The event brought professionals from multiple sectors of the workforce to speak with students.
Young Empowered Scholars (YES) Academy recently hosted its 2nd Annual, Black Student Achievement Plan’s Career Day. This is a collaboration of professionals, students, families and the Crenshaw community to inspire youth towards college and career pathways.
“We have over 60 guests here on campus and they come and share their careers to inspire our most deserving students in this community to grow up and be productive and have wonderful careers,” said YES Academy Principal Ramon Collins.
“We have lawyers, doctors, we have [LAUSD] Board Member 1, police officers, firefighters, real estate officers. We have a lot of folks here that are just really passionate about sharing their stories and inspiring our students.”
The Sentinel attended the event and followed one of the adult groups speaking to the elementary students. Each class was filled with inquisitive and attentive youth full of questions.
In this group the Sentinel followed: Antonio Walker, a librarian at the Hyde Park Library Branch, Herman Jones, a political and community organizer for the Los Angeles Teachers Union, and Nadine Jackson, a deputy sheriff, who were all happy to speak to the kids about their professions.
“It was great,” said Walker. “Whenever we come out to schools, stuff like this, career day, it’s always fun because it’s like something to break up the day.
“It’s always great talking to them, they’re excited about the library, ask questions so, it’s always fun.”
“It felt wonderful, they’re so eager to learn and their eyes are bright with wonder,” said Jackson. “It really encouraged my heart just to hear the type of questions they were asking about the various careers.
“We have to be here for our kids you know, we have to motivate them and show them that we care.”
“It’s always great speaking to the kids because you get a chance to instill hope and they are the future, so, I feel honored,” said Jones.
Kirsten Johnson is the equity coach at YES Academy, who came dressed as Sojourner Truth.
“I am an actress. I actually did a Black History program in Long Beach. It’s on Youtube right now, called ‘The Black Mosaic’ and I did a monologue of Sojourner Truth.
“The kids asked me yesterday, ‘what are you going to come as tomorrow?’ I was like, you know what, I don’t know and then I figured, I had a costume so, I thought I’d come and model for them a career.”
Johnson continued about career day, “We did a lot of organizing and bringing it together. I thought the kids did great with the escorting and I was so happy to see all the presenters show up and they seemed very enthusiastic to share their careers, and I just think the day is going well.”
“I remember as a child, I was inspired by my principal his name was Mr. Kendrick,” said Collins. “He inspired me as a little kid.
“I didn’t really know I was going to be a principal, I just thought I was going to be a teacher, but I remember every Monday morning, he would have our Monday morning assemblies, and it was just something about how he spoke, how he dressed, how he stood and how he empowered us to be leaders at elementary level.
“As a principal here, at YES Academy, that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to inspire every student I run across, in my assemblies, in the hallway and we bring this community event to our school because we want our students to see adults that look just like them in these prominent careers, talking about how they’re stepping stones to get to where they are now.”
For more information on YES Academy, visit yesacademy.lausd.org.
