Julia Barajas
I explore how community college students achieve their goals — whether they’re fresh out of high school, or going back to school for the first time in years — and how colleges help them do so.
My exposure to community colleges began when I was a high school senior. In all my years of schooling, I’d never been assigned anything written by a person of Mexican descent, despite growing up in L.A. County. So when a brochure for East Los Angeles College appeared in my family’s mailbox, I tried out dual enrollment, and took an introductory Chicano Literature course. We read everything from Helena María Viramontes’ “The Moths” to Bernice Zamora’s “Notes from a Chicana ‘COED.’” And what I learned there — about writing, about history, and about myself — stayed with me. It informed my decision to major in literature and Latin American studies when I went on to earn a four-year degree, and it continues to shape the work I do now.
My hope is that all community college students will get a similar chance to chart a course for themselves, guided by their own curiosities and ambitions.
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Advocates say barring formerly incarcerated students can keep them from securing gainful employment. -
A number of incumbents will ask voters to trust them through choppy waters.
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The campus is celebrating its centennial with a community party that includes plenty of food and music.
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A local for-profit college is making a hard sell to prospective students. But it’s always a good idea to explore your options.
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“Sinks: Places We Call Home,” part of the Getty's PST collaboration, highlights the impacts of toxic pollution and how community members are responding
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A group of local community college students spent the summer learning about climate change — and what they can do to take on the issue professionally.
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For several years, Safe Parking L.A. has provided unhoused Angelenos with a place to park their cars overnight. There are still dozens of spots available.
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A community college upstate asked neighbors to pitch in for student housing. They did, and other campuses are taking note.
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The move comes after a study found varying levels of lead in the neighborhood’s tap water.
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Housing going up at UC Riverside will create much-needed space for university students — and also for hundreds of community college students who are encouraged to transfer.
