Author Archives: Fernando Mejia

“Democracy in Practice: Supporting Parenting Students in Washington” captures how democracy lives beyond the ballot box. For Communities for Our Colleges, democratic practice means shaping the policies and priorities that impact students’ lives — not just through elections, but through active participation in the institutions that govern our shared future.

This fall, Communities for Our Colleges has continued deepening its organizing and leadership development work in Western Washington—this time with a powerful new addition: high school students. Through our fall fellowship program, student organizers from Bothell High School, Everett Community College (EvCC), and South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) have been working together to strengthenContinue reading “Growing Student Power: High School and College Leaders Organize for Educational Equity”

On Saturday, October 25, at Yakima Valley College, Communities for Our Colleges (C4C) brought together more than 80 students, families, and community members for a day of learning, dialogue, and collective action. The gathering—Making College More Accessible—was designed not only to provide information on college admissions, scholarships, and professional licensing but also to cultivate communityContinue reading “Making College More Accessible: Building Student & Community Power in Central Washington”

Last Friday, Communities for Our Colleges (C4C) co-hosted an engaging strategy session focused on the experiences and needs of parenting students pursuing higher education in Washington State. The event, titled “Advancing Postsecondary Success for Parenting Students in Washington,” brought together students, advocates, and institutional leaders to identify solutions that can make college more accessible andContinue reading “Advancing Postsecondary Success for Parenting Students in Washington”

In August 2025, Communities for Our Colleges (C4C) convened ninety-six students and community members from across Washington State in Spokane for the annual Student Power Building Conference. Over three days, participants engaged in trainings, storytelling, policy development, and cultural activities aimed at building a stronger statewide student network and advancing a collective vision for higherContinue reading “Student Power Building Conference 2025”

Across Washington State, Communities for Our Colleges is transforming the lives of community college students while strengthening the fabric of our democracy. This video captures the voices of students whose paths have been opened through equitable access to education, and it highlights how community colleges are vital spaces for racial and economic justice. In aContinue reading “Communities for Our Colleges: Advancing Democracy and Equity Across Washington”

On May 31, 2025, Communities for Our Colleges (C4C) brought together over 40 student leaders from across central and eastern Washington for a powerful Regional Gathering in Granger. Students from Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane Community College, Columbia Basin College, Yakima Valley College, and YVC–Grandview met at the Radio KDNA building to deepen relationships, reflectContinue reading “Students Lead the Way: C4C’s Granger Regional Gathering Builds Power for Free College and Racial Equity”

In Eastern Washington’s vast farmlands—where apple orchards and hop fields feed our state’s economy—farmworkers are facing a growing storm. Behind every harvest are families whose lives are shaped by shifting immigration policies, unstable labor programs, and the constant fear of deportation. KING 5’s Facing Race special, “Harvest Under Pressure,” takes viewers inside this reality. ItContinue reading “Harvest Under Pressure: Connecting Immigration, Labor, and the Fight for Student Equity in Washington”

On April 7, 2025, students, educators, and community leaders from across Washington State came together on the steps of the Capitol in Olympia to demand one clear message from lawmakers: no cuts to higher education. Organized in partnership with the Washington Student Association and the Washington Bus, the Communities for Our Colleges (C4C) team mobilizedContinue reading “Students Rally to Defend Higher Education Funding in Washington”