July 2, 2025

Dear SRJC Community,

This year, Independence Day will be recognized with a District closure on Monday, July 7, 2025. Many of us will spend the weekend cooking with friends, hoping the fireworks stay safe, or simply enjoying a slower summer rhythm. I’m looking forward to spending time with my family, celebrating birthdays and graduations, and watching the kids’ annual glowstick show – an event they’ve proudly turned into a tradition.  

The Fourth of July is often seen as a celebration of freedom, and it is. However, it’s also a reminder of the ongoing effort required to ensure that freedom is meaningful for everyone. It’s about the opportunity to belong, to speak up, and to help shape communities where everyone has a chance to thrive. That sense of purpose is at the heart of what we do every day at SRJC.

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Across the country, conversations about justice, equity, and inclusion continue to shape our public life. At the same time, there is a growing debate about what it means to live in a truly free and democratic society, and concerns about whether those freedoms are being upheld or eroded. Progress in this work has never come easily or automatically. It requires ongoing engagement and a willingness to listen and take action.  

That’s what education is about—creating space for people to discover what matters to them and take meaningful steps toward the future they envision. In many ways, that’s how we bring the spirit of this holiday to life: by expanding opportunity and helping people feel more connected to one another and to what’s possible.

However you’re spending the holiday, I hope it brings you opportunities for connection.

In Community,  

Dr. Angélica Garcia, Ed.D.
Superintendent/President
707-527-4431, angelicagarcia@santarosa.edu