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Program of Events

Innovation Happens Here

8:30 to 8:40 am

Attendee Login Window

Please login and start to explore the online conference site and resources. Attendees will receive login directions via email, and a moderator and technical support team will be available to help troubleshoot if needed.


8:40 to 8:45 am

Welcome and Introductions – Ed Bush

Join conference leadership to meet the presenters, review conference highlights, and learn how to make the most out of our time together.


8:45 to 9:15 am

Innovation and Change Paradigm at Los Rios

The Los Rios Community College District is at the forefront of change which directly affects our students. Hear from CRC President Ed Bush, Los Rios Community College District Chancellor Brian King, and Managing Director at Wheelhouse Susanna Cooper as they discuss CRC’s Change Paradigm, Innovation at Los Rios, and Research Partnerships in the community.


9:15 to 9:45 am

We Won’t Fall Campaign: CRC’s Response to Institutional Racism and COVID-19

Presented by President Ed Bush, the “We Won’t Fall” campaign reaffirms our commitment to eliminate systemic racism and advance racial equity at CRC. Although we have made progress in recent years to address inequities in educational outcomes for students, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police, have forced us to examine our role as an educational institution. There are systemic racism and persistent racial inequities that exist within our institution which disproportionately impact Black/African American and Latinx students in particular. We are also working to address the systemic racism and persistent racial inequities that affect other student groups including Native American and Asian Pacific Islander students. 


9:45 to 10:15 am

Programmatic Innovation at CRC

Over the past several years, CRC has made a concerted effort to streamline our educational services to benefit our students. Join President Ed Bush, AVP Tadael Emiru, Dean Hong Pham, and IT Business/Tech Analyst Paul Meinz as they discuss Guided Pathways, Opt-Out Schedules, and the First-Year Experience Programs. The goal of these programs are to connect students early and often to the people, programs, and services they need to succeed; simplify the student experience by removing barriers and providing clear, consistent, and timely messages to students; encourage career/major exploration early and often so that students make more informed decisions; provide personalized, proactive support to students to help them find an educational path and stay on it; create scalable and sustainable solutions.


10:15 to 10:30 am

Stretch Break


10:30 to 11:00 am

Workforce Development featuring Tiny House Village and Solar Installer Program

AVP-I Kimberley Harrell, Professors Ryan Connally, Jason Ellis, and Steve Geiger discuss the importance of educating a strong workforce to meet today’s demands for skilled workers in construction, architecture, and the solar industries. Our presenters will discuss CRC’s innovative partnerships and plans to build a Tiny House Village on CRC’s campus.


11:00 to 11:30 am

Hawk Cares Program: Addressing Our Student’s Basic Needs

The Hawk Cares Program provides wrap around safety-net services for CRC’s students facing food or housing insecurity and other serious obstacles to the achievement of their academic goals. Joined by Lutheran Social Services Executive Director Kate Hutchinson, VPSS Claire Oliveros and Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management Yolanda Garcia unveil the Hawk Cares Program and plans for a Care Center on campus.


11:30 to 12:00 pm

Debrief and Closing Remarks – Ed Bush