Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena hosted the 2024 Black Education Expo on Feb. 24 in celebration of Black History Month and Black Children’s Book Week. Reading and financial literacy were the main themes of this free, one-day event focused on Black and Brown K-12 students, caregivers and parents in southern California and the many educational resources and opportunities available to them.
Presented by the California Black Women’s Health Project, the Black Education Expo produced over 75 impactful higher education events offering students a chance to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for advancing education within the Black community.
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More than 30 exhibitors welcomed nearly 100 student attendees to the Family Life Center of this historic, congregational church to inspire and inform learners and celebrate Black culture and educational diversity. Among them are 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, Black Writers on Tour, California Black Women’s Project, Los Angeles Urban League, NAACP, Black ‘N Animated, Delete the Digital Divide, Lexia, and more.
“The challenge was finding specific vendors that would lend themselves to our local families and centered communities of color, and as you can see, they rose to the occasion. I want students, parents, and caregivers to know that these resources are available to them,” stated Black Education Expo Founder Victoria Williams.
“There are 30 additional vendors who expressed interest in making sure our communities of color are centered, including Black female educational therapists and neuropsychologists, so we’ll be reconvening in March to plan the next Black Education Expo,” she added.
Keynote speaker Assemblymember Chris R. Holden represents District 41in the California State Legislature. He is currently running for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
“This event is creating exposure to opportunities for young people to know how they can engage before they get to high school in preparing themselves for careers that take them beyond their boundary of thinking to see where the resources are and understand that their future is very bright,” said Holden.
“Dual enrollment, a legislation I authored in 2015, laid the opportunity for high school students to take college courses while still in high school. The future is bright, and the horizon is there,” he added.
Regarding the March 5 presidential primary, Holden stressed the importance of public participation.
“With all elections, primary or general, it’s critical that everyone gets out and votes and participates in the process. It appears the returning of absentee ballots are light. But with so much at stake, we’re still excited about what this means in terms of my race and what I think I can bring to the LA Board,” he said.
Sponsors of Black Education Expo included the City of Pasadena, Delete the Divide, California Black Women’s Health Project, County of Los Angeles, NAACP, Neighbors Empowering Youth (NEY), Pasadena City College, Pasadena Unified School District, Pasadena Black Pages, Drone Discovery, Music Saving Lives, and City of LA Office of the City Clerk.
Explaining why she was involved in the expo, Jayda Imanlinen, founder and executive director of Black Girl Film School, noted, “It makes me feel part of the rich tapestry of Los Angeles. It’s brought us closer to other organizations also serving in meaningful ways.
“We’re honored to be part of such an amazing event, especially during Black History Month, to continue to amplify our voices and provide new pathways to the future through education, training, mentorship and learning.”
For more information, visit: www.blackeducationexpo.com
