Mission Statement
To serve SJCC students with a holistic, Black and Brown Latinx-centered approach in a welcoming, humanizing, and validating environment.
Vision Statement
At the METAS Center, we envision a dynamic space where Latinx-affirming events, student support programs, and Summer Bridge converge to co-create knowledge with SJCC students, guiding them through college and opening doors to limitless possibilities.
Campus Scenes
Our Services include:
- PEER LED TEAM LEARNING (Spring 2025 Workshop Schedule)
These are scheduled weekly, outside of scheduled classroom time in the Metas Center or designated campus room, where the collaborative learning of a small group of students is facilitated by a trained student peer leader (PLs). PLs also serve as coaches and mentors to students beyond the course content to help students acculturate and persist toward academic success. The PL also works closely with a Lead Faculty PLTL Practitioner through a DS-98 course.
- SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION (Spring 2025 Workshop Schedule)
These are regularly scheduled review sessions occurring in & during classroom time in collaboration with the course instructor in which students compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools, and predict test items
The SJCC METAS Center was established through a U.S. Department of Education Title V grant and is open to all San José City College students.
The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program (referred to as Title V: HSI) assists eligible Hispanic-Serving Institutions to expand their capacity to serve Latinx and low-income students.
Counseling Appointments
Sabrina and Yesenia, our METAS counselors, are here to support you meet your academic and personal goals.
Contact us to book your counseling appointment!
Email: sjccmetas@sjcc.edu
Call: (408) 288-3125
Text: (408) 753-5319
Meet the Team
Department Contacts
- Director
- Enrique Velasco, Ed.D.
- (408) 288-3762
- enrique.velasco@sjcc.edu
- Program Coordinator
- Sean Dickerson
- (408) 288-3124
- sean.dickerson@sjcc.edu
- Program Specialist
- Fátima C. Murillo
- (408) 288-3161
- fatima.casas@sjcc.edu
- Counselor
- Yesenia Escobar Mendez
- Click here to make an appointment
- Counselor
- Sabrina Hagmann
- Click here to make an appointment
Community resources
Our Mission
Asian Law Alliance, established in 1977, is a non-profit organization providing equal access to the justice system for Asian Pacific Islander and low-income populations in the Silicon Valley. Our mission is through providing legal counseling, community education and community organizing, we promote self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and a better quality of life for all.
Mission Statement
San José Public Library enriches lives by fostering lifelong learning and by ensuring that every member of the community has access to a vast array of ideas and information.
Mission
Founded in 1969, Centro Legal de la Raza is a legal services agency protecting and advancing the rights of low-income, immigrant, Black, and Latinx communities through bilingual legal representation, education, and advocacy. By combining quality legal services with know-your-rights education and youth development, Centro Legal de la Raza ensures access to justice for thousands of individuals throughout Northern and Central California.
Our Mission
To empower Chicanas Latinas through personal, educational, and professional advancement.
Our Mission & Vision
The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley is dedicated to empowering the lives and futures of Latinos in Silicon Valley through community philanthropy, investment in educational excellence, leadership development, and the convening and engaging of the region’s dynamic Hispanic community.
Founded in 2006, Immigrants Rising transforms individuals and fuels broader changes. With resources and support, undocumented people are able to get an education, pursue careers, and build a brighter future for themselves and their community.
Our Mission
Latina Coalition Silicon Valley (LCSV) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that has been providing Latinas with civic engagement and leadership development in Silicon Valley since 1999. Latina Coalition Silicon Valley is a recognized leader empowering Latinas in all sectors, as well as educating each other and the greater public about Latina contributions and excellence overall. The organization addresses leadership cultivation through a female and Latino/a cultural lens. Latina Coalition Silicon Valley identifies and heightens awareness about issues that disproportionately affect the Latino/a community through educational panels, interactive sessions, hands-on advocacy, workshops and events.
Leading service and advocacy organization for Latinos around issues of cancer.
LCC believes the quality of life is vital for a longer, healthier and more productive life; and addresses some of the root issues of cancer-care disparity–prevention, intervention and support. This is made possible through education, awareness, access to quality care and research.https://www.latinascontracancer.org/Founded in 1989 as the result of a broad community mobilization in the City of San José and nationwide on behalf of multicultural arts, MACLA has promoted since its inception a vision of arts programming as a vehicle for civic dialogue and social equity.
We provide leadership and support for the well-being and longevity of LGBTQ communities in Santa Clara County through coordinated, integrated approaches.
https://desj.santaclaracounty.gov/offices/office-lgbtq-affairs
Our mission is to build a community free from poverty by creating hope, opportunity, and action. We provide essential services, work together to improve our lives, organize for justice, and inspire our community to love, serve, and share.
SIREN’s mission is to empower low-income immigrants and refugees through community education and organizing, leadership development, policy advocacy, civic engagement and legal services. We believe that all people regardless of legal status or nationality are entitled to essential services, human dignity, basic rights and protections, and access to full participation in society.
We connect people, ideas and resources to transform systems and ensure equity and opportunity for all.
Silicon Valley De-Bug is a story-telling, community organizing, and advocacy organization based in San José, California.
Silicon Valley Latino is dedicated to celebrating the success stories of Latino and Latina professionals. Through compelling content and engaging dialogue, we challenge perceptions and inspire new generations of Latino heroes. Join us as we continue to empower our community and showcase excellence.
Teatro Visión creates theater rooted in Chicanx and Latinx experiences to inspire the people of Santa Clara Valley and beyond to feel, think, and act to create a better world.
* Chicanx and Latinx are gender-neutral alternatives to Chicano and Latino.
Frequently asked questions (faq)
The METAS program is a Latino/a/é Resource Center at SJCC that provides a welcoming, humanizing, and validating environment. It serves students through a holistic, Black and Brown Latinx-centered approach, offering various support services and resources to guide them through college and open doors to limitless possibilities.
METAS offers a range of services and programs, including:
- Summer Bridge: A program designed to help high school transfer students transition smoothly into college life.
- Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL): Collaborative workshops facilitated by peer leaders to enhance understanding in various subjects, primarily in STEM fields.
- Cultivamos Excelencia Research Scholars: A partnership with UC Santa Cruz that connects students with faculty and mentors to undertake research projects.
- Lending Library: Access to textbooks and other academic resources to support students' coursework.
- San José Promise: A program offering financial and academic support to eligible students.
The METAS program primarily serves first-generation students, students of color, immigrants, and those from marginalized communities. However, it is open to all SJCC students seeking support to achieve their academic goals.
Students interested in joining METAS can visit the center located in the Multi-Disciplinary Building, Room 104 (M-104), or contact the staff via email at sjccmetas@sjcc.edu. Additionally, appointments can be scheduled through their online system.
Yes, METAS provides mentorship opportunities through various programs, connecting students with faculty, staff, and community professionals who offer guidance, support, and valuable insights into academic and career pathways.