RCC Sends Nine Fellows to All African Diaspora Education Summit in Ghana
Riverside City College (RCC), with the support of President Claire Oliveros, is sending a delegation of nine fellows (faculty and administrators) to participate in the All African Diaspora Education Summit (ADES) hosted by the A²MEND organization. The summit, which will be held in Accra and Cape Coast, Ghana, from September 27 to October 4, 2024, offers an opportunity to deepen the college’s commitment to African-centered education and better understand how to serve students from historically underrepresented communities.
The 2024 ADES Fellows representing RCC are:
- Malika Bratton, Instructional Department Coordinator and Associate Faculty, Communication Studies
- La Shonda Carter, Assistant Professor, Ethnic Studies
- Thomas Cruz-Soto, Dean of Student Services
- Herbert English, Dean of Counseling
- Monique Greene, Associate Professor, Counseling and Specially Funded Programs
- Tony Musumba, Associate Professor, Physics
- Miguel Reid, Professor, English as a Second Language
- Corey Timberlake, Assistant Professor, Counseling
- Kristi Woods, Interim Vice President of Planning and Development
During their time in Ghana, the delegation will immerse themselves in the local culture, engage with academic counterparts at the University of Ghana, and visit historic sites connected to the Middle Passage. These experiences are designed to foster both personal and professional growth, allowing the fellows to return with a more global and enriched perspective to serve RCC students.
Here’s what some of the fellows had to share about their upcoming experience:
Monique Greene expressed her excitement, stating, “I’m excited about attending the summit with like-minded colleagues. I am honestly going without expectations about what I’ll experience. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural traditions and ways of life I have been disconnected from. It’s an opportunity to learn about the history of my ancestors and Black people, directly from the motherland. I hope to come back energized, with a newfound sense of purpose and reasoning of why cultural competence is essential in the work that we do in higher education.”
Kristi Woods added, “The cultural experiences, the historical rootedness, and the exchange between faculty, classified professionals, students, and administrators from Ghana and from the United States will be enlightening. Being able to be immersed in learning about African history and culture, while on the soil of the first modern African nation to gain independence, will provide a context to that learning which cannot easily be forgotten. We will return with a lens of hope and an affirmation of our value that we will pass on to our RCC students through teaching pedagogy, through our service, and also through the development of extra-curricular programs infused with African history and culture.”
Corey Timberlake shared, “Attending a summit in Ghana would provide a profound opportunity to deepen my understanding of African and diasporic cultures, history, and educational challenges, which are essential to enhancing my approach to serving students at Riverside City College, especially those from historically underrepresented communities. Professionally, I aim to gain fresh perspectives on equity and inclusion with a focus on strategies that can be adapted to support our students at RCC, particularly those from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Culturally, I hope to deepen my understanding of African history and its diaspora, which would give me a more nuanced perspective on the cultural roots and challenges faced by many of our students. This would allow me to connect with them in more meaningful ways.”
Tony Musumba reflected, “I think building relationships with faculty from RCC that I am going to Ghana with, and faculty from other colleges in California, is going to be key. I am interested in collaborating and strengthening the relationships with faculty and staff from the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast. I was able to connect with students from the University of Cape Coast and faculty and staff, some of whom I am still in touch with. I am hoping to explore how a study abroad program or faculty-student exchange could work out with RCC and institutions in Ghana.”
Thomas Cruz-Soto shared his thoughts on the opportunity: “I am honored to be a part of this experience. I believe this summit will enhance my worldview and provide a greater appreciation for people from this specific part of the continent of Africa. As a Puerto Rican man within the African diaspora, I know searching for who I am as a person, a man, a professional, a husband, a father, and an educator will be a lifelong journey. I would like to always be someone that evolves. This amazing opportunity will be one major aspect of that development process.”
These reflections highlight the enthusiasm and hopes of each fellow for both personal transformation and broader professional collaboration. Their experiences promise to shape new initiatives, deeper cultural understanding, and enhanced approaches to education at RCC.
The RCC community wishes the fellows safe travels and looks forward to the insights they will bring back to help the college grow. Fellows will share updates and photos throughout their journey, giving the Tiger community a firsthand look at the impact of this important experience.