by April | Community, Volunteerism
HEART was honored to have the opportunity to volunteer, support and attend KuumbaFest San Diego, San Diego’s longest running and premier celebration of African-American expression, culture, and heritage.
Kuumba (Swahili for “creativity”) Fest brings together community leaders, local performers and celebrities for an annual audience that averages 5,000. From gospel to hip-hop and theater to dance, San Diego’s Kuumba Fest present a wide showcase of arts that celebrate Black American culture in all its variety. Kuumba Fest will offer a three-day festival that includes educational workshops, hip-hop dance and speech competitions, performances of plays, Late Night Live (San Diego’s version of Late Night at the Apollo), and as always, a gospel concert finale.
HEART volunteered and attended Friday Evening’s event “A Night of Positive Images” which included:
• B.A.M. presentation
• Original man and woman
• Parade of history procession
• Royal court awards ceremony
• Best dressed contests & raffle
• Legacies: the play
KuumbaFest is San Diego’s longest running and premier celebration of African-American expression, culture, and heritage.
We believe that the three day festival provides youth a means of social development, cultural enrichment and self-empowerment.
We believe culturally enriching field trips matter. They produce significant benefits for students on a variety of educational outcomes that schools and communities care about. The effects of field trips to see live theater demonstrates that seeing plays is an effective way to teach academic content; increases our youth’s tolerance by providing exposure to a broader, more diverse world; and improves the ability of students to recognize what other people are thinking or feeling. These are significant benefits for students on specific educational outcomes that schools pursue and communities respect. Especially when considered alongside our community service efforts.
by April | Uncategorized
Treated to a Private Tour by the Admissions Dept of the University of San Diego HEART along with Dr. JAM and FANCY were treated to hands-on workshops, class lectures, campus tours and interaction with UCSD faculty and undergraduates, over 50 pre-college students, parents and mentors got more than just a savory taste of university life. “As an African American,” said one parent who participated, “I think this event not only challenged young Black students to dare to dream college and to go after that dream, but also challenged parents to get involved, and stay involved, in preparing their children for higher education –starting in early childhood.”
Indeed, the message of early academic preparation and active parental involvement were important goals when UCSD’s Admission Department and the Black Resource Center invited our organizations to take part in this eye opening experience. The event was not only intended to help enhance college-going rates of African Americans in San Diego, but to also provide an opportunity to showcase the academic and career opportunities UCSD has to offer.
And from UCSD, the event enjoyed the participation and support from the Chancellor’s Office, faculty, staff, the Black Student Resource Center and other undergraduates. “It was truly both a community and university effort,” reported Azizi James Special Assistant to the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Admission & Enrollment Services. The event immersed 8th through 12th grade students in various interactive activities with faculty, staff and undergraduates based upon students’ grade levels and academic interest. These included workshops on why college is important, how to develop “mental toughness ” for college, a debate with the UCSD Black Student Union on overcoming peer pressure.
Meanwhile, parents attended informative and motivational sessions that addressed their particular needs and concerns including workshops on how to be advocates for their children’s education, negotiating college for their children, and a special stage reading and panel discussion on how to speak to children about the importance of college.
by April | Mentoring, Personal Growth
Along with Outdoor Outreach, we headed out to Big Bear for a weekend away from the city. We reserved two cabins for the weekend to focus on teambuilding wrapped around a Saturday learning to snow board and snowboarding. Thank to the instructors at Outdoor Outreach whom we are thrilled to be a partner we will had an exhilarating time away from the city!
Traveling to Big Bear the air was filled with excitement as this would be each young man’s first opportunity to see the snow and even better snowboard. Though the ride was tight with each passing mile we grew more excited for what the weekend had in store. Once we arrived to our cabins everyone to a man jumped out to experience the snow, pure joy and excitement could be seen on each face.
The next morning we hit the snow OO made sure that we were equipped with the necessary clothing, gloves and gear, It was now time to hit the mountain. After an hour of fundamentals the guys began to get the hang of it and they were soon hitting the intermediate slopes. The entire day was full of non stop fun along with great conversation, later that night we walked around downtown Big Bear witnessing all the beauty that the quaint city had to offer.
By introducing our young men to the outdoors through exciting and joy-filled weekend, we both work to inspire underserved youth to see possibility and opportunity in their lives. We realize that through these positive types of events you began to see attitude and behavioral changes which help them become successful adults.
We had an amazing weekend in Big Bear with Outdoor Outreach…. We conquered the mountain, ate good food, saw the city and believe that these memories will last in these young men’s lives forever. Thank you Outdoor Outreach for the opportunity we appreciate the opportunity, your staff and look forward to future opportunities!
by April | Volunteerism
The San Diego Alpha Foundation Inc. hosted the Multi-Cultural Festival in partnership with the Port of San Diego, Commission for Arts and Culture, the World Beat Cultural Center, Pazazz and many other Community organizations. The Festival is free and open to the public and is being held at San Diego’s beautiful downtown waterfront park at the corner of Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway.
For the second consecutive year we assisted with the setup and breakdown of this wonderful event. We also had an information booth setup and were able to take part in the sights and sounds of the festival which was a Fun event that the whole family should participate!
The Multi-Cultural Festival Highlights included:
Beautiful Downtown Water-Front Park
Traditional Heritage Music and Dancing
Multi-Cultural Entertainment on Main Stage
Global and Ethnic Markets
Local and Regional Vendors
Children’s Area and Activities
Multi-Cultural Story Tellers
Finally this Festival showcased San Diego’s rich cultural diversity and traditional heritage through live music, dance performances, storytelling, children’s activities (drum circles, face painting and crafts), and a wide range of ethnic vendors. The Festival highlighted a myriad of multi-cultural entertainment from Native American, Asian, Cajun, Latin, Jazz and Afro-Cuban bands. To find out how you and your organization can participate please visit their website at: www.sdmulticultural.com or contact us at the phone numbers listed above or email us at: cyjames3@yahoo.com. We look forward to seeing you on January 14, 2017, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm
by April | Community
From January 4 – 8, 2016 five schools in the San Diego Unified School District were identified and had the opportunity to apply for college at 46 Historically Black Colleges and Universities for free! Through a partnership with San Diego Unified School District introduced by Marne Foster and sponsored by the Blue Heart Foundation the Common Black College Application has been made available to every senior in the district through March.
Morse, Lincoln, Crawford, San Diego and Hoover High schools were identified by the SDUSD as the pilot schools that would receive a visit from Robert Mason – CEO/Founder to personally facilitate the application process. The Common Black College Application has improved college access for the thousands of students that attend school in the San Diego Unified School District. Lincoln High School Counselor Clayton Ballard would say “I think the biggest effect that this is having all the students in the room at the same time; having all these young African American students who are pushing for something to see each other at the same time.. That was the power of having them do it together.”
What is the Common Black College Application?
The Common Black College Application allows you to complete a single document and submit it to a number of historically black colleges and universities. Member institutions will honor the CBCA as if it were their own application.
Users of the Common Black College Application usually incur a one-time fee of $35, which allows them to apply to up to 46 historically black colleges and universities at the same time. This however was waived through the sponsorship of the Blue Heart Foundation. “The Blue Heart Foundation has clearly demonstrated their commitment to this community by creating the opportunity for every student throughout the San Diego Unified School District to complete the Common Black College Application for free. I can only hope that other organizations will join us in this effort to increase the educational options for students interested in attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” stated Robert Mason
Why is this application necessary?
After years of working in admissions, Robert Mason of EDU Inc. created the Common Black College Application as a way of breaking the cycle of poverty that steep application fees perpetuate. It helps low-income families afford the cost of applying to college, and, as he explains, helps HBCUs to find qualified students who might have assumed college was out of their reach.
Because of the costs associated with submitting college applications, many students either don’t apply at all or only apply to one school. The Common Black College Application, however, allows those from low-income families to apply to dozens of schools with minimal effort. Tracy Morris would later say “I just believe that college can change communities and there is no better investment than our youth. Just imagine the paradigm shift that would take place if every one of these young men and women went on to graduate from college… Entire communities would/could change.
For more on the Common Black College Application visit http://commonblackcollegeapp.org/
Kuumba (Swahili for “creativity”) Fest brings together community leaders, local performers and celebrities for an annual audience that averages 5,000. From gospel to hip-hop and theater to dance, San Diego’s Kuumba Fest present a wide showcase of arts that celebrate Black American culture in all its variety. Kuumba Fest will offer a three-day festival that includes educational workshops, hip-hop dance and speech competitions, performances of plays, Late Night Live (San Diego’s version of Late Night at the Apollo), and as always, a gospel concert finale.
HEART volunteered and attended Friday Evening’s event “A Night of Positive Images” which included:
KuumbaFest is San Diego’s longest running and premier celebration of African-American expression, culture, and heritage.
