This Month in History
Black History, Community Colleges, and the Work of Access at DVC
February and March invite us to look both backward and forward. Black History Month reminds us that access to education has never been guaranteed. It has been demanded, defended, and built over generations. Community colleges, including Diablo Valley College, are part of that living story—institutions grounded in the belief that opportunity should not depend on zip code, income, or circumstance.
The history we reflect on in February and March is not abstract. It shows up on our campus in real and measurable ways
From Student Activism to Student Voice
When students in Greensboro sat at a segregated lunch counter on February 1, 1960, they demonstrated that students are not passive participants in history. They are authors of it.
At DVC today, that same spirit is visible in programs like Umoja. This spring’s Umoja Transfer Panel, held in honor of Black History Month, featured former Umoja students who have successfully transferred and are now completing degrees or graduate programs . Their stories are more than inspiration. They are proof that structured support, culturally responsive mentorship, and intentional community change outcomes.
Your support makes that possible. Programs like Umoja do not simply celebrate history—they extend it.
From Reconstruction to Public Education for All
The Reconstruction Acts of March 1867 laid the groundwork for public education systems in the South. They reinforced the principle that education is a public good, worthy of public investment.
Community colleges were built on that same foundation. At DVC, that commitment is visible in the ways we invest in faculty mentorship and applied learning. Through Foundation-supported initiatives like Project-Based Learning, faculty advisors guide students through structured, real-world projects with supervision and accountability built into the experience .
This is access with intention. It is not enough for doors to be open. Students must also be supported once they walk through them.
Preserving and Expanding the Historical Record
Black history is not only something to commemorate. It is something to document and preserve.
This year, the DVC Library invited students and employees to engage with exhibits highlighting local Black history and civil rights movements, artwork from the African Diaspora, and curated book collections . The Black History Month Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon offered a hands-on way to improve the public historical record and ensure stories are accurately represented.
This matters. The work of equity includes whose stories are told—and who tells them.
Why This Work Must Continue to Grow
Community colleges were created to expand access. But access alone does not guarantee equity. It requires ongoing investment in transfer pathways, mentorship, culturally grounded programs, and experiential learning.
When donors support the DVC Foundation, they are not simply funding events or programs. They are strengthening systems that increase transfer rates, build belonging, and prepare students for leadership beyond our campus. They are helping ensure that the legacy of Black educational advancement continues not just in February, but year-round.
The milestones of February and March remind us that educational progress has always required courage and commitment. At DVC, that commitment is visible in Umoja panels, library exhibits, faculty mentorship, and the steady work of access.
And with continued partnership from our community, that work will grow.
Because history is not only something we remember.
It is something we build—together.