Nearly 300 middle school students from across the county came together to attend workshops on leadership, empowerment, building confidence, strengthening community, and more at the 4th Annual Black Student Summit.
The event theme was: Our Voice, Our Power, Our Future – Youth Rising. Communities Thriving.
The summit, hosted by the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), is an opportunity to promote excellence in education, culture, empowerment, values, purpose, and belonging for students in grades 6 through 8. It supports the academic achievement of Black students and celebrates the richness of the Black diaspora experience. Started in 2023, it’s an opportunity to encourage middle school students to start thinking about and planning for their future.
“Our goal is to be able to introduce middle school students to college-going behaviors and college-going opportunities,” said Dr. Leilah Kirkendoll, director at SDCOE and co-coordinator of the summit. “The reality is, going to college starts at middle school; it doesn’t start at 9th grade. So this is our opportunity to get to them start thinking now about their future.”
Keynote speaker and high school senior Julian Frederick, also known as the Step Stool Chef, taught students the key ingredients to lead through a live cooking demonstration featuring his “leadership burger.”
Each layer of the burger, including the bun, patty, and toppings, represented an ingredient necessary to lead. The bottom bun was showing up; energy was the sauce; responsibility was the burger patty; toppings were initiative and courage; and the top bun was impact and how you treat people.
Students Ty and Jihvon from Lewis Middle School in Allied Gardens said they enjoyed the session with Frederick.
“I learned that I could do anything, even starting at a young age,” Ty said.
Following Frederick’s remarks, students broke into groups and rotated through a variety of breakout sessions. Workshop topics included developing leadership potential, strengthening their school community, and learning what greatness means.
In one session hosted by the ANEW Project, students were throwing balls and jumping around, but Jihvon shared they were learning about teamwork during the interactive activity.
Rayna Martinez, teacher at Lewis Middle School, said that it was important for her small population of Black students to attend the summit to be around community and hear inspiring messages from leaders so they know where to go and what they can do.
Her colleagues shared her praise for the summit, sharing they liked how students were able to interact with one another and how important it was to have an event like this for middle school students.
“At SDCOE, we are committed to creating learning environments where every student feels they are seen, heard, and valued. Where students’ unique strengths are celebrated and their culture is honored,” said Dr. Gloria E. Ciriza, San Diego County Superintendent of Schools. “Hosting events and opportunities like this summit demonstrate our commitment to these goals.”
Presenters included Juan Arambul, the ANEW Project; Cheryl Carr, Jurutha Montgomery, and Talia Woods, Young and Prosperous Foundation; Mick Rabin and students Abbey and Major, San Diego Unified School District; and Dr. Lavar Watkins, president and CEO of LKW STEM Foundation. Learn more about the speakers and workshops on the event website.
Schools in attendance at the summit included: Bell, Lewis, Pershing, and Mann from San Diego Unified; Guajome Park Academy and Roosevelt from Vista Unified; Chula Vista, Castle Park and Hilltop from Sweetwater Union; MLK, Santa Margarita, Chavez, Lincoln, Stuart Mesa, North Terrace, and Jefferson from Oceanside; Howard Gardner Community, Santa Fe Christian, and Preuss School UCSD.
The summit was sponsored by SDCOE with support from the ANEW Project and the Superintendent’s Black Advisory.
