Celebrating the graduation and achievements of black high school students throughout the Greater Sacramento Capitol & Bay Area
WHAT: Black high school graduates to be recognized with awards, certificates, and scholarships at the first ever Black Graduation Celebration presented by Black Youth Leadership (BYLP) Project in partnership with BOSS Cares. Students from participating high schools include: Kennedy, Inderkum, McClatchy, Heritage Peak Charter, Antelope High, West High School, Folsom, Pleasant Grove, West High School, Folsom, Franklin, Center, San Juan, Home Wood High School, The Met, and Burbank. The Greater Sacramento Valley Region welcomes Dr. Stephen L. Noble M.D., Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Sutter Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, CA who will give the keynote presentation on “Take Your Rightful Place”. Dr. Noble states: “Given the current climate of 4 word slogans, catch phrases, hashtags, etc ‘Take Your Rightful Place’ is more than a simple cliche for our next generation of leaders. It is an ethos, serving as a guiding principle not only for the current class of graduates but our community as a whole.” Guest speakers to give remarks will also include: Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, Richmond City Councilmember Demnlus Johnson, III; Dr. Alan Rowe (Founder of United College Action Network, Inc. U-CAN); and Marianna Sousa (Multimedia Journalist and Community Educator). Special award presentations will include: BYLP Ambassador Scholarship, Michael D. Tubbs Scholarship, and Legacy Awards. Entertainment will include a performance by the Unity Community Choir. All are welcome and there is no fee to attend this special event. BYLP stated this special event could not been possible without all of their sponsors that include: Co-hosts – California Endowment and California Correctional Peace Officers Association; Collaborating Partners – California Cable and Telecommunications Association, California Capitol Black Staff Association, and Association of California School Administrators; Associate Partners – California Nurses Association, California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition and Pacific Gas & Electric; and Supporting Partners – Easy Corporate Housing and BOSS Cares.
WHO:
- Assemblymember Kevin McCarty – 7th California Assembly District
- Pastor Darryl Scarbrough – BOSS Church
- Jessie Ryan – Sacramento Unified School District School Board President
- Chet Madison – Elk Grove Unified School District School Board President
- Zima Creason – San Juan Unified School District School Board Member
- Christopher Clark – Folsom Cordova Unified School District, Board of Education, Vice President
- Ruthie Bolton – 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist & former WNBA Sacramento Monarchs
- Terry Gibbs – 100 Black Men of Sacramento
WHEN: June 23, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
WHERE: BOSS Church, 6524 44th St, Sacramento, CA 95823
WHY: In 2018, BYLP established an advocacy arm to help families address a myriad of issues that resulted in unfair suspensions, expulsions and arrests of Black students across school campuses. Many of these students were prevented from participating in their high school commencement ceremonies. A Black Graduation Celebration validates the Black student’s accomplishments, presents them before the community to be acknowledged for their perseverance and allows the community to come together in a display of love, unity and support. Our graduation ceremony may be the only graduation that some of our students will participate in or be recognized for this important milestone. More about BYLP, go to: https://www.bylp.org/
