GROSSMONT COLLEGE — The “Umoja” program on campus since 2006 has been reaching out to African and African-American students–and their friends from all other ethnic groups — to build a sense of community and connection to Grossmont College.

Funded by Grossmont College, “Umoja” — meaning “unity” in Swahili — is directed at helping community college students successfully transfer to four-year institutions to complete their studies, according to student ambassadors Cynthia Nelson and Katrina Piliaris.

The students said the free program was created to ““instill in our students the knowledge and skills necessary to enable them to make positive differences in their lives and the lives of others.”  Counselor James Canady and DSPS Instructor Patrice Braswell-Burris are advisers to Umoja.  Here is an excerpt of  a brief  audio interview with Nelson and Piliaris: Umoja-Fedor

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Fedor is a student in the Media Communications Department.  She may be contacted at [email protected]