Alan Llavore | Office of Marketing and Communications | (909) 537-5007 | allavore@csusb.edu
Robert Nava, Cal State San Bernardino vice president for University Advancement, shared the message of educational institutions and the community coming together to better the lives of everyone at St. Paul AME Church in San Bernardino as part of the California State University’s statewide annual Super Sunday.
“We are reminded of the power of unity—the unity that exists when you bring together education, faith and community,” he said.
Speaking at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in San Bernardino as part of the California State University’s Super Sunday, Nava celebrated the 20th anniversary of this CSU systemwide initiative.
“For 20 years, Super Sunday has been a pivotal connector, providing opportunities for the next generation of leaders, thinkers and change-makers,” he said. “This event has not only been about inspiring young people to pursue higher education, but about making sure they have the resources, mentorship and encouragement they need to thrive.”
He continued, “Service to others is a core component to who we are at Cal State San Bernardino. We say that giving back is part of the CSUSB ethos. Community efforts like Super Sunday provide us with the opportunity to share the fact that higher education can transform lives and communities. And that the means of access are here and available.”
Now in its 20th year, the California State University’s (CSU) Super Sunday joined this past weekend with Black and African American churches to talk about the transformational power of a college degree to an individual, their family and society, and especially for the African American community. After the church services, outreach directors and staff provided information on the CSU application and admission process, as well as scholarships and financial aid available to Cal State University students.
Other CSUSB leaders brought that message when they visited Immanuel Praise Fellowship and Life Church of God in Christ, also on Feb. 23. Additionally, CSUSB leaders will visit Greater Victory Church of God in Christ on March 10.
Nava, addressing the St. Paul AME congregation, listed some of the past and current initiatives at CSUSB for supporting Black and African American students. They include the annual Pioneer Breakfast, National Black Graduation, the Black and Brown Conference, the NextGen Conference, Coyotes Rising and the Scholarship Success Summit.
CSUSB also offers student support services designed for Black and African American CSUSB students, like the Office of Black Student Success, culturally relevant spaces like the Pan African Success Center and on-campus extracurricular programming like the many varied events scheduled for February’s Black History Month.
In sum, said Nava, “CSUSB provides opportunities with the goal of fostering an environment of inclusivity and pride.”
While he observed that there is still more work to do, “What Super Sunday has shown us over these past two decades is the incredible impact this event has had on countless students. Because it’s not just about a single day—it’s about the relationships built, the resources shared and the promise of higher education offered to students who might not have seen that possibility for themselves otherwise.”
It is the partnership that will see us through, Nava said. “Working together, through Super Sunday, we have jointly continued to break down barriers, build confidence, and provide guidance and mentorship to young people in our community.”
He praised the members of the St. Paul AME congregation. “I am deeply inspired by the work of this congregation and the dedication you all show year after year,” he said. “Your commitment to our young people, your investment in their future and your tireless work to ensure they succeed is a model for all of us.”
In conclusion, he said, “together, we’ve opened doors to higher education, and more importantly, to a future filled with possibility.”
Since its launch in 2005, more than a million people have participated in this signature awareness event for CSU’s African American communities. The CSU remains committed to closing equity gaps and ensuring all Californians have access to and support in achieving a high-quality college degree as part of Graduation Initiative 2025. In 2022-23, more than 3,800 African American students earned CSU bachelor's degrees and more than 750 earned CSU graduate degrees.
The CSU has made elevating Black excellence on its universities an urgent priority and has developed a 13-point action plan as part of its report on Black student success. In addition, the university has committed $10 million over three years to advance these priorities. Therefore, the CSU’s work to support its Black students extends far beyond its Super Sunday initiative.
With 23 universities across California, the CSU offers more access to diverse higher education pathways than any public university system in the United States. Nearly one-third of CSU students are the first in their family to earn a degree, more than half are from traditionally underrepresented communities and nearly half of undergraduates receive the Pell Grant. And, more than half of CSU bachelor's recipients in 2022-23 graduated with zero student debt.