20th Anniversary Commemoration of the 9/11 Attacks

Peralta Community College District ANNOUNCEMENT September 10, 2021 Dear Peralta Community, To PCCD students and our Afghan Community who are experiencing hardship and trauma because of the violence and aggression towards women and religious minorities in Afghanistan, please know that we stand with you. We especially want to express our solidarity with all who have been impacted by this crisis, and our commitment to protecting students extends to you, your families, friends and other loved ones, for we all embrace Women’s rights, democracy, and other rights such as Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion that have been afforded to us by our Constitution. We also want to remind students about the free access to personal and mental health counseling resources available at each of our college campuses. Information about these services at each college may be found below. Berkeley City College – https://www.berkeleycitycollege.edu/wellness-center/mental-health/ College of Alameda – https://alameda.peralta.edu/student-service/health-services/mental-health-services/ Laney College – https://laney.edu/health_center/about/mental-health-service/ Merritt College – https://www.merritt.edu/health/mental-health-services/ To our valued employees who have been impacted, you have access to free, confidential counseling through the PCCD Employee Assistance Program administered by MHN.  Please refer to the MHN link for further information, or call them toll-free at 1-800-535-4985, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; TDD callers can dial 1-800-327-0801. We are deeply saddened by these recent events, yet we support and stand with you. Best wishes for success as you continue your educational journey at Berkeley City College, College Of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College. In Community, Dr. Jannett N. Jackson, Peralta Community College District Interim Chancellor Dr. Angélica Garcia, Berkeley City College President Dr. Nathaniel Jones III, College of Alameda President Dr. Rudy Besikof, Laney College President Dr. David M. Johnson, Merritt College President Merritt College

To Our Merritt College Community-

Like many of you, I have spent the day in solemn contemplation of the terrorist attacks that occurred on this date twenty years ago. And like many of you, I can recall exactly where I was and what I was doing when I realized that our nation was under siege. The images of that terrible day are seared in our collective memory, and in the succeeding years we have had to change much in our way of thinking and our way of life. In certain aspects, we have become stronger and wiser, yet in other respects it is clear that we have much more work to do in terms of how we see and treat one another. But that is a discussion for another time.

Today, I ask that we remember those who lost their lives in the attacks, those families who lost loved ones, and those many first responders who lost a piece of themselves that day when they bravely ran into the fray. I also ask that we appreciate those who are serving (or have served) in the military and put their lives on the line to provide us with a measure of security and stability. Finally, I encourage all of us to be thankful for the things that we have—even as we work together to push our nation to do better and be better for everyone concerned.

Take care.

David

David M. Johnson, Ph.D.

President

Merritt College

(510) 436-2501

Merritt College puts students first. Through our rich educational programs, we foster a culture of equity and inclusion that empowers students to achieve their greatest potential and make meaningful contributions to their respective communities and our global society.