Pasadena Unified Forms Black Student and Family Task Force

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) has launched the Black Student and Family Task Force in partnership with Equation 2 Success and the African American Parent Council (AAPC). 

The task force aims to create an actionable plan in support of PUSD’s Resolution 2566, published in June 2020, which reiterates the district’s commitment to Black students, authored by PUSD Board of Education President Michelle Richardson Bailey. The resolution focuses on supporting Black students’ academic achievement and Black families’ well-being within the District. 

On Saturday, Oct. 7, PUSD will introduce the members of the executive task force at an event at Franklin Elementary School, located at 527 Ventura Street in Altadena, starting at 10:30 a.m.

“This is an opportunity for the greater community to come alongside PUSD, AAPC, and Dr. Kimi Wilson of Equation 2 Success with this commendable task of changing the educational landscape,” Superintendent Bailey said. “We are forging a path and knocking down barriers and biases that have influenced a culture of minimalistic thinking towards educating our young Black scholars.” 

The task force includes district leaders and AAPC leadership, and is seeking volunteers to serve on subcommittees. The subcommittees will address various focus areas such as curriculum and instruction, enrollment, engagement, facilities, climate and culture, and special education.

“My top priority is to facilitate a task force where lost voices of the Black community are centered, listened to, and active participants design actionable outcomes to support, and sustain Black students and families’ success in PUSD,” Dr. KiMi Wilson, Equation 2 Success CEO, said.

Wilson, an educator with over 20 years of experience, founded Education 2 Success in 2019 “to transform learning for the next generation of amazing minds,” the nonprofit’s website says. 

John Lynch, AAPC Chair, said that by focusing on the needs of marginalized student groups, including Black students, the education system as a whole will become stronger.

“As an African American Parent Council, we are proud of the advocacy work that we have done, and will continue to do, to push for programs, systems and policies that improve the educational success of Black students and families in Pasadena,” Lynch said. “This next step is an important one for us, as we lift community voices and ideas in the creation of a district department solely focused on meeting the holistic educational needs of Black students and families in PUSD.”

Lynch added the AAPC, with support from PUSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, intends to follow in the footsteps of districts all over the state that have institutionalized and funded support for Black students and families. 

To RSVP for the Oct. 7 event, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJs55TM_0z_WhjosSZgEzsSGcfg9NKIYvqW2k1NicUrRb5Ww/viewform and sign up. 

To join one of the subcommittees in the new task force, contact AAPC at info@aapcpusd.com.