Spring Break
Meet the Black Caucus
Southern Region Chair Vernon Muhammad
Harambee News
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Features
Southern Region Chair Vernon Muhammad is full-time student at Long Beach City College, the home of the Vikings. His major is Speech Communication, holding fast to a cumulative grade point average of 3.75.
In January, Vernon was awarded the "Viking Award," the highest recognition the college gives out for academic excellence.
Muhammad wants to increase the visibility of the Black Caucus . On his campus, he is also Senior Representative on the Student Council and will be soon representing the President's Ambassador club. He also is working with the campuses newly adopted "Sankofa" Program.
"I was inspired through my son's academic accomplishments," says Muhammad. "He was incarcerated in Youth Authority for approximately five years. While he was there he entered an essay contest; in return he received a full scholarship to Santa Monica College."
"This was the spark which ignited my fuse to re-involve myself back into academic studies," he added. "After I didn't finish high school, I begin to lose the will to care about life; self-destructing with my usage of drugs and alcohol. It was ten years later in mid July of 1987. I entered a treatment center to begin a life changing experience for substance abuse.
"Since that day I have maintained 21 years of uninterrupted sobriety; by the grace of God."
In January, Vernon was awarded the "Viking Award," the highest recognition the college gives out for academic excellence.
Muhammad wants to increase the visibility of the Black Caucus . On his campus, he is also Senior Representative on the Student Council and will be soon representing the President's Ambassador club. He also is working with the campuses newly adopted "Sankofa" Program.
"I was inspired through my son's academic accomplishments," says Muhammad. "He was incarcerated in Youth Authority for approximately five years. While he was there he entered an essay contest; in return he received a full scholarship to Santa Monica College."
"This was the spark which ignited my fuse to re-involve myself back into academic studies," he added. "After I didn't finish high school, I begin to lose the will to care about life; self-destructing with my usage of drugs and alcohol. It was ten years later in mid July of 1987. I entered a treatment center to begin a life changing experience for substance abuse.
"Since that day I have maintained 21 years of uninterrupted sobriety; by the grace of God."
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