
AAPAC UPDATES
APRIL 2022
Spring Is In The Air!
Greetings African American/Black Families, AAPAC Members, and Valued Partners,
What does Spring represent for you?
For AAPAC, Spring represents renewal and new beginnings. The blooming flowers and clearing skies that give way to warmer temperatures, brighten up our days and give us hope for what is to come. With transitions in the school district (the hiring of a new Superintendent, newly appoint School Board members, laid off staff, retiring educators...), impending budgets, new draft plans for and our own personal shifts in family or life, there is sure to be feelings of uncertainty and unsettledness. But, it is our hope that you will also see opportunity and possibility. TOGETHER, we can help shape and create our "tomorrow".
One way to be a part of what is to come is to be informed. Upon learning to read in the Americas, our enslaved ancestors (who were denied the right) made a commitment to one another that "Each one, teach one." We invite you to make the same commitment. Let's work together to educate ourselves and one another on resources, opportunities, and information that support the upward mobility of our communities and our children and then... let's organize! Please share this newsletter, invite fellow parents of Black children to our monthly meetings, partner with your child's school site(s) and when it is time, join us when we stand up to demand academic excellence for our children in SFUSD.
As always, we invite you to reach out with any questions, concerns, or shareable information by contacting us at sfusd.edu/aapac. Until we see you again, be well and Happy Spring!
For the past 6 years the African American Parent Advisory Council has committed ourselves to diversifying the literary offerings of our young people and their families. On March 25th, AAPAC teamed up with Bessie Carmichael K-8, the Little Free Library Read In Color Initiative, and Access Books Bay Area to install one of 10 Little Tree Libraries coming to a community near you.
We will be installing 9 additional Little Free Libraries across San Francisco. If you have an idea for a location or would like to be a Steward supporting the upkeep of our libraries, please reach out to us at aapac@sfusd.edu.
AAPAC UPDATES
Please join us Thursday, April 21st at 5:30 pm for our monthly AAPAC meeting focused on Healing and Wellness Pt. 2. We will also share information on Summer offerings and the latest on SFUSD budgets and transitions. Please be on the lookout for the Zoom Link Registration.
Previous AAPAC Meeting
On Thursday, March 17th we were joined by the African American Achievement and Leadership Initiative and members of the African American Reparations Advisory Committee to talk about Accountability to Black Students & Their Families. If you missed it, please see the slide deck presentation.
Be The Healing with Dr. Joy DeGruy
AAPAC is partnering with the Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness and the Homeless Children's Network who will host Dr. Joy Degruy for a two-day "Be the Healing" Symposium. Dr. Joy DeGruy authored the book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing, (newly revised) which addresses the residual impacts of trauma on African Descendants in the Americas.
Come and learn from Dr. DeGruy in this two-day community event featuring presentations, community conversations, wellness tools, breakout group sessions, food, music, poetry, and much more. You can attend in-person or online. Please REGISTER early as space is limited. **Each family will also receive a stipend of $150 per day to be released to participants at the end of the 2nd day if you attend both days.
Redistricting in San Francisco
Every 10 years, the City redraws districts based on census data. According to the SF Census Redistricting website, "Redistricting is done to equalize the populations in the districts, using various criteria." This could have major impacts on the communities of color including our voting power.
Your voices need to be heard! There are several ways to do that, but the easiest is to attend a community meeting and then submit your Community of Interest public input. Click the link to learn more. For a list of upcoming community meetings by district, visit the redistricting website.
SFUSD UPDATES
Every Thursday, families who have included their email addresses in ParentVUE will receive the Family Announcement Bulletin (FAB), an email summary of all public website announcements posted in the past week. Learn how to update your contact information in ParentVUE. Interested community members can also sign up to receive FAB.
This week's FAB includes information about: (click links for more information and additional updates):
Parent Education Institute - Every Shut Eye Ain’t Sleep: A Cultural Lens for Maximizing Team building between Families and Educators Join this meeting on April 13 to hear about navigating Special Education for Families of Color with Dr. Mary Bacon.
School Access Plan SFUSD is collaborating with the San Francisco County Transportation Authority on a to improve transportation options for K-5 students and their caregivers. As part of this effort, the Transportation Authority is seeking participants for 2-hour, virtual, paid focus groups. Focus groups will happen in late April or early May via Zoom. Participants will receive a $100 Visa gift card. Sign up through this form before April 18th.
High School Credit Recovery (HSCR) Through the Office of Extended Learning and Support (ExLS), SFUSD offers High School Credit Recovery (HSCR) opportunities for students that need to earn credits towards graduation and/or to become UC-CSU eligible.
April is SFUSD LGBTQ+ Pride Month! Please review SFUSD's pride resource pages to find activity ideas, lessons, and more!
Bike & Roll to School Week! Join thousands across the city to celebrate Bike & Roll to School Week 2022, April 18-22! Whether students are on a bike, scooter, wheelchair, or skateboard, it’s healthy, green, and FUN. Sign up your school or pledge to roll the week of April 18-22 for a gift!
Get Free Training to Learn a SFUSD Technology Tool Families can sign up for a free, 30-minute personalized training session with a skilled volunteer to learn an SFUSD technology tool.
Stipended Youth Art Exchange Summer Arts Internships Earn a $1500 stipend while learning about art! Open to rising 9th-12th graders planning to attend SFUSD schools in the Fall. Apply by April 22.
Check out additional updates not listed above via the FAB.
Board of Education Meetings
Unless otherwise noticed, meetings are held every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 5pm and are open to the public. REGULAR SFUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS ARE HELD IN PERSON WITH OPTION FOR THE PUBLIC TO OBSERVE THE MEETING VIRTUALLY. To see the agenda or receive the virtual link visit the BOE Webpage. The next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, April 12th at 5pm.
SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES
COMMUNITY UPDATES
AAPAC encourages you to stay connected to community resources as well. Please visit the websites listed below for more information on activities and opportunities throughout San Francisco. The link to each organization is in the title.
Aim High is a no-cost, in-person summer learning program for 5th-8th grade students. Our five-week program keeps students actively, joyfully learning, and building connections to their classmates and teachers all summer long. Aim High provides a mix of project-based academics, social-emotional learning, outdoor activities, exciting field trips, and community building activities. APPLICATION DEADLINE IS TODAY APRIL 8TH.
The Summer 2022 applications are now live!
The intern application is available to San Francisco youth and young adults, aged 13 - 24. You must be a San Francisco resident and/or student to qualify for an Opportunities For All Internship. The Fellow application is available to applicants who have graduated high school, and are aged 18 - 25, only.
Application links and answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) can be found at https://www.opps4allsf.org/faq-apply-for-internship
Mission Bit is hosting a Summer Coding Bootcamp for 9th – 12th graders, including rising 9th graders and 12th graders who just graduated June 21 – July 30. Application Deadline is May 8 at 8pm. Apply at missionbit.org/programs/classes
SMART is a 12-year college access program that starts in 4th grade and goes all the way through college. We work with low-income scholars and their families in SF to support them to be in the first generation in their families to graduate from college. SMART is hiring for their six-week summer program in June and July serves rising 5th and 6th grade students to prevent and reduce instances of summer learning loss, while providing enriching activities to develop and strengthen the positive bonds of youth to their peers and communities. Learn more here.
African American Reparations Advisory Committee (AARAC)
Per the January 4, 2022 SF Human Rights Commission Media Advisory- The African American Reparations Advisory Committee was established by City ordinance to examine the possibilities of reparations for descendants of enslaved persons in San Francisco, a community impacted by historic and continued harms. Detailing the Committee’s mission and goals, this Report serves as the body’s first milestone, delivered six months after its initial convening.
The AARAC meets on the 2nd Monday of every month at 5:30pm. To tune in, register at bit.ly/SF-Reparations. Public comment is highly encouraged.
Help a child in foster care stay in the city. Click on the above link to learn more about fostering, adopting, hosting or mentoring. For current foster parents, learn your rights.
Black to the Future is committed to enhancing educational and economic opportunities for our community by instilling the necessary tools to become successful. Black to the Future’s goal is to engage youth and young adults ages 14 to 35 around a continuum of culturally competent services that consider their role in family, community, and the overall landscape of San Francisco. Learn more or complete a family intake by clicking on the above link.
MegaBlack SF is a collective of Black-led organizations and Black individuals fighting for visibility, sovereignty, dignity, and justice for Black San Franciscans. For more information on MegaBlack SF, to be added to their newsletter, or to join the weekly meetings, visit their site linked in the title.
The Dream Keeper Initiative is a new, citywide effort to reinvest $120 million over the next two years from law enforcement into San Francisco’s Black and African American community. This Initiative is part of Mayor London N. Breed’s roadmap for reforming public safety and addressing structural inequities in San Francisco. The Dream Keeper Initiative aims to break the cycle of poverty and involvement in the criminal justice system for the families in City programs and ensure that new investments, including in youth development, economic opportunity, community-led change, arts and culture, workforce, and homeownership, are accessible to San Francisco’s families who are most in need.
Learn more about partner organizations and activities by visiting the linked website.
*AAPAC is an honored partner and recipient of DreamKeeperSF Funds.
Rafiki's goal is to improve people’s lives by reversing the history of health inequalities that affect the Black community and other under-served groups in San Francisco. Rafiki provides a safe, supportive environment where people can find a path to wellness by understanding their health issues, becoming more physically active, and eating a healthy diet. Rafiki is also spearheading covid vaccine and testings sites as well as free food giveaways.
Mo’ MAGIC is a collaborative, San Francisco neighborhood-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform the community and youth through the MAGIC of collaboration.
a comprehensive program for K-12th graders that provides after-school and summer programming that focuses on literacy, STEAM, and sports activities. Also included in the Magic Zone program is our workforce development and job readiness services through the Community Safety Initiative and partnership with Mayor London Breed's Opportunities for All initiative.
BMAGIC is a network of San Francisco neighborhood-based nonprofit organizations whose mission is to facilitate, coordinate and develop community resources and opportunities that support service providers and community members in Bayview Hunters Point (BVHP).
Our neighboring YMCAs offer a variety of resources and opportunities that are free or low-cost to the community. The YMCA offers wellness groups, fitness classes, academic support, and more for the entire family.
Community Advisory Committee for Special Education (CAC)
The purpose of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education is to advocate for effective Special Education programs and services and advise the Board of Education on priorities in the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). CAC meets every 4th Thursday of the month. Visit their linked site for more information.
Grounded in the community schools model/framework, Beacon Centers are committed to a cohesive, comprehensive, and collaborative approach that creates pathways to lifelong learning and transformative experiences for youth and the adults who support them through advocacy, leadership, networking, and program support.
Our mission is to create a cadre of college and career-ready students from San Francisco's underserved communities to begin and complete post-secondary education or vocational training. 100% offers academic support, college readiness resources, leadership opportunities and more. Programming is free. To sign up complete this form.
5 Keys Digital Literacy Program
Five Keys Schools and Programs is offering a 10 week Digital Literacy Program. Participants who complete the program can take home a brand new laptop! If you are a San Francisco resident who receives CalWORKs, PAES, and/or CalFresh public assistance benefits you can be referred by HSA staff! To learn more or to register, email or call Domenique Charles at domeniquec@fivekeys.org I 510.206.1403.
ABOUT US
Email: aapac@sfusd.edu
Website: sfusd.edu/aapac
Location: 1551 Newcomb Avenue, Room 1, San Francisco, CA, USA
Phone: (415) 241-6121
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aapacsf