Parent & Community Engagement
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Sankofa Parent Village
Sankofa Parent Village (SPV) is a community of care and support for Parents and Caregivers of Black children. LBUSD is committed to centering the unique needs of our community members and engaging in a way that affirms their cultural identities. We recognize that our Village members play an essential role in helping students attain success in school, and as partners, we endeavor to work together to make certain that all Black children achieve excellence on purpose. We strive to provide our Village with the information, tools, and skills that will empower them to elevate academic achievement and center social-emotional wellbeing in their home, school, and community.
Increasing the Number of Sankofa Parent Villages
We are committed to increasing the number of Sankofa Parent Villages across our school sites as a way to strengthen family engagement, build community, and affirm the cultural identity of our students. These Villages provide safe and supportive spaces where parents and caregivers can come together to share experiences, exchange resources, and collaborate with schools to advocate for the success of Black students. By expanding this model, we aim to ensure that more families have access to culturally affirming networks of support that uplift student achievement, foster belonging, and deepen the vital partnership between home, school, and community.
Elevating Intergenerational Wisdom
Elevating intergenerational wisdom involves the exchange of knowledge and experiences between different generations. Elders mentor younger individuals by passing down valuable insights and fostering respect. Younger generations, in turn, strive to gain this knowledge. This dynamic element embraces the African proverb “Sankofa” which says, “It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten.” It emphasizes the importance of elevating the knowledge and experiences of older generations and ancestors as essential lessons for future generations.
The CBSE’s goal is to connect passionate role models and mentors with mentees to convey intergenerational wisdom, stories of survival and perseverance, and guidance that fosters pride and resilience.
Uplifting the Community
Uplifting the Community supports efforts and projects that strengthen the Black Community through acts of service. It contributes to the collective growth and development of the entire community. This element embraces a collective effort to increase positive visibility and create powerful counternarratives. This commitment not only uplifts the community and those who are actively engaged in it but also acknowledges the deep interconnectedness between individual success within the Black Community, the broader Black Communities, and the overall narrative of Black success.
The CBSE’s goal is to create opportunities that promote volunteerism and engagement to encourage unity and address systemic inequities within the community and to ensure that all voices are represented and heard and that Black students' needs are met in educational and community spaces.
Community Garden
We are excited to share our efforts to bring a community garden to life, a vibrant space where students, families, and neighbors can gather, learn, and grow together. This garden will serve as more than just a place to plant fruits and vegetables; it will be a living classroom for teaching sustainability, healthy eating, and cultural traditions rooted in the land. It will also be a space of reflection, connection, and joy, where the community can come together to nurture both the soil and one another. Our vision is for the garden to flourish as a source of pride and wellness for all to enjoy.
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Related Flyers
Sankofa Parent Village Calendar 25/26
A Father's Voice
Elevating Intergenerational Wisdom
Sankofa Parent Village Meeting 3.16.26
Sankofa in the News
Millikan SPV Explore your future event
Dr. Tunette Powell with SPV Community
SankofaA-GProject
Sankofa Summer Academy 2026
Sankofa Parent Village Meeting 4.13.26
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Contact Us
Dr. Elyssa Taylor-Stewart
Administrator, Community Engagement
Phone: 562-366-2240
ETaylor@lbschools.net
Dr. Elyssa Taylor-Stewart serves as the Student, Family, and Community Engagement Administrator for the Center of Black Student Excellence. In this role, she is dedicated to building meaningful connections between the Center and the community it serves. Dr. Taylor-Stewart is committed to amplifying the voices of Black students and families while working collaboratively to create affirming spaces that honor their experiences, aspirations, and rich cultural heritage, exemplifying Black Excellence and Joy. Her focus is on co-designing liberatory engagement spaces that empower and uplift the community, grounded in the resilience, brilliance, and beauty of Black people. She looks forward to ongoing engagement, identifying counter narratives, and supporting the realization of hopes and dreams as we collectively work toward a brighter future for Black scholars.
Mr. Gerald Brown
Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA)
Middle School Program
Phone: 562-366-2253
GBrown3@lbschools.net
As a TOSA, Mr. Brown will serve as the coordinator for “A Father’s Voice,” a male support group that centers the perspectives and leadership of Black fathers and male mentors. This role is vital in advancing the Center’s mission to affirm identity, uplift achievement, and build intergenerational community connections.
A Father’s Voice: Black Men's Empowerment Circle:
This monthly gathering is a space for Black men to come together in brotherhood to navigate real-world challenges, share lived experiences, and strengthen their roles as fathers, mentors, and community leaders. The group focuses on supporting one another through the unique responsibilities of fatherhood, with open dialogue around parenting, mental wellness, navigating systems, and helping children thrive in school. Whether you are raising young children or supporting teens through graduation, this is a safe, affirming space to connect, grow, and lead with purpose. Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to learn from one another.