SMCCCD Announces October 23rd Board of Trustees Meeting to be held in East Palo Alto

A priority for Cañada College is to “bring college to the people,” ensuring meaningful partnerships and college-going opportunities for the residents of East Palo Alto.

San Mateo, CA – San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) will hold its Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the East Palo Alto (EPA) City Council Chambers. The meeting location was specifically chosen to enable South County community members to attend either in person or virtually, and learn about SMCCCD’s enhanced educational pathways and opportunities and build long-lasting relationships in the East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and North Fair Oaks communities. 

John Pimentel, SMCCCD Board President, stated, “Holding our Board meeting in East Palo Alto deepens our colleges’ relationship with the community groups, faith-based organizations, and families in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and North Fair Oaks. SMCCCD is working to increase the visibility of and access to our programs and services, which can enhance earning potential and change life trajectories for the students we serve.”

Pimentel added, “We thank the East Palo Alto City Council and staff for their hospitality and partnership to improve awareness of the educational opportunities we provide to benefit the people of our community.” 

The meeting will feature a special presentation by Cañada College, focusing on the educational opportunities offered through various local community partnerships, and the college’s efforts to expand and deepen those partnerships. Additionally, East Palo Alto Mayor Antonio Lopez will present a brief State of the City address to inform the Board of Trustees about the needs of the community. 

Kim Lopez, Cañada College President, emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “Our presentation will showcase the collaborative efforts between Cañada College and local partner organizations to create pathways to success for students and community members. We’re proud of the work we’ve done so far and look forward to sharing our progress with the Board and the public.”  

Mayor Lopez added, “We are thrilled to welcome the SMCCCD Board of Trustees to East Palo Alto for this important meeting. This gathering highlights our ongoing partnership and emphasizes our shared commitment to addressing the educational needs of our community. Together, we can work towards a brighter future for all our residents, ensuring that every student has access to the academic resources they need to succeed.” 

The San Mateo County Community College District invites all interested community members, families, community groups, and prospective students to attend this important meeting to learn more about the educational opportunities and partnerships benefiting EPA and the broader South San Mateo County region. 

For more information about the meeting or to access virtual attendance options, please visit smccd.edu after the meeting agenda is posted on Friday, October 18. 

Media Contact: David McLain, Community & Government Relations, SMCCCD, (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu

About San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD): SMCCCD operates three colleges, Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College, that provide community college educational services to the residents of San Mateo County. The District’s colleges serve over 30,000 students annually and offer the first two years of college-level instruction in various transfer and career-technical programs. The District is governed by a six-member Board of Trustees, with five voting members elected by voters from designated areas of the County and one nonvoting student member elected by students.