WOCAN Event Grows Connection

April 21, 2026 - 02:27 PM

Mt. SAC Vice President of Student Services Dr. Melba Castro and Compton College Vice President of Student Services Dr. Nicole Jones opened their remarks at the Second Annual Women of Color Action Network Leadership Conference with a message of unity. “What a powerful day for us to be here as a community and also to be here in the spirit of sisterhood!”

Mt. SAC’s seminal event, held in April, drew more than 700 attendees. This year’s conference theme was “From Seeds to Sisterhood: Cultivating Collective Power” and provided a safe environment for women of color to collaborate alongside one another and to learn and hear stories from a diverse group of women.

“As a woman working in education, there have been many women of color who have personally helped me along the way,” Dr. Jones said.  “Each moment somebody was telling me I could do it or encouraging me to get my master’s (degree) or continue with my education. What this conference means to me is what women did for me, and what I want to start doing for others, but on a larger scale across the state of California.”

Mt. SAC President Dr. Martha Garcia said she is committed to uplifting and providing pathways for students that they never imagined were available for them.  She said the conference aims to inspire and shape future generations, adding, “I’m really hopeful and excited for the future opportunities for all these women in these spaces.”

Keynote speaker Dr. Ashanti Hands, president of San Diego Mesa College, said she was honored to lead the opening address. “My heart is full to be here… This [conference] happened because people said you deserve this space. We as women are born to thrive and we need to understand how much worth and value we have.”

Many attendees came from various community colleges throughout the region and said they felt accepted and comfortable. They also appreciated being able to speak freely about their own journeys.

“Overall, as a first-generation Latina woman, I think it’s important to have conferences like this because it shows you that you can do it, and you don’t have to make yourself feel small,” said Andrea Padilla, a student from Barstow Community College. “Any doubt you have can be overcome because there are spaces in the community, such as this one, that allow you to network with people who are in touch with their own culture and identity.”

Pictured above, left to right: Compton College President Dr. Keith Curry, L.A. Mission College President Dr. Armida Ornelas, Mt. SAC President Dr. Martha Garcia, San Diego Mesa College President Dr. Ashanti Hands, Orange Coast College President Dr. Angelica Loera Suarez, and L.A. Harbor College President Dr. Luis Dorado