Santa Rosa Junior College welcomed 16 students from the Community College Initiative (CCI) (a program of the U.S. Department of State) for the 2016-2017 school year.

In January these students and their cohort of over 200 students representing 13 countries traveled to Arizona to participate in the annual CCI Pathways to Success Program. The theme of this year's program was “Leadership and You.” Through workshops, presentations, cultural field trips, and outdoor excursions, students were equipped with intercultural communication skills, conflict resolution strategies, and connections to help them grow as global citizens and become leaders in their home countries. It was an exceptional opportunity for our students to interact with other students from around the world studying in the U.S. Although most of the students were meeting each other for the first time, they quickly developed bonds that no country borders can divide. From late night discussions, spontaneous drum circles, teaching each other their native dances, a community of friends was born. As SRJC student Mahmoud Hammad reflected, “We’re not students anymore; we’re family acting as one team, one unit.”

There was ample time for students to network with each other during breakout sessions, cultural excursions, nature excursions, and a restoration project with the National Park Service. All 210 students planted and pruned trees and maintained irrigations systems in the historic orchard in Glen Canyon, Lonely Dell. The service project with CCI was featured on the National Park Service’s website. Photos courtesy of Angelica Hoyos.