1. 1st Annual UMOJA High School Counselor’s Conference
Presented by:
Abdimalik Buul, Southwestern College
Don Love, MiraCosta College
Dr. James Canady, Grossmont College
Michael Temple, San Diego Mesa College

2. Presentation Overview
Welcome/Introduction
Data Walk/Discussion
UMOJA History/Mission
UMOJA Program Design
UMOJA Student Voices
Benefits of UMOJA
Question & Answer
Next Steps

3. DATA WALK ACTIVITY and DISCUSSION
Through the data walk we wish to look at the educational experiences and outcomes of California’s Back children, preschool through college. The data presented should serve as a statement of the problem and also demonstrate the need for UMOJA programs statewide.

4. Founded in 1988 at Chabot College in Hayward, CA as the Daraja Program
UMOJA Beginnings
Founded in 1988 at Chabot College in Hayward, CA as the Daraja Program
Fall, 2006 – 1st conference at Diablo Valley College regarding Black Student Success. It was here that faculty and administrators declared a formal statewide recognition of a problem.
Fall, 2007 – Steering committee of 23 members spent several months developing strategies to become a statewide model and resources for community colleges.
January, 2008 – UMOJA Community presented its model to the California Community College Board of Governor’s and is officially recognized as a legitimate statewide success program.
May 20, 2015– Press Release issued by the CCCCO announcing the awarding of $1 million to the UMOJA Community Education Foundation.
Notes: The Umoja Program was modeled after the Daraja Program out of Chabot College. They had a successful Puente Program at Chabot College and educators wanted to see those same opportunities afforded to Black students. In Fall, 2006, s began to circulate throughout the state about a conference to discuss Black student success. We did not know at that time that that conference would become of first of, now, 12 conferences. From the conference at DVC, 23 educators volunteered to serve as a steering committee to provide a formal structure and unity to this effort. Quickly Umoja began to make its presence known in the state. In January 2008, Umoja was officially recognized by the BOG. The Umoja organization was a 9-midnight operation. It was started with no money and no formal permission by anyone to do this work. It wasn’t until May 2015 that funding was granted to further develop this statewide initiative.

5. UMOJA Mission Statement
Umoja, (a Kiswahili word meaning unity) is a community and critical resource dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational experiences of African American and other students. We believe that when the voices and histories of students are deliberately and intentionally recognized, the opportunity for self-efficacy emerges and a foundation is formed for academic success. Umoja actively serves and promotes student success for all students through a curriculum and pedagogy responsive to the legacy of the African and African American Diasporas.
Often times in Umoja we do a popcorn read of the Mission statement and have them note which words or phrases resonate with them. You can have them share briefly.

6. UMOJA PROGRAM DESIGN

7. Learning Community Model
In this model a group of Umoja students take two or more linked classes and remain together for at least one year. Sample classes that the program may offer are:
Guidance/counseling courses (1st and 2nd semester)
English course
Math course
Library information literacy course
Other course(s)with a Black studies emphasis

8. Sample classes that they might enroll in are:
Cohort Model
In contrast to the Learning Community Model, in this model subsets of Umoja students are enrolled in classes with students who do not participate in the Umoja program.
Sample classes that they might enroll in are:
Guidance/counseling courses
Other identified course(s) with a Black emphasis

9. Other Program Components
Umoja campuses may also offer additional program components that have been approved by the Umoja Community. For example:
Mentoring program (staff/community mentors)
Peer mentoring
Tutoring/supplemental instruction
Service learning

10. Participating Colleges
College Program
American River College Umoja Saku
Bakersfield College ASTEP
Chabot College Daraja Project
Chaffey College AMAN/AWOMAN
College of Alameda Amandla
College of Marin pilot Fall 2015
College of San Mateo CSM Umoja
Cosumnes River College Diop Scholars
De Anza College Sankofa Scholars
Diablo Valley College Ujima
El Camino College Project Success
Fresno City College IDLE
Fullerton College Reach 4 Excellence
Long Beach City College Sankofa Scholars
Los Angeles Trade Tech LATTC-Umoja
Los Medanos College Umoja Scholars
MiraCosta College Umoja/EOPS
College Program
Moreno Valley College Renaissance Scholars
Mt. San Antonio College Aspire
Napa Valley College Napa Valley Umoja Program
Norco College Talented Tenth
Orange Coast College OCC Umoja
Riverside Community College Ujima Program
Sacramento City College Umoja SBA
San Bernardino Valley College Tumaini
San Diego City College Umoja/TSP
San Diego Mesa College Mesa Academy
San Joaquin Delta College AFFIRM
San Jose City College Umoja Academic Success Program
Santa Rosa Junior College Umoja
Sierra College Umoja Sankofa
Skyline College ASTEP
Solano Community College Umoja Program Scholars
West Valley College SUCCESS Program
Currently, there are 34 official Umoja program. Please emphasize here that there is a formal process by which campuses affiliate with the Umoja Community. Please do share that while Southwestern and Grossmont have had Umoja programs, they will officially become part of the statewide organization effective fall, In fact, we will be adding 14 new programs for the academic year. (This equals more opportunities for collaboration and networking for our students.)

11. Readiness Colleges for 2016-2017
Antelope Valley College
Berkeley City College
Cerritos College
CSU East Bay**
De Anza College
Foothill College
Grossmont College
Laney College
L.A. Harbor College
Long Beach City College
Merritt College
Ohlone College
Orange Coast College
Southwestern College
Victor Valley College
We have 20 additional colleges “in waiting” for the academic year.

12. STUDENT VOICES

13. Hands Up! Walk Out! Hands Up. Walk Out.
Feel free to use this photo if you’d like. The student at SD City organized a walk-out in protest of what was going on in Ferguson, etc. Demonstrates the social justice and leadership opportunities that our students can engage in.
Hands Up. Walk Out.

16. Personal, Career, and Academic Counseling with dedicated Counselor
Benefits for Students
Personal, Career, and Academic Counseling with dedicated Counselor
Culturally-relevant pedagogy
Academic & Personal Enrichment Activities
Mentorship
Leadership Opportunities
Lifelong friendships & support
Add anything that’s true for your students here. Also want to emphasize the regional relationship that we are building and its benefit for our students.

17. Questions & Answers

18. NEXT STEPS…