create meaningful, lasting impact.
Participants spent the day engaging in thoughtful discussions about effective data collection, program structures, and cross-campus collaboration. By sharing best practices and aligning on common goals, both veteran and new chapters strengthened partnerships that will help grow and sustain the MOCAN network.
The retreat marked an important milestone in expanding MOCAN’s reach, equipping new chapters with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to launch successfully in the upcoming academic year.
As a Collaborative Impact Partner, MOCAN is closely aligned with our strategic goal to expand student access and success. The Collaborative Impact Program incubates, scales, and sustains creative endeavors to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all Californians.
Learn more about our programs working to raise up underserved communities in higher education >
Latest News
Student Ambassadors Celebrate Eight Years of Community Impact
On June 12, FoundationCCC hosted the California Community Colleges Community Resource Student Ambassador End-of-Year Celebration, an inspiring virtual event honoring the passion, commitment, and achievements of student ambassadors statewide. The event recording is now available.
Impactful Regional Convenings to Support AANHPI Students
This spring, the CCC Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Student Achievement Program (AANHPI SAP) made significant strides in supporting California community colleges through a three-part series of impactful regional convenings. Find out more about these gatherings.
Building a Statewide Movement Around Work-Based Learning
Work-based learning has seen growing interest and investment across the system. This webinar series builds on that momentum. Register for the upcoming sessions.