MSJC Students Attend Umoja Conference, Gaining Inspiration and Insights for Academic and Personal Growth
11/20/2024
A group of Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) students attended the Umoja Conference in Los Angeles from October 31 to November 2, 2024. This empowering and transformative event aligns with the Umoja program's mission to enhance African Americans' and other students' cultural and educational experiences. Accompanying the students was MSJC Vice President of Career Education, Nursing & Allied Health Joyce Johnson, who expressed her pride in the students’ active participation and engagement throughout the event.
"I was honored to join our students at the Umoja Conference and witness their enthusiasm and dedication to learning," said Johnson. "This was an incredible opportunity for them to connect with others, gain valuable insights, and bring back new ideas to enrich our Umoja Villages. I encourage each of them to share their experiences and inspire their peers to dream bigger and strive for success."
Umoja, a Kiswahili word meaning "unity," is a community and critical resource dedicated to enhancing students' cultural and educational experiences. It is rooted in the belief that when students' voices and histories are deliberately and intentionally recognized, opportunities for self-efficacy emerge, forming a strong foundation for academic success. Umoja actively serves and promotes student success for all through a curriculum and pedagogy responsive to the legacy of the African and African American Diasporas.
The Umoja Conference featured dynamic keynote speakers and interactive workshops designed to foster a sense of community and empower students to achieve their goals. Reflecting on the conference, MSJC student Samiya Cannady shared, "My takeaway from the whole experience is the speaker, Dr. Mayes. His words spoke deep into me, and all that he said and the speakers in the workshops helped me understand what I need to do to accomplish what I have to do to achieve what I need to do for me."
Another MSJC student, Elijah Vallier, highlighted the impact of the HBCU workshop he attended during the conference. "One key takeaway from the Umoja conference was the HBCU workshop I attended. This workshop went into depth about the transfer process and what to gain at an HBCU. It opened up many different opportunities and pathways for me that I probably wouldn't have known about if I hadn't attended this conference along with the workshop. It made me realize that there is so much out there for people who look like me, and now I want to hopefully transfer to an HBCU. Overall, the conference was a completely different experience. I'm so grateful I got to attend and hope to get this same opportunity for next year's Umoja conference."
Umoja’s vision of providing transformative and emancipatory education to uplift and inspire the academic excellence of students of African descent was evident throughout the conference. The students plan to bring the knowledge and inspiration they gained back to their Umoja Villages at MSJC, fostering a ripple effect of positivity and motivation across campus.