ElCo Chats

El Camino student Maria Lopez discusses her role as student parent fellow for FamilyU, a national comprehensive assistance program led by the nonprofit Generation Hope. Jumpstarting her higher education journey at ECC, Maria was able to leverage support resources and build an expansive community, all while earning a 4.0 GPA. The 'Parents to Bee' campus baby shower, under Maria's leadership, is a shining example of the future of student parents at the college.

In this episode of ElCo Chats, Puente Project counselors and co-coordinators Maribel Hernandez and Griselda Castro celebrate a major milestone: 40 years of Puente at El Camino College. Griselda and Maribel share their own journeys as first-generation college students and ultimately the counselors who now guide others along the same path. They talk about what makes Puente work: the cohort model, the integration of counseling and instruction, the mentors who show students what's possible, and the sense of familia that follows Puentistas long after they transfer.

Real estate professor John Yeressian and student William Wilson talk about how El Camino’s real estate program helps students learn and prepare for a wide range of careers in the competitive real estate industry. Both had diverse experiences and employment in other areas before they enrolled in the ECC program that encouraged them to challenge themselves and build a sustainable career in an evolving market.

El Camino counselor Diego Rodriguez and student Reginald Jackson discuss the impact and mission of the ECC Men of Color Action Network. Also known as MOCAN, this network is dedicated to closing achievement gaps, identifying specific challenges students face, building peer-to-peer support, and providing leadership opportunities. As Reginald says, “MOCAN is a brotherhood, a family – not just a resource.”

A dynamic trio of student success Warriors gathered at El Camino to talk about their role in creating a first-ever HBCU transfer guarantee pathway 10 years ago. Elaine Moore, Dr. Regina Smith, and Dr. Helen Young share how the innovative program started at ECC and became a model for the entire California Community Colleges system, increasing opportunities for students statewide to continue their education at an HBCU.