RCCD College Corps Unites to Kick Off Week of Public Service With First Annual RCCD Serves Week
04/20/2026
The Riverside Community College District (RCCD) College Corps program has united students, faculty, and community partners from Moreno Valley College, Norco College, and Riverside City College to launch the first annual RCCD Serves Week, a coordinated effort to expand public service and civic engagement across the Inland Empire.
The weeklong initiative began with a districtwide kickoff hosted in partnership with The Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties. The opening event brought together College Corps fellows for professional development, leadership workshops, and collective reflection, along with opportunities to hear directly from nonprofit and community leaders. The kickoff emphasized the importance of service-driven impact while setting the tone for a week rooted in collaboration, purpose, and community care.
“What you see here is College Corps in action, a reflection of the work our fellows carry into every community they serve,” said Darci Manzo, Director of College Corps at RCC. “This kickoff is an opportunity for all of our fellows, across the three colleges, to understand the power of partnership, the responsibility of service, and the real impact they can make when they show up with intention. Watching them engage with community leaders and each other is a powerful reminder of why College Corps matters, it prepares them not just for this program, but for a lifetime of meaningful service.”
Throughout the week, fellows are participating in a range of public service projects addressing critical community needs, including food distribution, sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, and re-entry support initiatives. In addition to hands-on service, fellows are engaging in virtual trainings focused on financial literacy, mental wellness, and professional development, reinforcing the program’s holistic approach to student growth and leadership development.
“Bringing our colleges, community partners, and fellows together throughout the kickoff created a meaningful space for connection and shared purpose,” said Tracy Fisher, Ph.D., Director of The Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties. “Sharing my story with them was a way to show how service grows through listening and being present with the communities we support. Throughout the kickoff, I watched fellows engage with speakers, with one another, and with the broader mission of this work.”
College Corps fellows expressed pride in the opportunity to serve and collaborate across campuses. Sha-Phan Welsh reflected on the experience, noting the impact of both the service work and the connections built throughout the week.
“It is an honor that we as fellows are able to serve our communities,” Welsh said. “Coming out every day this week with a new mission, whether we are organizing and distributing food to families, supporting local farms, or assisting with social justice advocacy, has given us the opportunity to rise to the occasion and ignite the fire of change that we all need. We have had the privilege of hearing impactful stories and participating in team-building activities that helped redefine why we do what we do. It came at the perfect time and was exactly what we needed to go out and serve.”
Faculty and staff leaders emphasized that RCCD Serves Week is designed to deepen students’ understanding of community needs while building practical skills in leadership, collaboration, and civic responsibility. By connecting service to real-world challenges, the program prepares fellows to engage in meaningful, sustained community impact.
“RCCD Serves Week reflects the very best of what our students represent, a commitment to service, leadership, and community impact,” said Frederick Jones, Director of College Corps at Moreno Valley College. “When our fellows step into communities across the Inland Empire, they are not only providing support, they are building relationships, gaining perspective, and developing the skills needed to lead with purpose. This work is transformative, both for the communities we serve and for the students themselves.”
“RCCD Serves Week is a powerful example of what happens when students are given the opportunity to lead through service,” said Ariel Davis, Ed.D., Director of College Corps at Norco College. “Our fellows are not only addressing real needs in our communities, they are developing a deeper sense of responsibility, connection, and purpose. Watching them collaborate across colleges and engage with community partners shows the lasting impact this program has in shaping thoughtful, equity-minded leaders.”
As RCCD Serves Week continues, fellows will carry forward the momentum built during the kickoff, strengthening partnerships and expanding their role as emerging leaders committed to equity, service, and community transformation.
"Note: Student produced article by Sha-phan Welsh, edited and approved by Jessica Vierra, public affairs officer."
Published by External Relations & Strategic Communications