The Basic Needs and Wellness Resource Fair is coming up, taking place on April 3, on the Great Meadow at City College. This event has been in the works since the beginning of the fall semester and event workers started taking action a month before, with creating advertisements and getting set up with the partnering departments included in this event.  Coordinator of the Basic Needs Center, Miguel Cruz, helps with the planning of the fair and the resources that are applied to the community. 

 “We are having community resources that can help our students such as Planned Parenthood, Pacific Pride and many others,” Cruz said. “The fair is held to distribute and advertise resources that are aimed towards the community at City College.”

The Resource Fair is fairly new to the community and is governed by the head of the Basic Needs Center, Alondra Lazaro Gonzalez. She came up with the idea to partner with different departments on campus to create such an event for the students. 

“She has done an amazing job for the BNC and I want to make sure the campus knows how vital Alondra has been to the growth of this department and the events it hosts,” said Cruz. 

This is the second year the fair has been held and has proved to be a very impactful event for both the center and the community. It showcases the resources on campus, allowing students to learn more about help that is offered and can apply to their individual needs. 

One of the main departments in the City College to partner with the center is The Well. Their role in the community is to provide a place where the “student community feels heard, respected, and encouraged to gain the vital knowledge, tools, and support to move toward optimal lifelong health and wellness,” as says on their website.

Both of these departments curate an environment for students that gives support for individual needs. Partnering in creating the resource fair opens up avenues for students to engage and learn in-depth knowledge about what they cover and if the resources given apply to their situation.  “We truly believe that basic needs and student wellness go hand in hand. We cannot have one without the other,” Cruz explained when asked about their participation in the event. The mission that both departments hold is to make resources available to all student’s needs which is showcased at the Resource Fair.

Correction: March 14, 2024
A previous version of this story stated that the Basic Needs Fair would be held on “March 6.” Due to rain on that day, the fair has been rescheduled for “April 3.” Additionally, the previous version of this story used the word “quickly” to describe the original approaching date. This has been removed due to the new rescheduled date.