Gateway Educational Services will host the 2024 Black Youth Leadership Summit, giving students who identify as Black/African American an opportunity to learn, gather and form community with one another.
This year’s event will be 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at SBCC’s West Campus, 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara. There is no cost to participate, and free transportation will be provided from mid- and North County.
Advance registration is required using this link: https://bit.ly/BYLS2024.
The event was created by the desire and commitment of the Parents of Black Students Advocacy Council (PBSAC), a local ad hoc group comprised of parents of Gateway students whose mission is to support underserved students of color through education, culture and community.
The parent group approached the nonprofit Gateway Educational Services about providing one day of positivity and joy before the beginning of the school year for the Black youth in Santa Barbara County.
In the face of adverse school climates and anti-blackness, Gateway wanted to host an event that addresses these issues in an uplifting and empowering way to provide leadership skills and a celebration of Black culture for our youth.
The result was last year’s inaugural Black Youth Leadership Summit, a day of leadership development, community workshops, and culture.
CommUnify said the purpose of the summit closely aligns with CommUnify’s mission.
The Black Youth Leadership Summit creates a welcoming space for all Black/African American-identifying youth and aims to unite students, parents, educators, and community members for a culturally immersive day. There are three key initiatives planned for the day:
1. Gaining insights into historical Black leaders.
2. Offering support to parents of Black youth through facilitated discussions and collaborative problem-solving.
3. Exploring the artistic expressions of youth.
The event is open to parents, students, and educators for grades 5 through 12 countywide. It is the largest event in Santa Barbara County for Black Youth with more than 150 participants expected to attend.
“We are passionate about creating safe and positive spaces for Black youth in this community to learn and explore their blackness,” said Audrey Gamble, co-founder/co-executive director of Gateway Educational Services.
“This event celebrates the many contributions to academics and culture by African American leaders and creates the opportunity for our youth to participate in leadership development and cultural arts in an intimate and experiential setting,” said Connie Alexander, co-founder/co-executive director of the organization.
This year, cultural arts has been expanded, and students and parents can participate in art, West African drumming, poetry, dance, choral singing, and puppetry.
Thanks to the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation that provided the funding to purchase djembe drums for the second year in a row, there are now more than 20 instruments for the drum circle. In addition, Deckers Brands will donate shoes to all youth attending the summit.
“Part of our organization’s mission is to provide resources and empowerment to those who need it most and to create an equitable path to success for all of those in our community,” said Kemba Lawrence, CommUnify, director of community services.
“The Black Youth Leadership Summit is a great example of parents and community partners taking challenging situations and creating joy and healing – offering incredible speakers and activities which give opportunities to our Black youth and their parents – and we are proud to support this event,” Lawrence said. “As a parent of a Black youth in this community, I find the experiences offered through this event to be invaluable.”
Sponsors for the Black Youth Leadership Summit include: Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP, Endowment for Youth Community, Parents of Black Students Advocacy Council, CA Stop the Hate, CA Black Freedom Fund, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Santa Barbara Foundation, Santa Barbara NAACP, The Fund for Santa Barbara, Landmark Global, city of Santa Barbara, Channel Islands YMCA, Deckers Brands, Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation, Santa Barbara City College Foundation, and the Lewis-Towbes Family.