Category: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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

Hispanic American Heritage Celebration set for Oct. 27

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) and the Hispanic Alliance of Southeast Michigan will host a Hispanic American Heritage Celebration to celebrate Hispanic and Latino cultures from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, in SC4’s Fine Arts Theatre.
 
The event is titled “Introducing the Hispanic Alliance of Southeast Michigan: Our past, presence and future!” From 5 to 6:30 p.m., it will feature a panel discussion moderated by Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Thelma Castillo, and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. attendees can enjoy live music by Detroit’s PanaMO, a renowned Latin Jazz ensemble.
 
The event also will feature sample food from Doña Marina’s LLC.
 
Hispanic Alliance of Southeast Michigan (HASM) panelists and community volunteers include:

  • Jessica Totty – HASM president, Mexican and Indigenous descent, SC4 alumna, nurse and pastor
  • Jesus Castillo – HASM member, Veteran and U.S. Army Commendation Medal recipient, Consumer’s Energy retiree, former Hispanic Council of St. Clair County chairperson
  • Eunice Castillo – HASM member, Retired Port Huron Area School District teacher in charge of the English as a Second Language Program, former Hispanic Council of St. Clair County chairperson
  • Heather Fagan – HASM member, Doña Marina’s LLC, Seed & Soul Society president and co-founder, Nicaraguan-American
  • Iris Santillano – HASM member, event planner and SC4 alumna born in Puerto Rico
  • Irma (López) Santillano – HASM member, marketing and fundraising expert who is Mexican and Puerto Rican and speaks fluent Spanish

“We invite our community to come out and learn more about our Hispanic heritage through discussion and music,” said SC4 Chief Diversity Officer Jessica Brown.
 
The event is free and open to the public. For more information on other SC4 upcoming events, visit sc4.edu/events/.

Fall 2023 DEI book recommendation and Nov. 17 discussion announced

St. Clair County Community College’s (SC4) Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion announces “Subtle Acts of Exclusion,” by Dr. Tiffany Jana and Michael Baran, as its fall 2023 book recommendation.
 
Students, faculty and staff members, alumni, community members and friends are encouraged to read the book—available for free in the SC4 DEI Office, Welcome Center, Suite 250, or by request at dei@sc4.edu—and attend a guided book discussion on Friday, Nov. 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in SC4’s Fine Arts Theatre.
 
Dr. Leah Howell, director of Learning Design at Everspring, Inc., and Dr. Portia Watkins, Michigan State University director of Transitions and Transfer Student Success and a trainer of the Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation program, will serve as facilitators for the Nov. 17 event. (Full bios available here.)
 
“We look forward to welcoming back Dr. Howell and Dr. Watkins to campus as we come together to cultivate a shared experience and participate in group dialogues to enrich our personal reflections,” Brown said. “‘Subtle Acts of Exclusion’ will help us explore our assumptions and understanding of each other. While some may initially dismiss the topic as political correctness or oversensitivity, the text encourages us to consider the lived experiences of others, consider the feelings and reactions to words and phrases, and expand our own ability for understanding, recognizing that viewing the world solely through our own lens denies the humanity of others.”
 
To register for this free event, visit sc4.edu/office-of-diversity-equity-inclusion/news-and-events/event-registration/ or send an email to dei@sc4.edu with questions.  

SC4 signs on to The Detroit Promise Program, providing free college to Detroit high school students

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) has partnered with The Detroit Promise, a program that provides a tuition-free path to trade, two-year or four-year credentials for Detroit-based students. This expands options for students who live in and attend high school in Detroit to pursue postsecondary education at no cost.

“We are excited to partner with The Detroit Promise,” said SC4 Chief DEI Officer Jessica Brown. “While many of our students are St. Clair County residents, many more come to our college and community from other areas to enroll in classes. Last year, for instance, we welcomed students from more than 200 zip codes. This partnership with The Detroit Promise—enhanced by our College Housing options for SC4 students—will allow us to welcome and support more Detroit-area students seeking higher education.”

“I am thrilled to be expanding our partnerships and to welcome SC4 to The Detroit Promise,” said Detroit Promise Senior Director of College Success and Partnerships Wytrice Harris. “More higher education partners mean more options for students to pursue a degree or credential that will shape their futures. This growing support speaks to the value of this program for the students and educational institutions involved, as well as for the future of the state’s workforce and economy.”

The Detroit Promise works with its higher education partners to ensure improved access to and success through postsecondary education for Detroit students, and the program is celebrating 10 years in 2023 and more than 5,000 students supported from over 50 Detroit high schools. The Promise covers the total cost of tuition and other expenses after any Pell or TIP funding is applied to a student’s bill. The noncompetitive award is available to any student that meets basic requirements and applies for the Detroit Promise.

SC4 is one of just eight community colleges across Michigan that offers College Housing—and the only one in Southeast Michigan.

Additionally, SC4 offers many other free and reduced tuition programs and options to help students across Michigan and beyond earn college credits, including scholarships, dual enrollment, middle colleges, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Michigan Reconnect Scholarship, Tuition Incentive Program, Federal Pell and other grants, and much more.

For more information on The Detroit Promise and to apply, visit https://detroitpromise.com/. To apply to SC4, visit https://sc4.edu/. To learn more and apply for SC4 College Housing, visit sc4.edu/housing/.