San Diego, CA – All through the month of November 2023, San Diego Mesa College will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with student panels, film screenings, resource sessions and a flag raising ceremony. The Mesa College Committee for Diversity Action, Inclusion & Equity (CDAIE) has worked closely with local tribal leaders and students to plan culturally relevant events, and recently facilitated the adoption of a Land Acknowledgement for the College.

Recently, San Diego Mesa College discovered the posting of flyers across campus that targeted particular ethnic groups. The College followed its free speech policy, and only removed flyers that were improperly posted. This included postings on electronic signboards causing potential damage to college equipment. The Art Gallery was also impacted as materials were defaced with flyers posted over them. The incident was reported to District Police as well as the San Diego Police Department, who continue to monitor the situation.

San Diego Mesa College strongly opposes the racist language used by those who are posting these fliers. To be clear – any doctrine that elevates one group above another has no place at Mesa College and we condemn any language or actions that promote racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, violence, discrimination and other forms of hate.

San Diego Mesa College celebrated diversity inclusion through four days of workshops, lectures and events during the annual Festival of Colors and Cultural Unity Week on campus from April 10 to 13.

Long-time San Diego Mesa College employee Monica Romero – the Program Activity Manager for Proyecto Éxito – has been chosen as the most recent recipient of the Committee for Diversity Action, Inclusion and Equity’s “Salute a Smile” honor.

Alma Fuentes, a Custodial Crew Leader in the Facilities Department at San Diego Mesa College, has been recognized by the Committee for Diversity Action, Inclusion and Equity for having October’s “Smile of the Month.”

According to CDAIE Chair Judy Sundayo, the Smile of the Month was created in June 2016 as an informal way to recognize and honor the diversity, depth and humanity of employees at Mesa College.

“The person who suggested Alma Fuentes to be honored was impressed by her smile, her readiness to engage and help others and her commitment to her job and the campus as a whole,” Sundayo said.