The Advocate

Minding the Gap

New 4CD Chancellor Bryan Reece has known hardship, which motivates him to close the equity gap

By Evalyn Soungpanya, Advocate Staff • December 9, 2020

Taking office as Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) permanent chancellor in early November, Dr. Bryan Reece has come a long way from being a dairy hand in the 1980s. Reece was born in Norwalk,...

Health and Human Services offer guidance for students

By Stacie Guevara, Associate Editor • April 7, 2020

Many Contra Costa College students are struggling with the newly implemented remote instruction, and health and human services (HHS) major Kristin Lobos is no exception. As a breast cancer survivor, single...

Musician awarded for dramatic composition

By Stacie Guevara, Associate Editor • March 4, 2020

Music major Ninoangelo Lastimosa has been awarded third place for Sound Design — Meritorious Achievement for original sound/music composition and realized sound design for his work on drama department...

Internal drive fuels artistic creativity

By Cindy Pantoja, Editor-in-Chief • March 4, 2020

Contra Costa College students are known to strive for greatness, and artist Steven Berndt is no exception. Berndt has always been interested in creating art out of different materials and combining...

Coronavirus sparks nationwide concern

By Jose Arebalo, Scene Editor • March 4, 2020

A new virus is spreading across the globe at such a rapid rate that scientists have hardly had any time to learn about it. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is thought to spread person-to-person...

Acclaimed nursing professor retires

By Stacie Guevara, News Editor • February 19, 2020

Dr. Sandra Castillo-Alward is one of Contra Costa College’s most treasured professors and has now retired after over 35 years as a nursing professor, program director and friendly face around campus....

Transfer counselor propels students

By Wanda Gonzalez, Advocate Staff • February 19, 2020

Transfer counselor Andrea Phillips has had an immensely positive impact on first generation college students at Contra Costa College for years. From organizing college readiness events on campus, to creating...

Educating black minds

‘Lighthouse’ of peer resources goal of BSU

By Denis Perez, Creative Director • October 23, 2019

Tiye Gordon’s educational journey and life experiences have led her to Contra Costa College to study African American studies and have given her the motivation to lead the Black Student Union (BSU). “I...

Activist forms Rainbow Club

Quest continues for inclusion, representation

By Xavier Johnson, Web Editor • October 23, 2019

Young political activists don’t often focus on one issue because as one issue is tackled, inter-sectional problems present themselves. For an activist, this is seen as an opportunity to enact further...

Divine appointment changes mother’s life

Activist helps fight addiction on campus

By Janice Spraggins, Advocate Staff • October 9, 2019

The first time Kristin Kilian Lobos stepped foot on the small San Pablo community college campus was when her daughter was a guest speaker for a drug and alcohol prevention assembly at Middle College High...

Local eatery gains following with great chicken

By Janet Lira, Advocate Staff • October 9, 2019

An all-time favorite, fried chicken, takes a new spin with trendy ingredients and recipes at a locally owned pop up diner — Loaded Chickn. Delivering fresh made-to-order dishes, the new eatery has...

Promise kept for a friend

East Bay native gives back through mentoring

By Jose Rivera, Advocate Staff • October 9, 2019

Robin López is an extraordinary human being who was born in Oakland but grew up in the streets of Richmond and San Pablo — three cities that recognize the potential in its young people, “potential...