By Dianne Anderson

Just because summertime is here doesn’t mean that kids have to miss out on critical cultural learning and fun.

Families looking to make sure their students are not losing good academic ground and the real American cultural backstory have a few options, starting with Sankofa Summer Academy.

Beyond academics, including lessons in Black history, the arts, research, and presentation skills, students are growing with a greater sense of contribution to community and society.

Led by Pamela Lovett, Ed.D., Equity & Excellence Coordinator in the Office of the Deputy Superintendent, the summer academy gives students a place to build friendships and deeper learning. Coming from the Akan language of Ghana, Sankofa means learning from the past to move forward more wisely.

“I like Sankofa because we learn about our history and ancestors and how they carved a path for us, like James Weldon Johnson, who wrote ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’” said Julian, a sixth grader.

Through the district’s expanded learning program, the academy is still accepting K-8 students at The Center of Black Excellence at Lindbergh Middle School, located at 1022 E. Market Street in Long Beach. The program, which runs through July 17, offers morning programming from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with supervised childcare available until 4:30 p.m. for families who need a safe space that fits around work schedules.

“I love Sankofa because of being with my friends. I feel happy when I am part of this community. This is different from my school. It is important for me to be here, so I can bring joy, brilliance, and dignity from the past and present. I like being introduced to Black people I didn’t know, like W.E.B. Du Bois, Carter G. Woodson and Frederick Douglass,” said Christian, a sixth grader.

Elvia Cano, spokesperson for the Long Beach Unified School District, said more space is also available at select summer sites for WRAP and the broader Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, serving transitional kindergarten through eighth-grade students.

Other city-run youth programs add another layer of activities with Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine offering youth mobile recess, after-school programs, community learning hubs, and seasonal fun days.

Next up, Saturday, August 22, families are invited to attend the Black Student Achievement Initiative Symposium, “Rooted in Sankofa, Unlocking the Future: Connecting Families to Resources, Relationships and Opportunities,” running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lindbergh Middle School.

“There is still space available at select summer program sites, and families are encouraged to enroll through the District’s Expanded Learning Office,” Cano said. “The symposium will connect students and families with valuable resources, community partners, and educational opportunities that support student success.”

Families seeking structured, supervised summer spaces can also check out YMCA of Greater Long Beach day camps with activities offered for TK through eighth grade at several local sites. The Lakewood Family YMCA, a hub branch of the YMCA of Greater Long Beach, is rolling out its 10-week summer day camp, a full-day program of supervision and enrichment designed to help kids grow socially and emotionally.

There, kids and teens experience a variety of breakout activities from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. Depending on the week, day campers can dive into programs like aqua, robotics, Ninja Gymnastics, STEM-focused LEGO design, coding, or culinary arts. High schoolers can also make their way to adulthood through the Counselor in Training program.

Running this July, that program offers ninth- through 12th-graders a chance to shadow staff with an introduction to leadership and real-world experience.

On the agenda, more tech fun focused on entrepreneurship is happening at the nonprofit The Hidden Genius Project. The 15-month program started in the Bay Area but now has a permanent Long Beach hub to keep Black male high school students plugged into mentorship, computer science, programming, and coding.

Elijah Flores, a student from the project’s Southern California expansion cohort, talked about the personal impact and his opportunity to be a Youth Educator while in the program.

“The Hidden Genius Project gave me something positive to do rather than being in the house playing video games. I had something to do and was actually learning some vital skills about coding and life in general, especially about being a Black man in America,” he said.

He also designed Seremien, a language-learning app that teaches Garifuna, meaning “Thank you” in the language spoken by the Garinagu people of Dangriga, Belize. He said he was inspired to preserve Garifuna by giving more people the opportunity to learn and connect with the language.

“For the first time in my life, I learned how to evaluate a problem facing our communities step-by-step and brainstorm ideas to solve these issues, even ways to test them,” he said. “I thought problem solving was a hard thing to do and didn’t realize how easy and simple it was until The Hidden Genius Project showed me. Now I think I can change the world by following the same process and putting in the work.”

For more information, see:

• BSAI Events & Locations Calendar: https://www.lbschools.net/departments/deputy-superintendent/bsai/cbse/home
• Center for Black Student Excellence: (562) 366-2245
• The Hidden Genius Project: https://www.hiddenrichgeniusproject.org/