The events of the last 36 hours have so many implications and cut across so many areas. Personally, I’ve felt a complex combination of emotions from what we all saw unfold. Anger. Fear. Disbelief. Pain. Injury.

Moving forward, we must work toward a process of reconciliation, working together, in uncomfortable ways, to repair the damage that has been done. Of course, reconciliation will be extremely difficult until we fix what’s broken, starting with greater inclusion, with greater opportunity, and with an education-supported economic and social renewal.

In 2019, Long Beach City College provided hot breakfasts for about 1,800 students across 10 separate events. This past fall, the college provided a food pickup service to about 390 students (helping about 1,820 household members total) in one day.

The California institution is far from alone. Many community colleges across the country are working to meet a surge in demand for food and other basic necessities. Staff members who run these programs are concerned about what the future will hold if the pandemic, and thus the need, doesn't subside soon.