LA Promise Fund

Yesterday was an incredible day for our school, LA Promise Fund, and Why Not? Foundation as we officially cut the ribbon on our brand new campus. THANK YOU to everyone at the Why Not? Foundation and especially Russell Westbrook for making this dream into a reality for our students and the South Gate community. Follow us for updates on our new facilities and our plans for the future of Westbrook Academy... ??

Our ArtsMatter Symposium in partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District and PST ART / J. Paul Getty Trust was a huge success with over 500 educators in attendance! We could not have hosted this event without the incredible support of Jantré Christian and The LAUSD Arts Education Branch. We were honored to welcome LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho to speak at the Symposium. His words on the importance of the arts in Los Angeles schools were insightful and inspiring. Thank you to the whole team at LAUSD for continuing to support arts education for our students across the county. #professionaldevelopment #arteducation #arteducationmatters #artteachers

This past month, Black College Success welcomed 67 Black students to Session 2 of the BCS Black Student STEAM Success Program. From July 15th - 26th, our rising juniors and seniors from 35 high schools across LA County stayed at the University of Southern California for an enriching academic and community-building experience. The STEAM Success Program aims to help close the gap in Black student participation in STEAM majors and careers. Through supplemental courses, engagement with universities and tech companies, and support from our mentors, we hope to foster interest in STEAM majors among our students. This summer, interest in STEM majors among our students increased by 26%, and confidence in their ability to graduate with a STEM major increased by 45%. One student wrote, “I learned that computer programming and design are things I could be interested in, specifically coding and designing games. Learning the code was fun and I can see it as a possibility for my future career.” Another wrote, “I learned a lot more math and science [this year], and I feel more comfortable in math. I was always scared to ask questions and felt like math wasn't for me, but now I feel like I will be ready to ask questions in math class and college, and I have a better understanding of a lot of the topics we went over.” During their stay, students engaged in math courses focused on algebraic fluency and had the option to explore physics, chemistry, and game design. The program also featured dynamic afternoon workshops, including an innovative robotics session led by South LA Robotics, a personal branding workshop by Deloitte, and a personal admissions presentation with USC's Viterbi School of Engineering. Additional workshops, led by our Black College Success staff, covered topics such as financial literacy, college preparation, and Black empowerment. We also included several mental health-focused yoga and fitness classes. Students also visited University of California, Riverside, where they connected with the African Student Programs, met with admissions staff, current students, and professors, and toured the UCR Bourns College of Engineering and their new Medical School. Our program prioritized community building amongst the students and staff through ice cream socials, games, and movie nights. By far our most popular event among our students was our “Freedom Party,”, which celebrated Black excellence. We want to thank all the organizations that partnered with us to provide our students with an incredible experience as they go off to college and pursue future success. If you or your organization are interested in supporting events such as the STEAM Success Program, visit our website https://lnkd.in/gHfwUyPT to donate or volunteer. Our mission is to increase opportunities for Black high school students in South Los Angeles through college access and community building. #blackexcellence #blackcollegesuccess #blackstudents #STEM #STEAM

The 2024 ArtsMatter Symposium is just one week away, and we would like to give a huge thank you to the partners and sponsors that make this symposium possible! Our partners – LAUSD Art Education Branch, PST ART, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, P.S. ARTS, Shakespeare Center LA, and Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture –?have been essential supporters of the creation of this event in combination with the financial support from our sponsors – California Community Foundation, Service Station Foundation, Amgen Foundation, Snap Foundation, and Snap Inc. Our educators, our students, and all of us at LAPF and ArtsMatter are so grateful for their support! Is your organization interested in becoming a partner or a sponsor in next year’s symposium and investing in the future of the arts in education? Follow along with us to see highlights at this year’s event and get in contact on our website! #artseducation #arteducator #STEAM #professionaldevelopment #mentalhealtheducation

Grateful to our Young Professionals Council and all the support they provide to inspire & empower LA youth. THANK YOU SO MUCH & looking forward to continuing our impact together.

Hi, I'm thrilled to share two major initiatives LA Promise Fund is hosting where you can join to create lasting memories and empower educators and students across LA. Sign up & Volunteer at these events: https://lnkd.in/gvHBa2u7 ArtsMatter Symposium Aug 5th & 6th at the California Science Center: This 2-day professional development event offers practical classroom resources from leading art and science organizations, benefiting more than 800 educators across LA County. Support event logistics, check-ins, swag distribution, and educator engagement. 10th Anniversary GirlsBuild Summit HelloFuture, October 2024: Celebrate with motivational speakers, panels on college and leadership, women in sports, and women in tech. Plus, a career and college expo featuring interactive STEM activities and learning sessions for thousands of students. Volunteer to empower the next generation of young leaders through career development activities and event logistics. Join us and make a huge impact across LA. If you have questions or want to support in other ways, feel free to reach out.

?? Celebrating Success! ?? Black College Success's BS3 STEAM Academy at USC was an incredible experience! This summer, our program prepared Black students entering STEM majors by providing math instruction in algebraic fluency and introducing students to college-level physics and chemistry. ???? Through hands-on learning and support from our all-star mentors, students gained a strong academic foundation and a preview of what college life will look like in the fall. We're proud to support and celebrate Black excellence in STEM as we break barriers and pave the way for future black leaders. Extra special thanks to Deloitte, Garner Holt Productions, Inc., University of Southern California, and LA Promise Fund for their generous support. #BlackExcellence #STEM #blackcollegesuccess #FutureLeaders #NSBE

Become an LAPF volunteer! Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gFZcfbx6

We're Hiring! We're looking for a Communications manager who is passionate about education and storytelling. Reporting to the Director of Communications, the Communications Manager will help tell LA Promise Fund’s story through content creation, social media, web, and marketing support. An ideal ca--ndidate is responsible, organized, dynamic, resourceful, and eager to gain non-profit and communications experience. To apply, click the link below! Apply Here https://lnkd.in/gQHiJ8b9

Support the Your Future Scholarship Fund. Help ease students worries and anxiety by relieving some of the financial pressures they may face after high school. If you're interested in learning more, different ways to contribute, feel free to reach out. Thanks!