Foundation for California Community Colleges

10/10/2026

When students feel seen, supported, and valued, they gain the confidence to find their voice and lead.
In the latest issue of FieldNotes, Marisela Hernandez, FoundationCCC’s Senior Equity Manager, shares how her experience at Sacramento City College (Official) shaped her commitment to creating leadership opportunities for students across California.
Through the California Community Colleges Student Ambassador Program, students connect their peers with essential resources while building skills and confidence that carry into their careers and communities.
Read Marisela’s reflection on the power of student leadership and watch the program video: https://foundationccc.org/fieldnote/student-leadership-transforms-campus-communities/

10/02/2026

California’s behavioral health workforce is growing, with Napa Valley College and Antelope Valley College joining the Wellness Coach Designated Education Program.

Funded by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) and administered by FoundationCCC in partnership with HCAI, the program is part of California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, a key component of the state’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health.

The program helps California Community Colleges develop and expand career-focused pathways that complement students’ existing degree programs. Students who complete the required curriculum and core competencies become eligible to apply for state certification as Certified Wellness Coaches I, preparing them to support young people’s social-emotional well-being and connect youth and families with community resources.

Since 2024, more than $6.3 million has been awarded to 33 colleges, creating career pathways for students and strengthening behavioral health support in underserved communities.

Learn more below.

Building a public behavioral health workforce that better represents the diversity of behavioral health needs of California’s children and youth. Grant Opportunity Grant Opportunity The Wellness Coach Designated Education Program provides funding to support California Community Colleges (CCC) inte...

09/25/2026

What can technology make us more capable of doing for one another?
In the second installment of FoundationCCC Fieldnotes, Bryan M Miller, FoundationCCC’s Executive Vice President of Communications and Technology, reflects on that question after attending Futures Summit 2026, hosted by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
Bryan shares how the Program Pathways Mapper team is exploring AI to help students better understand their options and arrive at conversations with counselors ready to ask more informed questions. He also reflects on the connections made in person at the Summit, and why human judgment and relationships should continue to guide how we use new technology.
Read “More Human by Design”:

Nearly 20 years ago, when I first joined the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC), the backdrop for one of our events could fit in the trunk of my car. That memory came back to me at the California Community Colleges Futures Summit. Looking around at the massive screens, expa...

09/24/2026

We’re excited to see Foundation for California Community Colleges Vice President of Workforce and Climate Innovation, Tim Aldinger, take the stage at the CCCAOE's Fall 2026 Conference on October 15.
Tim has spent more than two decades bringing education and workforce partners together to create meaningful career opportunities. He’ll join four fellow leaders for a keynote conversation on how stronger connections across policy, practice, and industry can open more pathways for Californians.
Learn more and register:
https://linktr.ee/foundationccc

09/24/2026

We’re excited to see FoundationCCC’s Tim Aldinger take the stage at the CCCAOE Career Education’s Fall 2026 Conference on October 15.
As Vice President of Workforce and Climate Innovation, Tim has spent more than two decades bringing education and workforce partners together to create meaningful career opportunities. He’ll join four fellow leaders for a keynote conversation on how stronger connections across policy, practice, and industry can open more pathways for Californians.
Learn more and register through CCCAOE - link in bio✅

09/19/2026

Congratulations to FoundationCCC's Board Chair Patrick Mulvaney and his wife and business partner, Bobbin, on 20 years of Mulvaney's Building & Loan!
The Sacramento Business Journal recently featured the restaurant in its Milestone Anniversaries series, recognizing the community, collaboration, and creativity the Mulvaneys have fostered in Sacramento since 2006.
Patrick brings that same spirit of connection and service to his leadership at FoundationCCC, and we’re proud to celebrate this milestone with him.

FoundationCCC Board Chair Patrick Mulvaney is featured in the Sacramento Business Journal’s Milestone Anniversaries series, which recognizes regional businesses and nonprofits marking significant operating anniversaries in 2026. The profile celebrates 20 years of Mulvaney’s B&L, the Sacramento r...

09/11/2026

At , Program Pathways Mapper took the stage for “Mapping Student Success: Intelligent Pathways That Think Like Students.”
Presented by Jordan Long, Co-Founder, Nectir , and Shirley Asher, PPM Chief Operations Officer, FoundationCCC, the session explored how PPM is evolving to give students clearer, more connected ways to navigate academic, transfer, and career pathways.
The session also introduced MapperGPT, an AI-powered companion designed to help students ask questions, compare options, and better understand the “why” behind their pathway.
Also representing PPM at the Summit were Rudy Gonzalez, Sr. Vice President, Future Bridge Solutions; Jazellerae Quinto Griswold, PPM Product Manager; Jacie Grimes, PPM Senior Program Specialist; and Bryan Miller, Executive Vice President of Communications and Technology Solutions, FoundationCCC.
Together, this team represented PPM and helped advance the conversation around clearer, more connected pathways and stronger student support across California.
Learn more about PPM: programmapper.org

09/10/2026

The conversations at Futures Summit 2026 are reaching well beyond the room.
The Sacramento Bee covered Ambassador Rahm Emanuel ‘s conversation at , including California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian’s perspective on how California’s community colleges are preparing students for a rapidly changing economy and the broader conversation about the future of higher education.
The Futures Summit continues to create space for important conversations about what comes next for higher education, work, and opportunity. # to read the full story
Day 2 of Futures Summit 2026 gets underway today.
Follow California Community Colleges to see what’s happening ✅

09/09/2026

We were especially proud to see Jennifer Perry, FoundationCCC Board Vice Chair and Vice President of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, take part in today’s main-stage conversation with Chancellor Sonya Christian and Ambassador Rahm Emanuel.
Their discussion on access and the future of higher education reflects what is all about: bringing leaders together to explore what is ahead while keeping students, opportunity, and our shared values at the center.

09/08/2026

Green career pathways need strong students, strong educators, and strong partnerships.

USGBC California is proud to partner with The California State University system and the Foundation for California Community Colleges to help expand green career pathways for more than 2.5 million students across California.

This collaboration connects education, workforce development, and climate action, helping students explore careers and skills tied to sustainable buildings, clean energy, resilience, and healthier communities. It also creates space for staff and faculty to grow their professional skills, deepen their sustainability knowledge, and build peer-to-peer networks across California’s green building community.

Because preparing the next generation of green building leaders also means supporting the people helping them get there.

Read the announcement: https://usgbc-ca.org/usgbc-california-partners-with-california-state-university-and-foundation-for-california-community-colleges-to-expand-green-career-pathways-for-more-than-2-5-million-students/