
Santa Ana, CA – Santa Ana College (SAC) is proud to announce their continued partnership with 100 Black Men of Orange County (OC) to continue the mission of empowering the African American Community through mentoring and education. The partnership dates back to Fall 2022 when SAC provided a new “home” for the 100 Black Men of OC Passport to the Future program annual mentorship for over 100 young black men ranging from 6th grade to 12th grade.
“As a professor and the Student Equity Faculty Coordinator at Santa Ana College, I found that our Black/ African Diaspora students are disproportionately supported,” said SAC Professor and Student Equity Coordinator, Chantal Lamourelle. “I reached out to 100 Black Men of OC to co-create a collaborative programming space and supportive community that would help students learn, socialize, and develop life skills. Our goal is to make young black men feel like they belong in college and develop more positive narratives about young black men in Orange County and beyond.”
The Passport to the Future program meets bi-weekly from September to May to parallel the academic year. The goal of the partnership with SAC and 100 Black Men of OC is to make young black men become familiar with a college campus, exposing them to a learning environment that can help them grow. They are provided with a time frame to reference and a chance to find their place in the journey of higher education after high school graduation.
The program’s curriculum features a wide variety of educational subjects including entrepreneurship, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), and Mental Health and Wellness. The program also covers personal development like self-awareness, values and virtues, self-esteem building, career exploration, and information on volunteering in the local community.
“This program taught me a lot. You learn how to really be a respectable man and learn how to carry yourself in front of the public and other people,” said SAC student Carter Sims, a 2024 graduate of the 100 Black Men of OC program. “They helped a lot with my confidence in college because I learned to find my voice by encouraging me to talk with my peers and mentors—to ask questions, and to answer questions.”
Santa Ana College is the first community college to partner with the 100 Black Men of OC’s Passport to the Future program. Initially SAC assisted by the organization by providing learning spaces and inviting faculty members, staff, and advisors from the U2 Scholars program. Faculty and staff were given the opportunity to attend sessions, introduce themselves, their role on campus, and teach students about Santa Ana College.
“We hope they will feel welcomed and know that we are ready to support them if they choose to come to Santa Ana College,” said U2 Scholar Interim Program Coordinator and SAC Research Analyst Paula Kincaid. “I hope they feel encouraged to know that especially in Orange County, there are black African American faculty and staff that work in higher education. To see someone who look like themselves is a chance for them to visualize and learn that there are other avenues in different careers they can go into.”
For the 2024-2025 program year at SAC, 100 Black Men of OC currently has 103 students enrolled in the Passport to the Future program and have goals to create a new cohort of students with SAC’s Student Equity and Achievement Program ( SEAP) and Guided Pathways (GP) called Collegiate 100, a mentoring program geared towards all Black/ African Diaspora college students.
“We are exposing these young men to high-end, high-level career opportunities because there are a lot of great careers out there that are doing what they’re learning in our program,” said 100 Black Men of OC President Dereck E. Moore. “That is what we’re looking forward to doing every time we get these young men in our classrooms; It is to have them broaden their horizons and understand that being a young black man doesn’t mean you can’t do anything. You can do everything you put your mind to.”
About Santa Ana College:
Santa Ana College (SAC), founded in 1915, serves more than 70,000 students yearly. At present, SAC students can work toward completing an associate degree, university transfer, career/workforce training or a bachelor's degree in occupational studies. As part of Santa Ana College, the School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center offers free classes throughout the community for adults of all ages and academic backgrounds. Santa Ana College is an award-winning college and was recently ranked as one of the nation's top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students and named one of the best community colleges in California by Intelligent.com. The college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel. Santa Ana College is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.