Cerritos College Board of Trustees Recognizes Native American Heritage Month

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2020

Media Contact:  Miya Walker, Public Affairs

NORWALK, Calif. – November 20, 2020 – At its November 18 meeting, the Cerritos College Board of Trustees passed a resolution to recognize November as Native American Heritage Month. The month of November was established as National American Indian Heritage Month by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. This year’s national theme is “Resilient and Enduring: We Are Native People,” which reflects the vibrancy and courage that Native American communities continue to exhibit as America’s first people.

Cerritos College joins nationwide celebrations honoring the storied legacy of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Locally, the College honored the history of the Gabrielino/Tongva people as the original inhabitants of the land the College exists on today through a series of activities. 

To foster more dialogue and support for disproportionately impacted Native students, Cerritos College will continue to strengthen its relationships with the Native American community across Los Angeles County, including the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission, the Monterrey Tribal TANF office, and United American Indian Involvement, Inc. (UAII).

“Cerritos College is located on special land once occupied by the Tongva people. We pay our respect to the Tongva nation, their ancestors, and future generations as they are the original people to occupy these grounds. We are honored to use this land to foster educational opportunities for all students,” said Marisa Perez, president, Cerritos College Board of Trustees. “The College will continue to work with the Native American community to seek ways to advance student success."

“We recognize our community’s diversity as one of our greatest assets to our success. We celebrate diversity through our respect for the cultural differences we all bring to campus to make it a better place,” echoed Dr. Jose Fierro, president/superintendent, Cerritos College. “Through our Native American Heritage Month activities, we look forward to deepening our understanding of the people who first called this state and nation their home. This resolution advances our continued efforts to support inclusion and diversity on campus and within the community.”


About Cerritos College: Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 21,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at https://www.cerritos.edu.

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