We are thankful this month for the opportunities our students have to engage as powerful change agents in the world. We are also thankful for their teachers and the many community partners who contribute to their schools and the larger effort to advance educational equity.
UCLA Community School Students in Rome
From November 26th-30th, UCLA Community School students Nyslai and Eduardo joined 4,000 other students from around the world for the I CAN Children’s Global Summit. Youth met to discuss and share ideas for tackling global issues such as peace, climate action, and poverty. On the final day of the conference, students had a live audience with Pope Francis. Click here to watch Nyslai and Eduardo’s video submission about supporting immigrants.
Dr. Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, Wasserman Dean and Distinguished Professor of Education at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, welcomed youth to the Summit. Dr. Suárez-Orozco is an Academician of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences–a board of appointed members who meet to promote the study and progress of the social, economic, political, and juridical sciences.
Patrisse Cullors Visits Mann UCLA Community School
On November 5th, Mann UCLA Community School welcomed Patrisse Cullors—revolutionary, author, activist, and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. Mann teacher, Mr. Marcus Van, invited Ms. Cullors to share her story with students and help them feel more connected to their identities, self-worth, and community. Over the course of five workshops with 100 students each, Ms. Cullors engaged them in powerful conversations around identity, advocacy, criminal justice inequities, and the importance of using their voices and realizing their power. Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Van said, “It was incredible and interactive, and we are so blessed to have a living civil rights icon dedicated to the enrichment of our kids.”
Ms. Cullors has also been highlighted by the “UCLA: Our Stories, Our Impact” project, which created original works of art featuring UCLA alumni who are leaders in social justice and cultural activism. The exhibit will be traveling throughout Los Angeles, and will be displayed at Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools from February 10th to March 16th, 2020. To support local engagement with the artwork and stories, Professors Abel Valenzuela and Karen Hunter Quartz will be teaching a Fiat Lux Seminar at UCLA this winter entitled, Exploring Artivism, Social Justice & Impact of Ethnic and Labor Studies at UCLA. Students taking this course will lead lessons and activities that engage TK-12 students and families at the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in exploring the themes of the exhibit.
Introducing our School Leadership Fellows
Carla Estes and Rebekah Kang will be representing Mann UCLA Community School and UCLA Community School, respectively. These Fellows hold leadership positions outside of the classroom and have extensive knowledge of their school site, faculty, students, and partners. In this role, they will be working with staff at their schools to host study tours, including the 2020 Rise Up for Equity Summit site visits. They are also supporting a group of student ambassadors to represent their schools during study tours. Learn more about them here!
Rise Up for Equity: May 2020
As a local co-host of the 2020 Forum, the Center is busy working with partners to prepare proposals that capture the “LA Story” and that highlight the national network of University-assisted Community Schools. Click here to learn more and to register for the Summit.
Support the Class of 2020!
The UCLA Community School is beating the odds in sending 91% of its graduates to college, but once there, students struggle to make ends meet given the soaring costs of higher education. Please help these students persist in college and make it to the graduation finish line. Contribute to the UCLA Spark campaign to provide scholarships for first generation college going students.
December 3rd is #GivingTuesday–please consider donating, and please help us spread the word by sharing this campaign with others!