First, Woodland Community College hosted the 5th Binational Education Week (or 5th Semana Binacional de Educaion 2022) this week to strengthen collaboration in delivering bilingual education.

About 100 people attended the Monday afternoon event, including representatives from the Mexican Consulate, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, educators throughout Yolo County, and elected officials from various school districts and city councils.

Previous rallies have been held in Philadelphia, Calexico, and other locations in the United States and Mexico.

Art Pimentel, president of Woodland Community College, who hosted the event, said the recognition was important because the school’s student numbers are growing. He said about half of the roughly 7,000 students enrolled this year are Latinos, making it important to offer a “Latino” program.

He also noted continued growth in attracting more students with the addition of men’s and women’s soccer programs this year.

Many guests addressed the audience in both English and Spanish, with one such as Consul General Liliana Ferrer mentioning the importance of education as a whole, and bilingual education in particular.

“Education is a powerful tool for transforming lives,” she told her audience, and every effort that can bring about such change needs to be stepped up.

Interim Director of California Community College Daisy Gonzalez speaks only Spanish, discussing the importance of involving families in ensuring that children learn both English and Spanish, and ensuring that children receive the highest level of education possible. We talked about the importance of being able to She referred to her own experience growing up in foster care where she was the first in her family to attend college.

Abel Gillen, deputy superintendent of public instruction operations and administrative division of the California Department of Education, ensures that students are not only provided with a high standard of education, but also other services such as mental health counseling and career services. said there was a need.

“Today is the day to focus on what we are doing for young people,” he said. “We already have programs in place and California is making a historic investment in education. $123 billion[your tax dollars]is going to education. This is greater than the state budgets of all but five states in the United States.

“So we need to continue to invest in dual immersion programs to help our students become bilingual and truly global citizens. Get support and make sure your kids are using computers and technology.

“The importance of this week is to amplify the educational message so that wherever you are in life, whatever your position, you too can achieve,” he concluded. can not think of
It’s better to talk about education than community colleges that are accessible to everyone. ”

After the iconic “ribbon cutting” representing the relationship between Mexico and the United States, presentations were given by six speakers, including Mexican diplomat Luis Gutierrez. Gustavo Padilla, Executive Vice President, University of Guadalajara Foundation USA. Dr. Lisceth Brazil-Cruz, Vice President of Student Services, Woodland Community College. Eric Ramirez, Director of the Equity Center at the University of California, Sacramento. Susan Reyes, Legislative Coordinator for Independent California Colleges and Universities; and Miguel Molina, Dean of Connectivity and Onboarding at Sacramento City College.