Our Voices Matter - Spring 2024 Venice High School
Introduction
The Los Angeles Unified School District created the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP) in an effort to bring a creative and innovative culturally responsive curriculum and instruction focus to schools where black identified students are present but struggling to succeed academically and socially-emotionally!
In conjunction with community partnerships, such as 826LA and other community-based organizations, educators such as myself serve as role models to our students. With increased staffing and targeted support, the Venice High School BSAP Office has helped to improve academic performance, social-emotional development, and positive cultural identity formation among our black student population. The BSAP Venice High School Office includes an academic counselor, a restorative justice teacher, school climate advocates, school social workers and a community parent representative.
Principal Yovanka Hairston Truitt, April 6th, 2024
We have all worked together to inspire and encourage the formation of the very first Black Literature Crew (BLit Crew) at Venice High School, where students meet weekly to share authentic Bold Black thoughts and experiences in a space where encouragement is fostered and fueled! The Venice High School BSAP Restorative Justice Teacher, Ms. Karen Prudence DeCosta Rowley-Brooks reached out to Ms. Shani Foster of 826LA in an effort to create the very first Venice High School BLit Crew and this initiation fostered the great narratives and poems you are about to read in this anthology.
Karen Prudence DeCosta Rowley-Brooks, April 6th, 2024
Congratulations on this achievement! Self-expression is a powerful act of self-love, and I appreciate your courage and creativity. You are inspiring!
Ms. Charly Paap, April 6th, 2024
