by David Ngô

2001 is a special year for Alva-Marie Acosta of Cerritos Chapter 161. It was the year she became a mother, and it was the year she became a CSEA activist.

“Alva began her journey with CSEA over 20 years ago and never looked back,” said Irlanda Lopez, a program facilitator and chapter president of Cerritos Chapter 161.

“She’s known as the ‘union person’ on campus and is often volunteering at various events. In recent years, she’s become the frontline defender for our union sisters and brothers by taking on the position of 2nd Vice President and Chief Job Steward .”

As Administrative Secretary II, Acosta employs a ‘student-first’ approach, offering a one-stop-shop service model for the Fine Arts and Communications students at Cerritos College.

From helping with class registration and college papers to connecting them to mental health and housing assistance – classified staff like Acosta commit themselves to their students every day.

“I came back from a walk one day around eight and there was a student in our lobby that had been there since I left,” Acosta explained. “I asked her, ‘do you need help with something?’ and she said she didn’t have any place to spend the night.”

With over 49,500 college students in Southern California, commuting long hours due to the lack of nearby housing is the only way for many community college students to get to class.

Compounded by a rising youth mental health crisis, inflation, and the rigors of college, California is responding to these challenges by investing $140 million into additional resources for community college students.

However, long before the state’s investment, CSEA members have always invested their own time and energy into helping whoever walks through their lobby.

“I didn't ask if her parents threw her out or if they made her leave because that really wasn't my concern,” said Acosta, who is also a certified Mental Health Worker. “I was just making sure that she found someplace to stay.”

Perhaps it was Acosta's own experience as a current student at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Maybe it was in her nature as a single mother or the influence of Cerritos College, which became the first California community college in 2020 to provide housing for displaced students.

Whatever it may be, Acosta’s response that night reminded her of a principle she has always lived by: caring for others when they need it.

“The student admitted to having some difficulty with their housing arrangements, so Alva phoned me to see what could be done. We followed our protocols and Alva remembered someone she knew that offered their home to the student,” said Gary Pritchard, Fine Arts and Communications Dean at Cerritos College.

“Alva worked with the student over the next couple of weeks, including providing rides to and from campus until eventually, the student found permanent housing.”

By now, Acosta is accustomed to expecting the unexpected. Captured rather perfectly in the minutes before she walked on stage of the 96th Annual Conference in Las Vegas to accept her Member of the Year Award.

“Honestly, I wasn’t aware that I needed to speak on stage, so once I went up, I was still aghast at being nominated and selected,” Acosta said weeks following conference.

Yet, once she got on stage with no preparation or script in hand, Acosta harkened back to the very feelings that propelled her to that special moment.

“I want you to know that my participation at Cerritos College is one that's based in love, trust, and friendship,” Acosta said after accepting her award on July 26.

“I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to help an individual transitioning from high school to college. I always hope to make a difference, whatever difference it may be. Because if it makes a difference for them, it makes a difference to me.”