Category: Community

Juneteenth Celebration Success

SC4 hosted the community event A Taste of Heritage, Freedom, and Unity on June 19. The event was a remarkable success, with over seven hundred members of the community joining in a proud celebration of African American culture.  

President Kramer responded, “SC4 is committed to providing opportunities for learning and reflecting. Juneteenth 2024 was a collaboration by SC4 with several local entities to be present today through knowing our yesterday. SC4 is here for everyone to succeed.”

Attached image: SC4 President Kirk Kramer, SC4 Nursing Instructor Kevin Watkins and Jessica Brown, SC4’s Chief Diversity Officer.

For media inquiries, please contact Sarah Rutallie, Chief of Staff, at srutallie@sc4.edu

Juneteenth Celebration

SC4 is collaborating with the Port Huron community to host the 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration, A Taste of Heritage, Freedom, and Unity, on Wednesday, June 19, at the St. Clair County Community College Student Center from 12–4 p.m.

This event honors African American contributions to our nation’s culinary culture and celebrates the spirit of freedom and unity. This will be a live-tasting exhibit that traces the delicious African American foods that have contributed to our nation’s culinary culture. African Americans have inspired our country’s food for over four hundred years through their skill, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Black foodways have shaped much of what we farm, cook, and drink.

Jessica Brown, SC4 Chief DEI Officer, commented on the event. “Juneteenth is a celebration of progress despite the most painful parts of history.” She added, “There is still more work to be done; we want everyone to join in celebrating this wonderful American history. We are better together and honor our ancestors, which paved the way for me to celebrate this day. We want meaningful action and support to empower our community to stand in unison, which is something we all want to overcome.”

Event Highlights:

  • Free Live-tasting Exhibit: Guests will trace the culinary journey from Africa to Jamaica, showcasing the rich history that has shaped American cuisine.
  • Cultural Showcase: Attendees will experience live music, dancing, networking opportunities with restaurateurs, live storytelling, and spoken word performances from local activists, musicians, and dancers, showcasing the vibrancy of African American heritage.
  • Food and Drinks: Attendees will enjoy signature drinks and African/Black cuisine from local and neighboring community restaurants, including Chef Chris Catering, Elle Symone Catering & Events, Daylicious Drinks and Treats, Jamaican Jerk, Southside Sweets, Yum Village, Baobab Fare.

Alphonso Amos of AAmos Consulting had this to say regarding Juneteenth, “Juneteenth is more than a day of celebration; it is a testament to the enduring strength and resilience of the African American spirit. On June 19, we honor the moment when freedom was finally proclaimed in Texas, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. We reflect on the profound struggles and triumphs of our ancestors during the Reconstruction era, who, against all odds, sought to reunite families, build communities, and reshape our nation. Juneteenth is our second Independence Day, a day to remember that the journey to justice and equality continues. When we celebrate, we gather in unity and hope as we carry forward the legacy of those who never gave up, embracing our past and forging a future where freedom truly rings true for all.”

This event is presented in partnership with St. Clair County Community College, Port Huron Branch NAACP, St. Clair County Organizing for Regional Equity (SCCORE), The Port Huron Museum, The City of Port Huron, Black Lives Matter Port Huron, the International Council of Community Churches, the Diversity Initiative of St. Clair County, and AAmos Consulting Group.

For media inquiries, please contact Sarah Rutallie, Chief of Staff, at srutallie@sc4.edu

SC4 participates in Community College Month

The SC4 Board of Trustees adopted a resolution at their April 11, 2024, meeting recognizing April as Community College Month.

The month is promoted nationally by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and was recognized with a proclamation by Governor Whitmer.

There are over 1,000 public community colleges in the United States, 31 in Michigan, and one of the first community colleges is located in Port Huron.  SC4 was established in 1923 and is a comprehensive community college offering courses that transfer to 4-year Colleges/Universities, Two-year Associate Degrees and one-year Certificates leading to careers, and a variety of individual training, skill-building, and enrichment courses.  SC4 provides area communities with a highly qualified and credentialed labor force and serves residents through equitable and local access to higher education.

SC4 is participating in #CCMonth, a monthlong education campaign coordinated by ACCT. The primary goals of #CCmonth are to improve awareness of the economic, academic and equity advantages of attending community colleges, and to celebrate the value of public two-year colleges.

“SC4 is vital to our community and our state,” said Kirk Kramer, President of SC4. “#CCMonth is an opportunity to celebrate the importance and value of our College to our community. SC4 has served residents of the community for over 100 years and continues to lead into the future to provide residents with public higher education opportunities.”

The SC4 campus is a major hub of activity for the community providing cultural, athletic, and educational events throughout the year, such as concerts, plays, art galleries, hands-on science exhibits, Challenger Learning Center simulated space missions, Planetarium Experience, Tournaments, Camps, STEM Fest, and the recent Solar Eclipse viewing on campus. 

The SC4 Board resolution read in part, “…renew our passion to offer relevant services committed to educational excellence and our mission to create an academic and cultural environment that empowers students to succeed.” SC4 is proud to provide collegiate-level activities in the community to enrich the lives of all residents.

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SC4 to Host Job Fair April 4

PORT HURON, Mich. – St. Clair County Community College (SC4) is hosting a Job Fair on Thursday, April 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the SC4 Fieldhouse. The event is free and open to all SC4 students and community members seeking employment.

The annual Job Fair has taken place on the SC4 campus for more than 30 years and is a great opportunity for companies to engage with SC4 students as well as other job seekers. The event includes a large mix of industries such as manufacturing, sales, medical, criminal justice, and more. Attendees can view the companies currently registered for the job fair at sc4.edu/jobfair.

This year’s event is in partnership with several community organizations including the city of Port Huron, Macomb/St. Clair County Michigan Works!, St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance, Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce, McMorran Place, and the Marine City Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Seeing companies make connections and generate potential recruitment leads for their team is what makes this event a great experience,” said Nate Shrapnell, Manager of Residence Life and Student Conduct at SC4. Shrapnell added, “The event is a streamlined way for job seekers to network and explore available jobs. It’s also a great opportunity for companies to connect with each other. Overall, we’re looking forward to hosting another successful job fair this year.”

Companies interested in participating can view details and register online at sc4.edu/jobfair. Registration is $175 for companies, which includes a table and chairs for up to two representatives. Questions can be directed to SC4’s Career Services and Apprenticeship Coordinator, Daniel Spaulding, at 810-989-5614 or email djspaulding@sc4.edu.

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