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Dear Friends and Supporters,
As a Los Angeles native, private school alum, and mother of two children of color attending Los Angeles private schools, I feel a deep soul tie to the mission of Axis: to create pathways for underrepresented students and families of color to access, navigate, and thrive in independent schools.
I am deeply moved that you have joined u in this work at a time when the very principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are under attack Your steadfast commitment to our mission helps ensure that we do not lose the hard-won progress we’ve made over decades toward equitable opportunity for students of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
COLLETTE BOWERS ZINN Founder + Executive Director
It is your dedication to educational equity that enables us to offer our services to our families and Partner Schools at no cost Your generosity unlocks new opportunities for students, families, educators, and school communities as a whole
Over the past year alone, we have:
Guided 49 students and their families through the private school admissions process, resulting in a 98% acceptance rate for our Cohort 3 students; Onboarded a founding cohort of 12 outstanding educators of color whom we are connecting with career opportunities at our Partner Schools; Launched a first-of-its-kind Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accountability (DEIA) Accreditation Program for our Partner Schools.
In this critical year for our democracy and for DEIA in education, we will be forgoing our annual gala to focus on strengthening our programming and partnerships. We invite you to join us and deepen your engagement with Axis. In solidarity and in community, we will create generational, systemic change that will shape a more equitable and inclusive society for all
Sincerely,
Collette Bowers Zinn, J D , M Ed Founder & Executive Director
In solidarity and in community, we will create generational, systemic change that will shape a more equitable and inclusive society for all.
Calvin’s family submits an application to join the Axis cohort and takes part in a virtual interview.
Follow Axis student Calvin* and his family Program. From their initial introduction to Financial Aid Workshops, Decision Day, an and advocate on their behalf.
Calvin’s family receives the exciting news that they’ve been accepted to the Axis Student Placement Program!
Calvin’s family begins a guided process of researching Axis Partner Schools.
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Calvin’s family attends an Axis Information Session, where Team Axis shares an overview of the Student Placement Program and answers their questions about private education.
Calvin joins Axis for a playdate with his fellow kindergarten applicants, where Team Axis assesses his kindergarten readiness.
Calvin and his family get to know their fellow cohort families at Axis Orientation and meet representatives from Axis Partner Schools
Axis Executive
Collette Bowe with Calvin’s fa deep dive into education nee they generate schools to exp
Collabo Session their journey through the Axis Student Placement
Axis at an Information Session, to their Collaboration Sessions,
nd beyond... Axis is there every step of the way to guide, represent,
Calvin’s family completes the Axis Common Application, which Axis submits on their behalf to up to five Partner Schools of their choice
ration ons
Director
rs Zinn meets amily to do a their unique ds Together, a list of lore
Calvin’s family attends a Financial Aid Workshop to learn how to navigate their financial aid applications, and Axis provides individualized feedback and support
Calvin’s family receives the news of their final admissions decisions, and Axis provides support in making their final school decisions
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After participating in the Axis Interview Exposure Event, Calvin’s family participates in admissions interviews at the schools where they’ve applied.
Axis meets with each Partner School to answer any questions that they may have about Axis candidates.
Axis continues to provide Calvin’s family with ongoing support, from enrollment through graduation.
The purpose of the Educator Placement and Transformative Leadership Cohort is to assist quality educators of color on their journey exploring, applying to, and transitioning into an independent school community that aligns with their educational philosophy and professional goals. We provide ongoing support and professional development opportunities for our annual cohort of educators of color.
Axis recently hosted a 2024 Cohort Meet and Greet, with special guests from our partners at the Black Educator Advocates Network, with a focus on fostering longevity in independent schools.
50
Educators of Color in the Pipeline
12
Educators of Color Onboarded into the 2024 Educator Cohort
10
Goal Number of Educators of Color Placed in Axis Partner Schools in 2024
Private School Axis is committed to supporting schools in their system-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion practices through comprehensive accountability.
We are currently piloting the Axis Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accountability (DEIA) Accreditation Program at The Waverly School through summer 2024 The program will officially launch in fall 2024.
The accreditation process begins with a self-evaluation helping schools assess their past, current, and future DEIA efforts and providing ample opportunity for self-reflection.
Next, a team of educators, administrators, and practitioners conducts an on-site visit to provide a 360-degree assessment of the self-evaluation findings.
Together, the Axis team and school accreditation committee develop an actionable plan with defined DEIA goals, charting a transformative course forward.
Students + Families Served to Date
98%
$36,249 $1M+
Total Financial Aid Offered to Cohort 3 by Partner Schools
139 of Cohort 3 Students Admitted to an Independent School in 2024 Families Signed Up for Axis Information Sessions in 2024 320+
Average Cohort 3 Financial Aid Applicant Award
16+
Hours of Counseling + Support Per Family Per Admissions Cycle
94% of Axis Students Across 3 Cohorts Admitted to an Independent School
50
Families Accepted to Cohort 4
My daughters’ knowledge of what they can do and what is possible for them has been expanded.
“Private School Axis opened a door that I never knew was there. Throughout the process, there was a lot of selfdoubt does my family belong in private school? Axis provided the support I needed. Just like a family, when you’re down or you doubt yourself, Private School Axis gave me that reassurance
When we started the process with Axis, my daughters were just aspiring to the local Cal State universities Working with Private School Axis has opened their eyes to other universities that they never even thought of, like the Ivy League schools. Their knowledge of what they can do and what is possible for them has been expanded.”
Axis Cohort 3 Parent
Welcome to Private Schools 101
Axis held an informative summer workshop for Cohort 2 families newly admitted to Axis Partner Schools, equipping them with key information as they prepared to enter their new school communities.
Kindergarten Assessment Skills Training
Axis provided Cohort 3 families with in-depth information about developmental milestones and the kindergarten readiness skills
Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Student Mental Health Event
Max Gray Fellows from the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior joined Axis Student Interns for an impactful panel discussion on the mental health needs of BIPOC students
schools.
Cohort 3 families engaged with trained volunteers to gain exposure to the admissions interview process, and received interview feedback, tips, and resources.
Click to watch
More than 280 guests gathered at SoLa Beehive to celebrate honorees Bridgid Coulter Cheadle, Jennifer Burnham-Grubbs, and AdaPia d’Errico, while bolstering Axis’ mission to create pathways for people of color to access and thrive in independent schools.
Axis held five Information Sessions to accommodate over 300 families of color who signed up to learn more about the Axis Student Placement Program.
Team Axis answered their pressing questions and concerns about applying to private schools.
Axis is committed to fiscal prudence and responsible stewardship of your financial support. Our third year of operation was a growth year dedicated to building programming, teams, operations, and infrastructure. In 2023, 67% of our expenditures were program expenses, 19.4% general operating expenses, and 13.5% fundraising expenses
Thanks to our generous supporters, we raised $581,885 in 2023 from diversified funding sources, meeting a major goal in our fundraising strategy. We built out our major gift program and donor program, raised funding at our gala, and secured new institutional partners with gifts from the California Community Foundation and Capital Group Individual donations comprised 49% of revenue, gala fundraising 38%, and institutional giving 13%
As we look ahead to 2024-2025, we have a goal of doubling revenue to create additional stability for our programming. We have already received two gifts this year from family foundations and widespread community support from our Spring Campaign We look forward to a strong year of fundraising growth
The Friends of Axis Donor Circle includes generous individual donors who have given $1,000 or more to Axis in 2023 or 2024.
Alex Amin
Anonymous (5)
Art Becerra
Rey and Gabby Banatao
Bob and Reveta Bowers
Cindy and Bob Broder
CFA Insurance Services
Natalie and Steven Clunis
Marina and Adam Cohn
Eileen and Don Coskey Fracchia
Malik Ducard
Georgia Eisner
Iman and James Farrior
Dionne and Noah Francis
Artha Gillis
Joanie Gunning
Amber Hankey
Kerri Harper-Howie
Ethan Kraft-Hawkins
Yangchen Lama
Maria Lawrence
Chisa and Dennis Lehane
Natalie and Gray Lusk
Anita and Corey Martin
Cherie Matthews
Ife and John McMichael
Ronald Merchant
Huey Merchant and Steve Artiga
Aaron Mieszczanski
Walter Mosley
Jenna Murdock
Amanda Murray
Mia Novack
Doreen and Don Oleson
Latat Pattanaik
Grace and Tarlin Ray
Ilene Resnik
Erin Riley
Eve Rodsky
Kara Sax
James and Evis Shaffer
Suchada Shu
Andrew Smith Lewis
Ben and Ella Stewart
Kate Taylor Clewell
Ekong Udoekwere
Zoe Zeigler and Jeremiah Erby
Don and Doreen Oleson
Cindy and Bob Broder
Evis and James Shaffer
Huey Merchant and Steve Artiga
Dionne and Noah Francis
LaVonne Anderson
Anonymous (12)
Tanya Arora
Amanda Barkey
Adrien Beard
Jonathan Beckmann
Herran Bekele
Amanda Bennette
Mary Beth Barry
Bria Biggs
Black Parent Alliance
Cameron Broumand
Brittany Brown
Laurin Brown
Kevin Bryant
Rasheda Carroll
Stan and Susan Cho
Kellie Clark
Maggie Coleman
Nielle Cook
Apryl Correa
Philip Covitz
Ryan Cunning
Tina Curry
Lorraine Dalessio
Sean Daniels
Christian Davis
Courtney Ebo
Los Encinos School
A-List Event Staff
Alexis Fish
Raina Gardiner
Jessica Geoffray
Joyce George
Sharon Greene
Rasheea Hall
Ashley Harding
Brandon Harrell
Charyn Harris
Daniel Harvey
Kellie Hawkins Davis
Derrick Haynes
Amy Hayutin Contreras
Hamani Henderson
Cherie Hines
Ibrahim Idakoji
Ute Ihnat
Tyecha Jackson
Sarah Jallo
Tempest Johnson
Ramon Jones
Elizabeth Joseph
Helene Julius
Jacquelynn Jumpp
Sharon Kashfian
Peter Kobak
Jason Kulathilkarote
Rocky Lang
Geraldine Laybourne
Susanna Lovell
Kay Madati
Christine Mathew
David Mawer
Andrea Meigs
Evelyn Melendez-Payne
Rachel Mieszczanski
Joelle Montier
Priya Nambiar
Marissa Nance
Marie Neddermeyer
Elise Neugebauer
Donielle Nichols
Dayna North
Tanya Parrish
Kaci Patterson
Julia Poirier
Kimberly Prepetit
Betsy Redelman Diaz
Mateo Reyes
Andre Riley
Shaun Robinson
Heidi Rojas
Robyn Roth
Mia Sanders
Kristina Sawyer
Kara Sax
Elizabeth Shahbazi
Ben Shprits
Johnathan Skabowski
Chase Skye Realty Group
Kathryn Smith Ball
Gil Smith II
Melanie Spring
Lodie Spurlock
Martinique Starnes
Louis Sterling
Chris Teran
Ermias Tessema
Shalyn Tharayil
Tina Torni
Cassie Tran
Maggie Turner
Ashley Varakalayil
Karen Walker
Jeremy Weinstein
Tracy Wells
Malinda Williams
Stella Wilson
Joel Zadak
Jennifer Zhao
COLLETTE BOWERS ZINN, J.D., M.Ed.
Founder, Executive Director
PATRICIA GILLES Chief of Staff
ANNIKA IHNAT
Director of Communications
CHUCK NEDDERMEYER
Director of Programs and Associate Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accountability
KIKI WALKER Director of Operations
KAWANNA BROWN
Chief Operating Officer
Magic Johnson Enterprises
RASHEDA CARROLL
Assistant Head of School
Westland School
NOAH FRANCIS
Executive Director & Banker
J.P. Morgan Los Angeles Private Bank
YC (YANGCHEN) LAMA
Executive Director of Wealth Management
Morgan Stanley
MAI LASSITER
Board Member
Clara Lionel Foundation
CHERIE MATTHEWS - BOARD CHAIR
Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development
Capital Group
JOHN MCMICHAEL
Vice President & Banker
J P Morgan Los Angeles Private Bank
HUEY MERCHANT
Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist
91% of the Axis Board of Directors identify as people of color
Penny Lane Centers, Child and Family Guidance Center
AARON MIESZCZANSKI
Consultant, Education and Social Impact Practice
Spencer Stuart
ANDREW SMITH LEWIS - BOARD VICE CHAIR
Founder & CEO
ASL Industries
SAMANTHA VINCENT
President
One Race Films
ART BECERRA-FRAIJO Co-Founder, Managing Partner Toledo Development, LLC
HERRAN BEKELE News Producer & Communications Consultant
JEREMIAH ERBY Strategic Partner Lead Google
KELLIE HAWKINS DAVIS Partner EKA
LAURA KONIGSBER Head of School Turning Point School
JANINE JONES Assistant Head of School for Community and Belonging Harvard-Westlake School
GERALDINE B. LAYB Co-Founder DAY ONE Early Learnin
JASON LUKOSE Professional Developme Curriculum Associates
GRAY LUSK Founding Partner SoLa Impact
EMMANUEL MIDY Manager, Media & Ente Roku
ng Community
LALAT PATTANAIK
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
PH Robb Legacy Alliance
ent Consultant
DEANN SPELL
Legal Strategist
rtainment Performance
EKONG UDOEKWERE Partner
TroyGould PC
FARAH VELASQUEZ
Capital Strategy Associate
Mission Driven Finance
79%
of Axis Advisory Board Members identify as people of color
