Student
Empowering Diverse Voices
The Student Equity Center is a collaborative and inclusive space consisting of four centers: Gender Equity, Racial Justice, Pride and Dream Resource Center. The Student Equity Center empowers students to explore, affirm, and celebrate their individual and intersectional identities and define success for themselves. Each center promotes a sense of belonging and develops student leadership to work toward social change on their campus and in their communities.
Latinx/e Heritage Month 2024
Join us in celebrating Latinx/e Heritage Month at Santa Monica College (SMC) with a series of engaging events that honor the rich and diverse Latinx/e culture throughout September 15 - October 15. List of events.
Student Voices
Marbi-An Tejas
"My time spent at Santa Monica has been nothing but positive vibes because of the support given to me since day one. I thought that going to college was a waste of time and because of my status I was not qualified but turns out I was wrong. I was browsing the SMC website and happened to stumble upon a header that said DREAM program. I was cautious at first because we had an administration that was really targeting the undocumented community, so it was really scary to say I am undocumented, but I got to know that Dream Resource Center people are very trustworthy, and they provided me with a lot of resources and I'm very thankful for this. "
Nicole Eng, Graphic Design
“As a member of the Racial Justice Center, I bring back what I learn while participating here as well as my perspective as an Asian American woman as a lens for thinking about design. Design that draws from diverse perspectives is not just good design, but it’s often much more interesting as well.”
Lexi Lopez(she/her/hers), GSA Club Secretary
"It is so important to have safe, inclusive spaces on college campuses. Santa Monica College has been dedicated to forming these spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community within the Student Equity Center and with their Gender Sexuality Alliance club. These spaces have created a hub where students and faculty of all identities can come together in love and support to share stories, find resources, and continue to learn & grow."
Liliana Mendez-Pascual
I would like to quote from Gloria Steinem. "A gender-equal society would be one where the word ‘gender’ does not exist: where everyone can be themselves.”
The Four Centers
Gender Equity Center
The Gender Equity Center at Santa Monica College is dedicated to creating an equitable community at SMC by addressing and challenging gender inequity through education, empowerment of women, consciousness raising, activism, and allyship.
Racial Justice Center
The Racial Justice Center at Santa Monica College is dedicated to building a campus committed to dismantling racism, affirming racial identity, supporting cultural narratives, and promoting equitable access and opportunity for historically underrepresented students.
Pride Center
The Santa Monica College Pride center is dedicated to honoring and prioritizing intersectional LGBTQ+ identities. We are committed to improving campus culture where all queer and trans students can celebrate and embody their holistic selves.
Dream Resource Center
The Santa Monica College Dream Resource Center is committed to creating a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment for undocumented students, and students from mixed-status households, to feel empowered to achieve their academic, professional, and personal goals.
Recordings From Past Events
The Room in the Corner: Finding Common Ground (Spring 2022)
The Room in the Corner: Sharing Your Story (Fall 2021)
Take Action
Bystander Intervention Training
In response to the rise in Anti-Asian/American and xenophobic harassment, the movement Hollaback! partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC to adapt free bystander intervention training as well as offering a de-escalation training adapted to support the AAPI community.
Make the Pledge Today : No Hate at SMC
"I pledge to speak up and to speak out against all forms of hate, bias, bigotry, discrimination, harassment, and bullying. I will not tolerate intolerance based on race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, sexuality, gender, religion, ability, age, or socio-economic status. I will work together with my community and my peers to create a more inclusive and safe campus community that celebrates the power of diversity."
News
Secretary Cardona: Title IX the 'Strongest Tool' in Protecting Educational Opportunities Free from Sex Discrimination
The Department of Education’s Dear Educator Letter outlines that there will be proposed rule making to amend the Regulations and plans to issue a Q&A document to provide additional clarity about how OCR interprets schools’ existing obligations under the 2020 amendments. No definite date has been set for these to be issued.
Inside Biden’s proposal for higher education: Free community college, enhanced Pell Grants and more
President Joe Biden’s unveiling of the American Families Plan on Wednesday has opened the door for some of the higher education policies proposed on the campaign trail.
Equity, Access, and High Expectations for All: Are we truly a public school?
It was clear. The children from more economically privileged, college-educated families took Honors, and the lower-middle, working class, and poor kids took College Prep. In the words of a school official from that time, “There are no poor kids in Honors Math.”
Messages of Support
"Today, I write again to share with our colleagues and students of Asian descent: you are not alone in this. We feel your pain and grief. We are here to support you, to listen, to collectively find ways to dismantle and move past the xenophobia that causes such trauma."
Featured Resources
Auntbertha.com
Search and connect for support. Financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost resources.
Financial Aid
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Contact the Student Equity Center
Valeria Garcia (she/ella), M.S.
Project Manager, Student Equity Center
Find us on Campus (Currently under construction)
