Bridge Builders Foundation strengthens ties with Long Beach Unified School District

Bridge Builders Foundation (BBF) is thrilled to announce an expanded partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). Starting in the fall of 2023, BBF will provide bi-weekly mentoring support on two additional LBUSD campuses: Lakewood High School and Long Beach Wilson High School. This collaboration is part of the LBUSD Black Student Achievement Initiative (BASI) and aims to empower and uplift targeted youth through enriching experiences.

The engagement with BBF will expose students to recurring social, emotional, and cultural inputs, community enrichment field trips, weekly virtual math tutoring, and employment opportunities as Youth Ambassadors. Furthermore, it will create a pipeline for youth to access BBF’s existing STEM, Scholarship, and Mentoring resources.

BBF’s renowned “Thriving Under The Influence” Youth Leadership and Mentoring Program has been funded through the Los Angeles County “Ready to Rise” Initiative, which includes the California Community Foundation, Los Angeles County Probation Department, and Liberty Hill. The program has been successfully implemented in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for several years and has recently had a partial presence on the Long Beach Jordan High School campus.

With this formal agreement, BBF will serve as a consultant and service provider, enabling them to develop augmentative resources that address the unique needs of African American males and youth.

The Black Student Achievement Initiative was established as part of the 2021-22 LBUSD Learning Acceleration and Support Plan (LASP), which aims to provide excellent and equitable educational opportunities for students in the post-pandemic era. The plan brings together various resources to meet the needs of students and actively involves stakeholders through the BSAI Advisory Committee, which focuses on issues affecting Black students.