How Community Colleges Are Banding Together To Boost Graduation Rates Among Men Of Color

At community colleges and universities across the country, men of color — including Black, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, and Southeast Asian American students — continue to graduate at lower rates than their peers.

To change this, educators at local community colleges banded together to found the Men of Color Action Network (MOCAN). It works to transform institutional practices to help these students succeed.

Each year, MOCAN hosts a conference at one of its participating campuses. There, students and higher ed professionals come together to share resources, network, and discuss how to better support men of color. Nearly 500 people gathered on Friday at Long Beach City College for a day of motivational speakers, workshops, and camaraderie. Throughout the program, men of color could be seen in leadership roles, whether it was facilitating a workshop or providing ASL interpretation during a speech.

Long Beach City College’s Superintendent-President Dr. Mike Muñoz said that was intentional.

“When I think about my own journey,” he said, “I didn't see Latino males in these roles. And so, it was hard for me to see myself ever being a college president, or being a dean, or just even earning a master's degree."

Muñoz welcomed men of color from as far as San Diego and Bakersfield. Most of them were college students, and some were still in high school. Others were professionals looking to move up in their careers, including adjunct professors and counselors hoping to secure full time positions.

“First-generation college students become first-generation professionals,” said Muñoz. “And so, it's equally important that we're thinking about the kinds of communities that we build to support our young professionals doing this work.”

Inside a student workshop

For students at the conference, the workshop options included everything from overcoming imposter syndrome to the transfer process.

Daniel Rosales, a Long Beach City College student who’s majoring in social work and addiction studies, had never heard of “imposter syndrome” before participating in the workshop — but he readily identified with the notion of feeling like he wasn’t good enough or didn’t belong.

Rosales went to prison when he was 17 and was released nearly two decades later. When he first enrolled, he felt overwhelmed.

“When I first started, I didn't know what a major was,” he told LAist. “I just wanted to learn more about addiction because I'm a recovering addict. After a year and a half, I realized I wanted to help others.”

Steven Perkins, an attorney at Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher, facilitated the session on imposter syndrome. He told the students that before they walked, he thought: “I shouldn’t be up here teaching a class.” Then, he paused and told himself: “I’ve given lots of lectures before, and I am well-equipped to speak on the subject precisely because I have imposter syndrome.”

Perkins and the students also talked about tracking their success; going to therapy; and building out positive emotions by making time to jot down moments of hope, joy, awe, serenity, and gratitude.

“I struggle every day with mental health,” Rosales told LAist. “But I don't let it sabotage my education or my life anymore.”

In conversation with his peers, he talked about the Justice Scholars Program, which helps students who’ve been incarcerated, as well as their loved ones, navigate their journey through higher education.

Students make their way through the resource fair at this year's Men of Color Action Network conference, which took place at Long Beach City College.

(

Julia Barajas

/

LAist

)

What did students see at the resource fair?

Students had the chance to explore the resource fair, which included booths with representatives from universities like Cal State Long Beach; the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science; and several Historically Black Colleges and Universities, some of which offer guaranteed admission to California community college students.

The fair also had a booth where students, faculty, and staff could obtain information on free immigration legal services, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals and advance parole.

For kinesiology major Charles Mason, the MOCAN conference provided an opportunity to reflect as prepares to leave Long Beach City College. Come fall, he will be a student at Cal State Long Beach — something he never imagined for himself when he was incarcerated.

“I kind of still can't believe it,” he said. “I have this ‘fear of failure’ thing going on, so it's a real big weight on my shoulders.”

Mason used to doubt a community college education could help him. Now part of him doesn’t want to leave. “I guess you can say it lit a fire in me."