Riverside City College Drives Regional Collaboration Through Visionary Event Empowering the Inland Empire

Mar 18
Leslie Vargas
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Riverside City College (RCC) spearheaded a transformative two-day event, Vision 2030: Advancing Access, Success, and Equity for High School and Justice-Impacted Youth, in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO). This initiative served as a collaboration, uniting educational leaders, practitioners, and students to explore the profound impact of dual enrollment programs in the Inland Empire (IE) region, focusing on equity in access, support, and success.

The event, held on March 14th and 15th, attracted participants from diverse educational institutions, including superintendents, counselors, coordinators, directors, instructors, and case managers. The primary aim was to foster meaningful dialogue centered on the crucial role that dual enrollment plays in facilitating access, success, and equity for high school students, with a particular focus on justice-impacted youth.

Throughout the event, experts shared invaluable insights and innovative strategies to enhance support systems for students from underrepresented backgrounds. Discussions, presentations, and panels provided a platform to address pressing issues and explore groundbreaking solutions.

A poignant highlight of the event was the spotlight on the challenges confronting justice-impacted youth, shedding light on the stark reality of prolonged incarcerations due to limited resources within prison facilities. However, the narrative took a transformative turn as stories emerged of students within these facilities actively contributing to problem-solving, illustrating the profound impact of education in reshaping lives.

Key individuals such as Adrienne Grayson, Dean of Educational Partnerships, Vice President of Academic Affairs Lynn Wright, and their dedicated team were at the forefront of this monumental effort. RCC President Claire Oliveros and RCCD Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac delivered welcoming remarks, and Norco College President Monica Green provided insights as a panelist. The day was facilitated by Norco College Dean of Educational Partnership Tyee Griffith as the Master of Ceremonies.

In 2023, RCC enrolled 1,227 students in dual enrollment pathways, which has since seen promising growth, with unofficial figures indicating approximately 1,340 students currently enrolled. Riverside City College remains dedicated to building upon the success of this event, amplifying student voices, fostering equity, and creating a vibrant campus community.

Sample sessions from the event included:

  • Teaching on the Inside: Culturally relevant curricula for detained youth.
  • Neural plasticity of psychological development for justice-involved youth.
  • Using Data to Identify Equity Gaps in Dual Enrollment
  • Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline

To learn more about Riverside City College Dual Enrollment, click  here.