A Critical Resource for Students in California Community Colleges
Umoja, (a Kiswahili word meaning unity) is a community and critical resource dedicated to enhancing the cultural and
educational experiences of our California (CA) Community College students. The Umoja Community serves at risk,
educationally and economically disadvantaged students, believing that when the voices and histories of students are
deliberately and intentionally recognized, students develop self-efficacy and a foundation for academic success. Umoja
actively promotes student success for all students, with an emphasis on African American student success, through
culturally responsive curriculum and practices. Chancellors and college presidents from across the community colleges
act as a consortium to advise the Umoja Governing Board on program implementation and generate ideas for securing
additional funding.
The Umoja Community is officially recognized by the:
 CA Community College Board of Governors
 Academic Senate for California Community
Colleges
 Student Senate for California Community
Colleges
The Umoja Community is Partners with:
 United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
 The CA African American Alliance of Educators
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Acceleration in
Context (AIC)
A2MEND
Leadership
Excellence
Incorporated
Learning Works
Umoja FACTS
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25+ community colleges
39 consortium members
16 counties
Over 3000 students served
annually
 12 HBCU TAG Agreements
Our Programs: A Culturally Responsive Learning Community
The Umoja Community model is intentionally flexible both in order to accommodate variations at the local level and to
allow colleges to grow their own expression of the Umoja Community over time. All Umoja students participate in a
college orientation and assessment process, individual counseling sessions, the creation of a comprehensive Student
Educational Plan, core Umoja-sponsored courses and activities, and financial aid workshops. In addition to the high level
of comprehensive student services, Umoja offers a variety of professional development opportunities, including
workshops, conferences, retreats and regional symposia to educate and train those interested in working in community
with African American and other students.
Our Future: The Umoja Community Across California
The Umoja Community has embarked on an ambitious effort to unify and expand Umoja programs system wide. Through
the efforts of a small, committed, group of faculty and administrators, the Umoja Community has launched additional
campus based programs, expanding our ranks from 15 campus based programs in 2008 to over 30 campus based
programs by Fall of 2010. Umoja is looking to the public and private sector to help develop and expand this successful
program through four core objectives:
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Secure an annual operating budget of $1,000,000 from multiple donor sources
Continue to increase the number of students served annually to 10,000 by 2015
Continue to add additional pilot colleges and high schools annually, including expanding our reach beyond
California
Expand partnerships and Transfer Admissions Guarantees (TAGs) with transfer institutions, especially HBCUs
Increase consortium members to 60 colleges and high schools by 2015
Long standing Success
Two programs represent over fifty years of experience and have demonstrated their usefulness in improving the retention
and success of African American students: Daraja Project (Chabot College, Hayward), and Project Success (El Camino
College, Torrance). Each of these programs played a significant role in the design of the statewide model Umoja
Community program.
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Daraja students (age 21 or under) successfully completed the Basic Skills to Freshman Composition sequence at
a rate 19% higher than other African American students (age 21 or under) not in Daraja.
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Project Success students have persistence rates at 96% and Associate Degree averages twice that of
comparable African American students not in Project Success.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Donna Colondres, Southern California Co-Director, donna.colodres@chaffey.edu, 909.652.6226
Mr. Tom deWit, Northern California Co-Director, tdewit@chabotcollege.edu, 510.913.1850
Affiliated Programs
College
Program Name
American River College
Umoja-Sakhu Learning Community (2009)
Chabot College
Daraja (1988)
Chaffey College
A MAN/ A WOMAN (2006)
College of Alameda
AMANDLA (2009)
Cosumnes River College
DIOP Scholars (2006)
De Anza College
Sankofa Scholars (2008)
Diablo Valley College
Ujima (2007)
El Camino College
Project Success (1987)
Evergreen Valley College
AFFIRM (1989)
Fresno City College
IDILE (1987)
Fullerton College
Reach for Excellence (2009)
Long Beach City College
Sankofa Scholars (2008)
Los Angeles Trade Tech College
Umoja Project (2009)
Los Medanos College
Umoja Scholars
Moreno Valley College
Renaissance Scholars (2005)
Napa Valley College
Napa Valley Umoja Community (2008)
Norco College
Talented Tenth (2005)
Orange Coast College
OCC Umoja Program (2010)
Pasadena City College
Ujima (1994)
San Bernardino Valley College
Tumaini (2007)
San Diego City College
Umoja/TSP (2008)
San Diego Mesa College
Mesa Academy (2012)
San Jose City College
Umoja (2009)
Sierra College
Umoja SANKOFA Scholars (2009)
Skyline College
ASTEP (1982)
Solano Community College
Umoja Program Scholars (2009)
Southwestern College
TELA (2009)
Riverside City College
Ujima Program (2004)
West Los Angeles College
Umoja Program (2008)