The EEO Innovative Best Practices Grant was awarded to SOCCCD in the amount of $300,000 to support the Building Leadership Opportunities through Outstanding Mentorship (B.L.O.O.M.) program. The funds will support two academic years (2023-2025) of the program implementation. The program was selected as a pre-hiring strategy that supports an equitable and inclusive environment that attracts and retains candidates from underrepresented groups and other nontraditional candidates. The purpose of B.L.O.O.M. is to identify, recruit, train, and support prospective community college faculty in their pursuit of part-time and faculty-time employment within community colleges in the region, and contribute to the creation of a more diverse faculty presence on our campuses.