MARTINEZ, CA – Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) now has the opportunity to conduct outreach activities to specific traditionally underserved populations of Contra Costa County about the high quality instruction and student services offered by its colleges.
Thanks to the passage of AB 2627 (Bauer-Kahan), 4CD can move forward in partnership with Contra Costa County (County) to reach military veterans, emancipated foster youth, formerly incarcerated or justice-involved, and the unemployed or underemployed about the numerous opportunities to get the education they need to qualify for good paying jobs in the community.
“We all know how critical it is to have the right education to be seriously considered for so many of the jobs that are currently available”, says 4CD Governing Board President Dr. Judy E. Walters. “This legislation allows us to inform and encourage more students, particularly from these underserved populations, that we have the experience and track record of successfully helping all our students achieve their educational goals.”
AB 2627 was recently signed by Governor Newsom after being introduced and championed by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. The legislation allows 4CD to obtain contact information from the County and share the many educational opportunities available at Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College-Pleasant Hill Campus, Diablo Valley College-San Ramon Campus, Los Medanos College-Pittsburg Campus, and Lose Medanos College-Brentwood Center.
“AB 2627 gives community colleges access to the data they need to help vulnerable students – veterans, former foster youth, and formally incarcerated people,” said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. “California Community Colleges are for everyone and all students deserve support to thrive. It was such a pleasure working with the Contra Costa Community College District in ensuring passage and enactment on AB 2627.”
4CD and the County will now begin working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work out the details in sharing the contact information including steps to address privacy concerns. 4CD already has a similar MOU with seven of the County’s feeder high school districts.
“We are honored and thankful to have state representatives like Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan supporting the great work of our colleges and the mission of 4CD”, said Interim Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh. “Our community, including these underserved populations, deserve to know of the many paths to success we have available including financial aid options, what student services are available to help them achieve their academic goals, and the connections to employers and the job market to find a good paying job.”
The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The 4CD serves a population of 1,019,640 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. 4CD is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez.
For more information visit www.4cd.edu.
