Lately, I find myself reflecting on the pain many within our IVC community are experiencing in response to national and global events. In conversations with students and colleagues, many have shared how challenging it is to make sense of, understand, and respond to situations that directly and indirectly impact our well‑being and our shared sense of humanity. It is a reminder that when one member of our community hurts, that pain reverberates throughout our entire community.
Iranian students and employees are navigating a complex mix of fear, grief, anger, and intensified activism as repression in Iran continues. The ongoing crackdowns including arrests, executions, and violence against human rights leave many Iranian Americans grieving for loved ones and feeling helpless as they watch events unfold from afar. This emotional burden is especially heavy for those with personal, family, or cultural ties to Iran. The effects extend far beyond news headlines, touching the daily experiences, identities, and feelings of safety for many in the diaspora.
At last month’s Board of Trustees meeting, two employees shared the deep fear their families are experiencing in response to increasingly relentless and dehumanizing immigration enforcement both locally and across the nation. Their stories reflect a broader reality on our campus. I am aware of students who have been directly affected, and these actions have created a profound sense of uncertainty and anxiety for them and their families. The emotional weight of these experiences is significant, underscoring the responsibility we share to foster a community where everyone feels heard, supported, valued, and safe.
These two examples represent only a fraction of the many challenges unfolding every day, both at home and abroad. They compel us to consider the following questions: What can we, as individuals and as a community, do to elevate the voices of those who are hurting, to support one another, and to raise awareness in ways that demonstrate solidarity, compassion, and connection during these difficult times? How might we show empathy for those who are personally or profoundly affected and create space for healing?
As I shared at the fall President’s Opening Session, hope remains our most powerful and unifying force. This is not naïve optimism, but a courageous commitment to possibility. At IVC, hope is woven throughout the life of our campus, as seen in every classroom, heard in every student’s story, and felt in every act of mentorship. It reminds us why we are here: to serve, to uplift, and to create pathways for all, especially those who have long been denied them. Our mission calls us to be a haven of learning, a place where every student and employee can thrive without fear.
Hope is not passive; it is a collective act of resistance and renewal. When we stand firmly in our values and in our mission of equity, inclusion, access, and success, we affirm that education is not only the pursuit of knowledge, but also a pursuit of justice. Together, amid national and global turmoil and instability, let us move forward with courage, open hearts and unwavering resolve, to ensure that hope is not just a feeling but a force that shapes the future of our college and our community. I encourage each of us to take one step toward reaching out to support a student, colleague, or initiative that will strengthen our mission. As a collective caring campus, our actions can transform hope into lasting change.
With warm regards and solidarity,
John Hernandez