A diverse coalition of Santa Rosa Junior College student groups gathered Saturday on the Santa Rosa campus front lawn at Unity Through Community, an event designed to unite students of diverse cultural and racial backgrounds.
SRJC Student Government Assembly President Delashay Carmona-Benson planned and emceed the event, and called for, “Advocacy, diversity, equity and inclusion in this community.” Carmona-Benson spoke for the community when she said they’re tired of talking, they’re ready for changes.
Attendees included the American Sign Language Club, Queer Resource Center, Asian Pacific Islander Staff Association, Latinx Faculty and Staff Association, Inter-Club Council, Black Student Union and others.
The Santa Rosa Youth Pomo Dancers entertained the crowd with traditional dances and offered a dance in prayer. Local artists and musicians performed, including the Charles Thomas band.
Sonoma County health workers issued out COVID-19 vaccinations to those in need. Carmona-Benson invited attendees to get a vaccine as health workers offered individually to those in the crowd.
SRJC President Dr. Frank Chong said, “I’m here to support everybody, this unity in the community. This is a historical time that requires that we all come together and support one another. There’s too much hate and too much division and we want to be the model to show that working together, we can make more changes.”
About 100 members from the community attended the event, a smaller turnout than Carmona-Benson expected. But the group who attended showed solidarity throughout the whole program. The event started at 2 p.m. and continued for three hours.
Georgia Pellkofer, president of Girls Who Code Club said, “Most of the campus clubs showed up, obviously in support of BSU and we love Delashay and everyone.
