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Umoja (a Kiswahili word meaning unity) is a learning community dedicated to African Americans and other students' academic success, personal growth, and self-actualization. African and African American intellectual, cultural, and spiritual gifts inspire all Umoja values and practices.

Click here to learn more: Umoja Practices

Click here to review the AVC Umoja Community Agreement.

Why join the AVC Umoja Community?

  • Access to priority registration
  • Courses that focus on the African American experience
  • Support from Umoja counselors who help plan your academic pathway
  • Transfer Guidance: Personal essays, letters of recommendation, scholarships, etc.
  • Motivational, cultural, and career workshops/activities
  • Community engagement
  • Participation in Umoja state-wide events

AVC Umoja Community Program Requirements

  • Attend Umoja Orientation annually - either online or in person (an in person orientation is offered in Fall semesters only) (see below for more information)
  • Meet with an Umoja counselor once a semester
  • Attend at least two Umoja events per semester, in addition to the Umoja orientation
  • We highly encourage you to take a designated Umoja course (see below), if possible

Want to apply?

  1. Sign in to your myAVC account
  2. Complete the Umoja Scholars Interest Form
  3. After you have completed the interest form, complete the Umoja Orientation, then the Umoja Commitment Form (see below)

For more information or questions, please email avcumoja@avc.edu

Professor Erica Meadows

Umoja Co-Coordinator

AVCumoja@avc.edu

Professor Cierra Gooden

Umoja Co-Coordinator

AVCumoja@avc.edu

Alberto Mendoza Gonzalez Larreynaga

Hub Manager

alberto.mendozagonza@avc.edu

Dr. Rebecca Farley

Vice President, Equity and Student Achievement

rebecca.farley@avc.edu

Patreicia Sims

Umoja Adjunct Counselor

patreicia.sims@avc.edu

 

Complete Umoja Orientation at any time, online.

Step 1

Sign in to your myAVC account.

Step 2

Watch the Umoja Online Orientation video (just under 35 minutes).

Step 3

Complete the Umoja Online Orientation Quiz:

https://forms.office.com/r/aNYJFyg2au

The quiz is required for students who view the AVC Umoja Orientation online. A minimum score of 70% must be achieved to satisfy the annual Umoja Orientation requirement. If you score below 70%, please retake the quiz until you score 70% or higher.

You can take the quiz as many times as you need to - without penalty - in order to achieve a score of 70% or higher :)

Step 4 (last step!)

Fill out the Umoja Commitment Form:

https://forms.office.com/r/fvQM6kj2JH

After completing all four of the steps above, keep an eye on your @students.avc.edu inbox.

There, you'll receive email correspondence in the coming days letting you know when you've been admitted to the AVC Umoja program, and when you've been added to the Umoja Canvas shell. 

Email AVCumoja@avc.edu if you have questions about your application status.

ENGL 101 – College Reading and Composition Sections with Professor Vejea Jennings:

CRN 71776

Mon/Weds, 12:30 pm to 1:50 pm 

SH 219

 

MUSC 108 – History of Hip Hop Section with Professor Cierra Gooden 

CRN 77310 

Mon/Weds, 3:30 pm to 4:50 pm 

SH 219

 

STAT C1000 – Introduction to Statistics and STAT 1000S – Support Course for STAT C1000, both with Professor Hal Huntsman (Puente faculty)

These two courses must be taken together.

CRN 79662 and 79653

Mon/Weds, 11:30 am to 12:20 pm, then 12:30 pm to 2:35 pm

YH 158

Umoja Porch Talks (every last Wednesday) | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | The Umoja Village (inside the Hub)
 
Sharing stories and traditions, passing down knowledge, and simply spending time together as a community has been a long-standing tradition throughout history. One place where this has often taken place is on the porch. The porch provides a space that is not quite inside the home, yet not fully outside either. It's a middle ground that allows for casual conversations with neighbors as they walk by. This creates a warm and welcoming environment that fosters a greater sense of community and connectedness.

 

Umoja Porch Talks are student-led conversations that create connection and build on community knowledge. By participating in Umoja's Porch Talks, we can all contribute to building a stronger community together. Join us for Umoja Porch Talks every 4th Wednesday in the Umoja Village!

  • 26 February 2025 in the Umoja Village
  • 26 March 2025 in the Umoja Village
  • 23 April 2025 in the Umoja Village
  • 28 May 2025 in the Umoja Village

 

Movies in Color (every 3rd Thursday) | 1 PM - 3 PM | Umoja Village

Join us for our film series highlighting Black filmmakers and actors. We're excited to showcase the work of talented artists and creators who have made a significant impact on the film industry. Come and experience the power of storytelling through the lens of these groundbreaking filmmakers and actors. We can't wait to see you there!
 
  • 20 February 2025 in the Umoja Village
  • 20 March 2025 in the Umoja Village
  • 17 April 2025 in the Umoja Village
  • 15 May 2025 in the Umoja Village

 

The InkWell Workshops (every 2nd Wednesday) | 3 PM - 4 PM | Umoja Village

Join us at The InkWell, a supportive space for writers and artists to connect and build community. Here, storytellers are empowered to craft authentic narratives that affirm their unique experiences. Whether you prefer poetry, spoken word, performance, non-fiction, or fiction writing, choose your medium of storytelling and become a part of our community of like-minded creatives. Discover your voice and share your story with us at The InkWell.
 
  • 12 February 2025 in the Umoja Village
  • 12 March 2025 in the Umoja Village
  • 9 April 2025 in the Umoja Village
  • 14 May 2025 in the Umoja Village
 

Click the link below to access the AVC Umoja Community Counseling Form:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ciJLeI3Ph4gCdTQPWQWUL1ptYVu3xCic/view?usp=sharing

Our agreement guarantees admission to 39 Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

Transfer Advantages:

  • Acceptance of completed transfer-level community college courses
  • A free single application for up to four participating partner HBCU institutions
  • A simplified transfer process
  • Priority registration for housing when application is submitted by the posted deadline
  • Pre-admission advisement
  • Consideration for transfer scholarships if you have a 3.2 or higher GPA (based on funding availability)

For more information, please visit: https://www.californiacommunitycollegehbcutransfer.com