The Women of Color collective (WOCC) is a group of women that meet weekly on campus in the HUB. It is a drop-in support group facilitated by CAPS psychologist Isa Avila Saiter and Senior HUB Program Executive Shelly Gomez, M.A. The goal of the program is to offer a safe space for women of color to come in each week and be able to share their stories.  The Women of Color collective assists in connecting the community. The people who attend the program sit down together in support, with hopes of empowering each other. 

The facilitator’s goal is to provide a safe space that makes participants feel relaxed and comfortable. The Sonoma State STAR had an opportunity to speak with CAPS Staff Psychologist Isa Avila Saiter, who is one of the co-facilitators of the group. Saiter explained the significance of the support group, “The Women of Color Collective is a welcoming place to navigate the joys and challenges of our beautiful, intersectional selves. This group is for all Cis and Trans women, as well as Non-Binary SSU students of color who are comfortable in a space that centers on the experiences of women.” 

  The WOCC is entering its ninth year on campus. Over the years, WOCC has developed into a well attended, drop-in discussion and support group with a diverse group of participants. The co-facilitator, Isa Avila Saiter told the STAR what a typical meeting consists of, “The main activity is our weekly, confidential meetings. Meetings consist of a check-in, open dialogue and exchange of support between members (facilitated by Isa and Shelly) and a mindful check-out.” Saiter also mentioned in previous semesters the program has invited a couple “WOC Mentor Speakers” who are SSU women of color faculty, to tell their story and engage in a casual dialogue with WOCC members. “One year [The WOCC] even took a field trip to UC Berkeley for the legendary Empowering Women of Color Conference… over the years, the friendships and mentorships that have developed through the group have been wonderful to see!” 

During COVID-19, the group held meetings via zoom. The WOCC aimed to provide support and a sense of community to students throughout the pandemic. This  program provided by SSU HUB, has been utilized as a resource for many students over the course of nine years. If you are interested in this group, contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more details. The Women of Color Collective takes place every Wednesday from 12-1 p.m. in the HUB, located on the second floor of the student center.