Shades of Sisters (SOS) Mission, Vision, & Values:
- Mission - Barstow Community College's Shades of Sisters (SOS) program is a group of dedicated students, staff, and faculty focused on creating a sense of belonging and bringing significant improvements for self-identifying female students of color in their personal, professional, educational lives, and on. SOS aims to break down barriers that are based on gender. Our cohort addresses the various goals and challenges faced by Black and brown underrepresented women, providing a safe space for empowerment and holistic support. This cohort is specifically designed to improve leadership skills, academic success, build strong interpersonal connections, and encourage self-care and healing practices.
- Vision - Our vision is to foster a collegial atmosphere where self-identified women of color at Barstow Community College are inspired to achieve their utmost potential. By catalyzing campus involvement, advocating for equality, and empowering disadvantaged female voices. We envision creating a space that celebrates diversity, fosters growth in leadership, fosters academic success, and bolsters the well-being of minority women.
- Values - Throwing Positive S.H.A.D.E. Your Way:
- Sisterhood: Building a supportive community that champions unity, fosters belongingness, advocacy, and sisterhood, and encourages the free expression of women of color at Barstow Community College.
- Harmony: Creating a nurturing and united community that honors diverse backgrounds and facilitates the building of lasting bonds and sisterhood.
- Advocacy: Actively championing and advocating for social justice, equality, and the holistic success of women of color while opposing intersectional oppressions and promoting social justice, equality, and the holistic success of our students.
- Development: Developing leadership competencies and bolstering academic resilience among women of color by: enhancing retention and successful graduation rates, facilitating smooth transitions to four-year institutions, career paths, and championing social justice causes.
- Empowerment: Empowering self-identified women of color to dismantle societal barriers, elevate their voices, ensure they are heard and valued, and create avenues for substantial local engagement and resource access.
