CR's December 27, 2024 Times Standard Article - Thank You
Dec 19 2024The end of the year is a natural time for reflection and showing appreciation. College of the Redwoods has a lot to be thankful for. We are grateful for our students, staff, and faculty who work tirelessly through the year to make CR into a remarkable mutualistic and symbiotic system of education and enlightenment, and our community, whose support makes it possible for us to continue our mission.
We are especially grateful to our community for supporting Measure I, which will allow us to continue our important work of providing affordable, accessible, high-quality education to the students in our service area. As Coretta Scott King said, "The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members." I believe that “compassion” is an important word here. By supporting CR, our community demonstrated its commitment to giving individuals from diverse backgrounds a chance to succeed without financial barriers. A place where people can rebuild confidence, embrace second and sometimes third chances, and see themselves as “college material” regardless of their academic background or their past experiences.
While the measure did not pass in every individual county, the combined votes across our service area reached the threshold for approval. The College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees and I are committed to using these funds to prioritize projects that directly impact students and address critical needs in our region and beyond. As we know, across California, there is a significant shortage of nurses, doctors, and other health care workers. This issue is especially acute in our rural service area. Measure I funding will allow us to expand and modernize our health care education programs in Del Norte, ensuring students have access to state-of-the-art equipment and spaces to prepare for in-demand careers in this critical field. On the Eureka campus, we will develop updated, affordable, and modern-day student housing facilities, allowing more students from across our service district—including Southern Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity counties— to find a home on the Eureka Campus and complete their educations.
Expanding health care education programs at CR also opens the door to valuable partnerships with hospitals, clinics, and local tribes. We would like the planned health care education training facility in Del Norte County to function as a training clinic where patients are seen, providing much-needed health care options in an area that has long faced a shortage of medical services and providing hands-on training opportunities such as internships, clinical rotations, and mentorship programs, making students better preparing them to address the unique challenges of practicing in underserved areas.
Beyond improving educational facilities, the investments made possible by Measure I will have economic benefits for our region. They will contribute to local job creation providing work for contractors, construction workers, electricians, plumbers, and suppliers. With more qualified graduates entering the workforce, local employers will have access to the talent they need to sustain and grow their operations, reducing reliance on recruiting professionals from outside the area. This cycle of education, employment, and economic development strengthens our community and ensures a brighter future for the entire service district.
With these investments, made possible by Measure I, we look forward to a future where more students can achieve their dreams, more communities have access to the skilled professionals they need, and College of the Redwoods continues to be a center of opportunity and growth. Together, we are building a stronger, brighter future for all. Thank you for your trust, your support, and your belief in the power of education.