Katrice Mubiru,    is  the founding Director of Valley Career College and Wellness (VCCW)She is also a teacher-activist,  Life Coach, Kinesiotherapist and entrepreneur, who is dedicated to helping the community to thrive through education and wellness.  Katrice, has worked for Adult and Career public education, owned and managed her own business for more than 10 years. She is very passionate about Adult and Career Education, because as a youth she also experienced economic hardships and other extenuating life circumstances, like many other students of urban communities. However, she persevered and held on to education as her safe place.  She truly believes that Adult and Career Training are the cornerstone of the community.  And that’s why in 2012, when K-12 Adult and Career Education was in danger of ending up on the chopping block of the California state budget, Katrice sought help from the White House.  She wrote and addressed an appeal letter to the then President Barack Obama requesting his support in saving Adult and Career education from being closed.

Believe it or not, and to her pleasant surprise the White House responded.  It took all of two years, but what an honor.  I mean how many times does a humble career-college teacher get a call from the Whitehouse?   The caller would go on to say that President Obama would be in Los Angeles in July of 2014, to give a speech at the LA Trade Tech college; and wondered if Katrice would like to introduce him before his speech.  Of course she would, who wouldn’t?  That day would come, but before the speech, the president personally had breakfast with Katrice and some other community leaders at the popular Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles.  The president would listen empathetically as Katrice, described the impact of career training, and what a loss to the community it would be if funding was cut.  Things would move in the right direction albeit slowly.  There was increased awareness for adult education, and wouldn’t you know it; in 2015, she was invited to the Whitehouse as a Guest of the First Lady Michelle Obama, at the State of the Union.  While in Washington D.C., she would meet with President Obama again, this time in the Oval Office.

Inspired by those once in a life milestones Katrice, has expanded her vision of reaching out to more students through Valley Career College and Wellness, a nonprofit career college and wellness center, that she founded and directs.  She is not only dedicated to helping our community through education, but is also passionate about community health.