Black Grad 2024 Booklet

B L A C K

Y O U T H

L E A D E R S H I P

P R O J E C T

P R E S E N T S

Black Graduation

CELEBRATION

STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW WE’RE HERE CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2024!!

BLACK GRAD BOOKLET

SUNDAY

JUNE

23

2024 AT 4PM

DISTRICT 56 8230 Civic Center Dr Suite #100, Elk Grove, CA 95757

BYLP.ORG

OFFICIAL WELCOME

Dear Attendees of BYLP's Black Graduation Celebration, On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is with great pleasure that we welcome you to this momentous occasion. We are thrilled that you are here to join us in honoring and celebrating the remarkable achievements of our graduates and promoters. This event is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to their educational journey.

Today, we gather as an intentional community, bound by a shared sense of pride and unity. We recognize the significance of this celebration as we embrace and uplift Black excellence. It is a time to reflect on the incredible accomplishments of our graduates and promoters and to acknowledge the unique challenges they have overcome.

We want you to know that we have something truly special in store for you. This celebration is more than just an event; it is an opportunity for us to come together and forge lasting connections, fostering a network of support and empowerment. It is a space where we can collectively bask in the brilliance and resilience of the Black community.

As you sit back and immerse yourself in the festivities, we encourage you to savor every moment. Let the spirit of this occasion fill your heart with joy and inspiration. Take the time to appreciate the achievements of these remarkable individuals as they embark on the next phase of their educational journey, armed with the knowledge and experience they have gained.

Tonight, we celebrate not only the accomplishments of our graduates and promoters but also the strength and unity of our community. Together, we stand tall, showcasing the power of collaboration, determination, and unwavering support. By honoring the brilliance within us, we pave the way for an even brighter future.

Once again, we extend our warmest welcome to each and every one of you.

Thank you for joining us in this celebration of Black excellence. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the remarkable journey we are about to embark upon together.

With deepest appreciation,

Lorreen R. Pryor Lorreen r. Pryor President/CEO President/CEO

HOSTS - BLK V. BOE PODCAST TEAM

QUINESSA

KEILA ADRIENE

MS. LORREEN

PROGRAM NEGRO NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR THE KIDS IN MY 8TH GRADE SPANISH CLASS -ARIANA BROWN

2024 BLACK GRAD CELEBRATION INTRODUCTION WELCOME & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FIRST FEW: NAME THAT TUNE VIOLIN PERFORMANCE - FAITH VILLAFANA SMITH

PRE K & ELEMENTARY PROMOTION RECOGNITION WHOLE MOOD SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION BYLP KIDS TRIVIA

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMOTION RECOGNITION ADVOCACY SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION POEM - MILISSA JOI SUTTON EARLINE JACKSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION

HIGH SCHOOL & COLLEGE RECOGNITION

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: OLIVER NORTH BYLP WHOLE MOOD TRIVIA

BLACK EXCELLENCE HONOREES CLOSE OUT DINNER

CLASS OF 2024 GRADUATES PRE K PROMOTERS BARON JAMES BAULWIN - ELITHA DONNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KAINE DANIEL - FOULKS DONNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NAIMA DEBBS - DAVID REESE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MALANI HAMILTON - WOODBINE ELEMENTARY MAYAH TAYLOR - DAVID REESE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ELEMENTARY PROMOTERS BRICE JOURNEY BAULWIN - CALIFORNIA MONTESSORI PROJECT GIA HAYES - ROY HERBERGER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SIMAYA ODUNI - C.C.A. KALEELA MARIE LEROY LEWIS - ZEHNDER RANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KHLOEE DENISE PRINCESS WARD - COLA ACADEMY

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMOTERS KANE BELLAZAIRE - WESTMINSTER MATH MAGNET SCHOOL MIKAYLA CENANCE - GIL GARCETTI LEARNING CENTER KAYCIE JOHNSON - WATTS LEARNING CENTER JAYLIN BARKUS - JOHN EHRHARDT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MIYANNI BYRD - RIDGEPOINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAYDEN CRISP - JOSEPH SIMS ELEMENTARY MICAH E. TAYLOR - LEONARDO DA VINCI SCHOOL A’ROSE BILBREW - TEACH ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY ANTHONY CALTON - HARRIET EDDY MIDDLE SCHOOL MERVIN CENANCE - BRET HARTE PREPARATORY MIDDLE SCHOOL JORDAN CHISHOLM - JOHN H. STILL XAVIER CLOY - UMOJA INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY MICHAEL JACKSON - FORTUNE MIDDLE SCHOOL JALAYAH PIERCE CARLISLE - WESTLAKE CHARTER SCHOOL MICAH DANIEL SAINTE-PETERSON - HEARTSTONE CHARTER SCHOOL MARIAH TAYLOR - SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING MAYAH TAYLOR - ETHEL I. BAKER JAZYAH TURNER - KINGSWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL SERIYAH WILLIAMS - SIERRA VIEW ELEMENTARY

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES KIELAN BLACKSHIRE - CONSUMNES OAK HS NIA COBB - WILLIAM DAYLOR HS JA’LEN FLENORY - LAGUNA CREEK HS CANAI GATLIN - FRANKLIN HS J’DA HINES - SHELDON HS INDIA ISAAC - CAPITAL CHRISTIAN HS JAYDA JOHNSON - MONTEREY TRAIL HS AMIYAH KEMP - CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HS ARIANA MCCULLOUGH - C.K. MCCLATCHY HS JANAE MEREDITH - SACRAMENTO JOB CORPS, SIA TECH BRIAN MILLS - LAGUNA CREEK HS JAY MITCHELL - ROSEMONT HS KIMORA MORELY - C.K. MCCLATCHY HS JAEL ELISE MORGAN - THE MET HS DAYANAH LOLA NINATA OTHMAN - SACRAMENTO JOB CORPS, SIA TECH AADRIAN POPE - JOHN F. KENNEDY HS MIYAH QUINN - FRANKLIN HS

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES CONT. JON RANKINS JR. - ALDAR ACADEMY SERENA R. SMITH - LOS FLORES HS MILISSA JOI SUTTON - DA VINCI HS LEIA TAYLOR - DUNCANVILLE HS JONAH WILLIAMS - SACRAMENTO JOB CORPS AALIYAH YOUNGBLOOD - MONTEREY TRAIL HS

COLLEGE GRADUATES UNDERGRADUATE EYANNA BROWN - SACRAMENTO STATE UNIVERSITY SIMONE LEE DEBBS - SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE JADA LYDIA GREY GENESIS HAYES - AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE JALEN HILL - MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY CAITLYN MOLLOW - SACRAMENTO STATE UNIVERSITY NATASIA RODRIGUEZ - SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE GENESIS A. TAYLOR - SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE MAI TOWNSEND - SACRAMENTO STATE UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE CHARLES A. MIXON III - STRAYER UNIVERSITY, MASTERS VELEDA MIXON - STRAYER UNIVERSITY, MASTERS DR. CHARITY CHANDLER-COLE - LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY, PHD DR. JEREMY DEWAYNE GREENE - UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC, PHD

Black Graduation

CELEBRATION

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

Dr. Toniesha D. Webb Dr. Toniesha D. webb

DR. WEBB IS ENTERING HER 16TH YEAR IN EDUCATION. SHE BEGAN HER CAREER AS A HISTORY TEACHER IN OAKLAND UNIFIED AND NOW SUPERVISES PRINCIPALS AT ASPIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN HER CURRENT ROLE, SHE ASSISTS AND COACHES PRINCIPALS IN CREATING SAFE AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR STUDENTS. DR. WEBB BELIEVES THAT EDUCATION IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER. WHEN APPROACHED CORRECTLY, STRATEGICALLY, AND THOUGHTFULLY, IT CAN CLOSE GAPS AND CREATE PATHWAYS FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF ALL STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS OF COLOR.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Keith Hodges Keith Hodges

KEITH HODGES HAS DEDICATED OVER 30 YEARS TO EDUCATION, BEGINNING AS A MATH TEACHER AT RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL IN 1991. HE TAUGHT AT BERKELEY HIGH, EL CERRITO HIGH, AND OAKLAND TECHNICAL HIGH, WHERE HE ALSO SERVED AS SENIOR CLASS ADVISOR AND MATH DEPARTMENT CHAIR. HE LATER TAUGHT AT NATOMAS HIGH AND GALT HIGH, CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROJECT PIPELINE TEACHER CREDENTIAL PROGRAM AND EARNING HIS ADMINISTRATIVE CREDENTIAL FROM SACRAMENTO STATE. KEITH HELD ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES AT SEA CHARTER HIGH SCHOOLS, INDERKUM HIGH, AND SANTA CRUZ CITY SCHOOLS, DIRECTING THE ALGEBRA BRIDGE MATH ACCELERATION PROGRAM. HE TAUGHT AT MONTEREY TRAIL HIGH, CO-ADVISED THE BSU, AND NOW TEACHES AT WOODLAND HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE HE FOUNDED THE DREAMMAKERS FARM AND OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. KEITH IS MARRIED TO PAMELA AND HAS A SON, DEUNTE LAWSON-HODGES.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Wilisha Beatty Cherry Wilisha Beatty Cherry WILISHA BEATTY-CHERRY IS A NATIVE OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA. SHE IS THE WIFE OF STEVEN CHERRY SR., PROUD MOTHER OF 7 AND GRANDMOTHER OF 6. SHE IS AN ENTHUSIASTIC CHILD DEVELOPMENT TEACHER AT VILLAGE OAKS HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS WORKED FOR LINCOLN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SINCE 2009. WILISHA EARNED AN ASSOCIATE OF ARTS IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES IN 2015, A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES IN 2020 AND IS CURRENTLY A STUDENT AT TCSJ OF SAN JOAQUIN. SHE IS THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF FRUITFUL CHERRY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015. WILISHA DEMONSTRATES HER “FRUITFULNESS” BY BEING A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL AND THROUGH LIVING OUT ACTS OF LOVE AND KINDNESS. YOUTH ADVOCACY AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ARE THE CORE OF HER BEING. WILISHA’S DAILY MESSAGE TO HERSELF AND TO OTHERS IS TO “BE ENCOURAGED!”

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dante Bush Dante bush

COACH DANTE BUSH IS A DEDICATED HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH, SCIENCE TEACHER, MENTOR, AND LEADERSHIP COUNSELOR FROM TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. AN ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN AT LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WITH A B.A. IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND A MINOR IN AGRICULTURAL LAW. DANTE'S CAREER SPANS ROLES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN NYC AND LEHMAN BROTHERS. SINCE 2008, HE HAS FOCUSED ON EDUCATION, WITH 15 YEARS OF TEACHING AND COACHING EXPERIENCE, CURRENTLY SERVING AS HEAD COACH AT JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL. DANTE IS MARRIED TO JASMIN FRANCIS-BUSH, HEAD OF BRAND MANAGEMENT AT UC DAVIS, AND THEY HAVE TWO CHILDREN, ZAIDEN AND ZYELLE. HE IS COMMITTED TO INSPIRING EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY IN HIS STUDENTS AND ATHLETES.

SPECIAL MUSICAL GUEST

Faith Villafana-Smith Faith Villafana-Smith

MY NAME IS FAITH, I HAVE BEEN PLAYING VIOLIN FOR 8 YEARS AND I AM CURRENTLY STUDYING WITH FRIEDA YANG, A JULLIARD BACHELORS AND MASTERS GRADUATE. I AM A PART OF THE FOLSOM LAKE COLLEGE YOUTH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND ALSO HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON JAZZ VIOLIN. I AM GRATEFUL FOR MRS. LORREEN AND THE WHOLE BYLP TEAM FOR SUPPORTING ME AND MY EDUCATION.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Oliver North is the founder and CEO of Only Thoughts of Ownership LLC, a consulting company dedicated to building community, and challenging every human to take ownership of their life while being led by passions over paychecks. Oliver is a national keynote speaker, business strategist, master trainer, mentor, and the author of the best-selling book “Win Today! A Simple Page A Day Empowers The Mind”.

He is defiant to obstacles; being 1 of 14 Children to parents that are former drug addicts, as well as going from foster care and homelessness to a master’s degree by 23. Oliver is a true radical and to him, the word “no” is simply a “yes” that has not arrived yet. He believes deeply in the concept of taking ownership in every aspect including life, leadership, education, and business. Oliver’s motto is “It’s Okay 2 Dream but Don’t Just Chase the Dream, Go Catch It”.

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