California is home to the largest and most diverse America Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) population in the country with nearly 1.5 million American Indians. Unfortunately, the California Community Colleges experienced a sharp decline in enrollment among AIAN students in the last year, putting a generation in jeopardy. Access to higher learning that is affordable and accessible are paramount to the future success of this population. Assemblymember James Ramos—a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe—is the first California Indian to be elected to the California State Assembly. As a Victor Valley College alumnus and trusted voice in the AIAN community, he is sharing his voice to speak directly to AIAN students on the importance of a community college education.
