April Brown serves as the president of the Umoja Club, a student organization dedicated to promoting equity and inclusivity at Long Beach City College. She was critical in securing more than $17,000 for the club, which is the most funding any equity-driven student club has earned at the college. In an effort to advance the Equitable Baccalaureate Attainment goal of Vision 2030, Brown has organized a leadership tour of the University of California, Riverside for Umoja Scholar students, a Spring 2024 college tour in San Diego and actively recruits students to tour Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help bridge the gap between community colleges and HBCUs. Brown also works in college’s welcome center assisting students and connecting them with the necessary supports to succeed.

Claudette Clark, who serves as the Associated Student Government secretary and was previously the vice president of Equity and Inclusion at Cuyamaca College, is deeply committed to equity in access and support, and equitable representation. She played a vital role this past fall in recruiting the largest, most diverse group of candidates for Associated Student Government in the college’s history. Clark was also instrumental in the founding of the Young, Gifted, and Black student organization and helped the college create new partnerships with the Blue Heart Foundation, a nonprofit focused on educational opportunities for young black men and boys, and World Beat Center, a nonprofit multicultural art center. She is a strong leader, a mentor, student ambassador, volunteer, community liaison for Black and African American Students, an advocate for students facing housing insecurity and is committed to social justice.

Jessica Lopez, the former president of the Associated Student Government at Coastline College, is a fierce advocate for students with disabilities. She was instrumental in the issuance of a resolution advocating for ongoing disability cultural awareness events, the inclusion of disability rights topics in curricula and the prioritization of disabled student data in the college’s institutional plans. She’s also advocated for these issues at the district and state levels and served on the college’s 2022 Student Equity and Achievement Workgroup. Lopez’s leadership has led to the adoption of the OCTA free college bus program and increased funding for the Dolphin Assistance Program, which focuses on basic needs. Lopez’s commitment to disability inclusion extends to the broader community as she’s served as an American Association of People with Disabilities Policy Advisor intern and a Disability Inclusion Communication Specialist.

Nikhil Masand serves as a co-chair of the Student Success Committee at Contra Costa College and previously served as an executive leader with the college’s Associated Student Government. He used his platform to ensure student voices were represented, to support an inclusive campus community and to serve as a mentor to younger student leaders. He’s also volunteers with the college’s Basic Needs Office where he helps pick up and distribute food to the community. Last winter, Masand organized a toy drive for underserved families in the college and surrounding community. He helped pick up and distribute gifts and supported the event for the entire duration. Masand has also spent the past two years volunteering with the Hercules Police Department.