SACRAMENTO, Calif. — At Sacramento State, student organizations are coming together in an unprecedented way to address the challenges and opportunities facing the campus community. At the heart of this growing alliance is the Coalition for Progress—an umbrella of groups including Allied Students for Justice, the Sunrise Movement at Sac State, the Lavender Alliance, and College Democrats. Each brings its own unique perspective and priorities, but all share a common goal: to create a more just, inclusive, and responsive student experience.

Serving as a Member-Organization of the coalition, Nikita Akhumov, President of the College Democrats, has played a key role in helping the coalition open channels of communication across student life—from Greek organizations to Associated Students, Inc. (ASI). “The goal is to bring everyone into the conversation,” Akhumov says. “If we want to address issues that affect different lives on campus, we have to meet people where they are—whether that’s in student government, cultural centers, or fraternities and sororities.”

The Coalition for Progress isn’t just about mobilizing around shared causes—it’s about doing so with intention. Recognizing that each organization on campus has its own mission, history, and internal dynamics, coalition members have committed to a strategy grounded in diplomacy, collaboration, and mutual respect. It’s this approach, shaped by historical lessons in effective organizing, that they believe will deliver the strongest and most lasting results.

Already, early discussions are setting the stage for joint events, issue-based campaigns, and student forums that invite a broader range of voices into the fold. With a focus on intersectionality and coalition-building, the group is working to ensure that critical issues—ranging from environmental justice and LGBTQ+ rights to economic equity and student representation—are addressed not in isolation, but through collective effort.

While the coalition is still growing, its direction is clear. By cultivating strategic partnerships and emphasizing unity over uniformity, the Coalition for Progress is laying the foundation for a new chapter of student advocacy at Sac State—one that is inclusive, deliberate, and built to last.