As this February marked 100 years of Black History Month, Fullerton College celebrated the special anniversary with a series of events, including an inspirational film screening and a wellness workshop presented by Umoja, and a book signing by author Danez Smith. These events are great for engaging the community and encouraging student involvement.
In the past, FC always emphasized the advocacy of Black History Month by hosting many cultural events on campus:
In 2017, UMOJA and the Cadena Cultural Center hosted a forum that built dialogue on certain issues. They addressed personal anecdotes while adhering to the theme, “Sharing our stories.”
The Cadena Cultural Center also holds its annual Beat Cafe and Open Mic Night, which celebrated 15 years in 2025.
FC is an educational institution that highly supports academic success and community equality of Black students. According to FC President Cynthia Olivo, the college has also announced that it will become an official Black-serving Institution under SB 1348 in its commitment to Black excellence.
The application to the designation of BSI draws a perfect sublimation in taking a further step to strengthen the school’s commitment to building a more equal and supportive community for Black students.
“President Olivo has invested so much time and resources in building a space for Black students to feel a sense of belonging, feel represented, and to have classes where they can develop as Black students,” says Alysha Robinson, an Umoja English professor at Fullerton College. “It centers Black students in the conversation that they haven’t been in before.”
The bill was passed and chaptered on Sept. 26, 2024, which formally recognizes public campuses’ dedication to providing excellent academic resources and support to the success of Black students.
“I think that Umoja in the next year– the next 20 years, is meant to invite more Black representation, more Black academic success,” said Robinson.
