Category Archives: Uncategorized

Our Futures, Our Voices: Students Leading at the Capitol captures student leaders from across Washington State putting their training into practice during Communities for Our Colleges’ recent MLK Action Day at the state legislature. After months of organizing, preparation, and leadership development, students stepped into the halls of power to advocate directly with lawmakers onContinue reading “Our Futures, Our Voices: Students Leading at the Capitol”

Yesterday, Communities for Our Colleges (C4C) brought 107 students, educators, and community members from across Washington State to Olympia for our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Action — not just to honor Dr. King’s legacy, but to push back against proposed budget cuts to higher education. Participants traveled from Yakima, Grandview, the Tri-Cities,Continue reading “No Cuts to Our Future: Students Across Washington Take Action on MLK Day”

Across rural Washington, small business owners are speaking up about an issue that is often framed as a student concern—but is just as much an economic one. The video “Rural Small Businesses Rallying Behind Free College” highlights a growing recognition among local entrepreneurs: tuition-free community and technical college is not a luxury, but a necessaryContinue reading “How Rural Small Businesses Are Rallying Behind Free College”

As part of our commitment to building a truly statewide movement for educational justice, Communities for Our Colleges (C4C) continues to organize actively in Spokane and across Eastern Washington. During the first week of December, we deepened ongoing relationships, expanded our base, and supported the leadership of students and families throughout the region. Our workContinue reading “Strengthening Statewide Power: C4C Builds Community and Student Leadership in Spokane”

Across Washington State, students are stepping up to lead—not just in their classrooms, but in shaping the policies that define higher education. “Leading from the Ground Up” follows student leaders in the Communities for Our Colleges (C4C) movement as they organize, advocate, and inspire change across campuses. From rallying for equitable funding and free collegeContinue reading “Leading from the Ground Up: How Students Are Transforming Washington’s Colleges”

“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”