As we all continue to look for ways to push back on the devastating impacts of the May layoffs, our colleagues serving the Filipinx and Pacific Islander communities have launched a community letter writing campaign. We are all here to support our students and our students deserve to be supported by members of their communities, by those that share a cultural connection. In the case of our Pacific Islander students this connection has been severed. Please join us in showing support for our TULAY and VĀSĀ students by signing the letter and consider sharing with your networks.
Dear community,
We are writing to ask for your support!
As a result of the massive layoffs that happened in Spring 2022, the contracts of two counselors hired to specifically address the evolving needs of Filipinx and Pacific Islander students at CCSF were terminated.
Between 2017 and 2022, these counselors facilitated culturally relevant events and programs to support our students’ academic, emotional, and social well being, in addition to offering academic counseling services. They also developed outreach and application workshops, cultural events, high school conferences, leadership retreats, and partnered with community based organizations to reach out to and support potential and current students from our most vulnerable neighborhoods.
We recognize that we are in a constant battle to ensure our Filipinx and Pacific Islander students’ needs are served and our communities are visible at CCSF. The fight to preserve these positions continues to be challenging. We need to make our grievances clear to CCSF’s leadership. We need to demand that they provide more resources for culturally relevant services designed to support student equity populations. We need CCSF to resolve this matter in a way that best serves the people.
Please consider signing this letter of support for TULAY and VASA. We are gathering signatures until July 31st. We will be presenting our concerns at the Board of Trustees meeting when they reconvene in August. If you would like to include an impact statement, please do so.
We are grateful for your continued support and commitment to ensuring our students’ needs are met and that CCSF lives up to its commitment to being an equitable and student-centered institution.
In Community,
Dr. David “Vika” Palaita and Dr. Lily Ann B. Villaraza
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