Barstow Community College (BCC) celebrates the ingenuity of its students in the Solve Community Challenges competition, where they tackled pressing local issues with inventive solutions. In April, BCC recognized the winners, who addressed homelessness, childcare, and affordable housing, with cash prizes and accolades from a panel of local business and community leaders. These recognitions not only provide well-deserved acknowledgment but also serve as encouragement for these young problem-solvers to continue making a positive impact in their community.
The competition showcased the best aspects of teamwork and innovation. Collaborative problem-solving often leads to more comprehensive solutions, especially when coupled with strong leadership. Creativity, empathy, and understanding of community challenges are vital for addressing complex issues effectively. It’s inspiring to see such qualities in action and the impact they can have on driving meaningful change.
Supported by faculty and staff, students formed teams and collaborated through SolveCC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering innovative thinking and entrepreneurial skills among community college students. Under the leadership of Barstow Community College Superintendent-President, Dr. Eva Bagg, and SolveCC Founder, Mojdeh Eskandari, students demonstrated their commitment to identifying and addressing pressing challenges in their communities. “At BCC, we believe that the most powerful educational experiences channel students’ deep-seated interests with classroom learning, providing the opportunities and support to generate innovative and actionable solutions for the betterment of themselves and others,” said Dr. Bagg.
Winning the top prize this year for the challenge to “identify a problem and propose a solution” was Team Blue Horizon, led by Jason Dokie, a former teacher from Barstow Unified School District and a BCC student. Comprised of 5th through 7th-grade students, the team dedicated numerous hours to surveying and analyzing homeless concerns within their community. Dokie, with years of teaching experience and boundless confidence in his students' capabilities, expressed that SolveCC was a “great opportunity for students to get real-world experience in applying their school knowledge and skills to improve and support their community.”
"We believe in the power of partnerships and collaboration to achieve meaningful change," added Harmony Griffin, Co-Lead of Team Downtown. "By working with local charities, businesses, and organizations, we can maximize our impact and create a sustainable model for addressing these critical issues." Team Downtown focused on creating a sustainable model to bring out-of-date abandoned buildings up to code using students at BCC learning a trade. These buildings would then be used for the unhoused population.
Persephone Belle, team lead for Team Beauty & Brains, observed the struggle that student parents face with the lack of daycare in the community. By focusing on providing solutions to address the lack of childcare in Barstow, they are not only addressing an immediate need but also potentially transforming lives by enabling access to education for student parents. “Childcare can be a significant barrier for students with parenting responsibilities, impacting their ability to pursue education effectively,” Belle noted. It’s heartening that members of the Teaching and Learning Support Center (TLSC) at BCC, along with students, are taking proactive steps to tackle this challenge.
Barstow Community College’s commitment to nurturing the innovative spirit of its students and fostering positive change in the communities it serves is truly commendable. By providing opportunities for students to engage in initiatives like the Solve Community Challenges competition, the college not only encourages creativity and problem-solving skills but also instills a sense of social responsibility and civic engagement. This dedication to making a difference underscores the vital role that educational institutions can play in creating a brighter future for both their students and the broader community.
For more information about SolveCC, visit solvecc.org.
Media Contact: Amanda Simpson Director, Public Relations, Communications, and Marketing Barstow Community College asimpson@barstow.edu
