Peralta Community College District's Only Student-Run Publication
Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

The Citizen
PCCDs classified employees pose for a pic at the first-ever professional development day for classified professionals. PCCD Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson reflected on the event in her report to the Board of Trustees. (Source: PCCD)
Peralta’s leadership search, CCC public safety earmark, and “rumors” discussed at 4/9 meeting of PCCD Trustees
April 24, 2024
VC of General Services retires
VC of General Services retires
April 22, 2024
Plants grow in plastic pots next to Merritt Colleges Landscape Horticulture greenhouses. Merritt is set to launch a new Certificate of Achievement in Cannabis Horticulture this fall.
Merritt’s new Cannabis Horticulture Certificate is about ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’
April 20, 2024
San Mateo district passes on Besikof
San Mateo district passes on Besikof
April 15, 2024
(Illustration: Eliot Faine/The Citizen)
CoA to host blood drive
April 13, 2024
Carpentry instructor spruces up department
Carpentry instructor spruces up department
April 24, 2024
Student Trustee Natasha Masand believes her voice has the power to impact the PCCD community.
Student trustee Natasha Masand finds her voice
March 19, 2024
College of Alameda jazz professor Glen Pearson demonstrates his musical talent on his classroom piano. Hes one of the newest members of the Count Basie Orchestra, a historic 18-piece jazz ensemble that took home a Grammy this year.
The humble Grammy-winning pianist leading CoA’s music program
March 4, 2024
Student Trustee Naomi Vasquez, who was sworn onto the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees on Dec. 12, 2023, sees her role as an opportunity to uplift her fellow students and advocate for the value of a community college education.
Student Trustee Naomi Vasquez aims to lift voices and empower students at PCCD
February 28, 2024
Childhood photo of Burgess
Tea with Tamara: Drew Burgess, art faculty at College of Alameda
February 21, 2024
College of Alameda jazz professor Glen Pearson demonstrates his musical talent on his classroom piano. Hes one of the newest members of the Count Basie Orchestra, a historic 18-piece jazz ensemble that took home a Grammy this year.
The humble Grammy-winning pianist leading CoA’s music program
March 4, 2024
In Director Chelsea Bos first feature-length film, half-sisters Harper (left, Chelsea Bo) and Georgie (right, Ava Acres), thrown together by circumstance and a weak blood relation, must untie the knots in their relationship. The film won Jury Prize Feature at the Alameda International Film Festival last week. (Courtesy: Paxeros)
No Right Way, Chelsea Bo’s hard-hitting emotional rollercoaster about the complexities of sisterhood, shown at Alameda International Film Festival
February 29, 2024
©Netflix 2023. Fair Use Disclaimer: This image has been used in good faith for the purpose of review and critique under the terms of fair use. Under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for fair use of copyrighted work for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research.
Queer Black History: A review of ‘Rustin’
February 28, 2024
Muffler’s first headlining performance at the Golden Bull in Oakland, CA on May 24, 2023. From left to right: Wes Allerd, TJ Gardea Jr., Gaby Aravjo (Photo by Lylah Schmedel-Permanna/The Citizen)
Your next favorite post-punk band includes two Peralta students — an interview with Muffler
November 6, 2023
From The Ground Up inside of the Berkeley City College Atrium. (Photo by Emily Tenorio Molina/The Citizen)
BCC Art instructor Juana Alicia honored by the San Francisco Art Commission
September 21, 2023
(Photo: Glen Carrie/Unsplash)
Student elections open today. Has voter information been ‘widespread’?
April 9, 2024
The state flag of California flies underneath the American flag on the west side of the Laney College campus. Behind, the Tribune Tower, which once housed Oaklands daily print newspaper, sits in the city skyline. Both California and the United States have open government laws that establish the publics right to information, but the Peralta Community College District consistently lags behind in comprehensively fulfilling requests for public information made by student journalists at The Citizen. (Photo: Li Khan/The Citizen)
We sued our district over public records and won. Here’s what we learned
February 22, 2024
(Photo: AlchemillaMollis/Pixabay)
Just call me Grinch
December 14, 2023
Tammeil Gilkerson answering a question at a public forum held on Oct 25
The Citizen endorses Tammeil Gilkerson for PCCD Chancellor; Rudy Besikof strong runner up
October 28, 2023
An image of lavender-colored tassels in the foreground and rainbow pins in the background.
This is Intersectionality
May 30, 2023
Sunshine Week 2024: Spotlighting public records
Sunshine Week 2024: Spotlighting public records
March 17, 2024
The UC Berkeley chapter of End Overdose at Sproul Plaza in Berkeley on Jan. 23, 2024. The organization passes out free fentanyl test strips to students, and gives other organizations training on Narcan usage. (Photo: Juliana Yamada/CalMatters)
Narcan at California colleges: Are students getting overdose medication?
March 8, 2024
(Graphic by Li Khan/The Citizen)
Laney’s Tower of Terror
December 28, 2023
(Graphic: Li Khan/The Citizen)
How $11.2 million in state funding led to a $6.2 million deficit for PCCD
December 25, 2023
The Citizen Investigates: Outside Speaker Fees
The Citizen Investigates: Outside Speaker Fees
June 22, 2023
Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

The Citizen
Peralta Community College District's only student-run publication.

The Citizen
Gretchen Zimmermann

Gretchen Zimmermann, Staff Writer

Gretchen Zimmerman settled in Vallejo, CA in 2002 after spending a couple of decades bouncing around the inner San Francisco Bay area. Before her move to Vallejo, she had lived for no more than a couple of years in one place. Her recent stability has facilitated a greater involvement in her community. She became active in local arts groups first, volunteering with Vallejo Open Studios and Vallejo Art Walk. As she got to know more people and their circumstances, her interests broadened into local politics. She started attending City Council meetings, writing to the local paper, and engaging in serious debates on social media. That wasn’t enough for her. Gretchen decided to get serious about writing and study journalism so that she can delve into meaningful investigative work.

All content by Gretchen Zimmermann
Trustees lengthy absence results in Board Resolution

Trustee’s lengthy absence results in Board Resolution

Gretchen Zimmermann, Staff Writer
June 1, 2022
Peralta Board of Trustees poised to approve $69k for College of Alameda Mural

Peralta Board of Trustees poised to approve $69k for College of Alameda Mural

Gretchen Zimmermann, Staff Writer
May 10, 2022
Merritt College alumni, Councilmember Sheng Thao runs for Oakland Mayor

Merritt College alumni, Councilmember Sheng Thao runs for Oakland Mayor

Daughter of Hmong refugees says she wants all Oaklanders to have opportunity
Gretchen Zimmermann, Copy Editor
February 9, 2022
Jackson to be Interim Chancellor through December 2023

Jackson to be Interim Chancellor through December 2023

Gretchen Zimmermann, Staff Writer
October 15, 2021
Return to Campus: district webinar leaves questions unanswered

Return to Campus: district webinar leaves questions unanswered

Nearly 200 questions asked about 'soft return,' neglected facilities 
Gretchen Zimmermann, Staff Writer
October 9, 2021
Vax mandate looms with shifting deadlines and upcoming Town Hall

Vax mandate looms with shifting deadlines and upcoming Town Hall

Conflicting messaging adds to confusion
Luke Wrin Piper, Leticia Luna, Gretchen Zimmermann, and Ulysses Smith
September 29, 2021
Merritt College hosts a student listening session revealing challenges with enrollment

Merritt College hosts a student listening session revealing challenges with enrollment

Gretchen Zimmermann, Staff Writer
September 6, 2021
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