All Oregon students deserve full access to resources and opportunities necessary for their success. Sadly, history (and data) show that Black students are not a priority for our schools. Through a variety of mechanisms, from budget cuts to institutional inequity, many young people have critical gaps in their educational experience.
BEAM understood these challenges and launched the inaugural Black Student Success Summit (BSSS) in 2014. This summit is a day-long event that provides exceptional workshops on academic success, college preparation, career exploration, and general life skills designed for Black and Multiracial high school and college students. Offerings include financial literacy and planning, job interview preparation, classroom expectations, developing critical thinking about media/social platforms, and engaging stereotypes within the media. The workshops are conducted by local Black professionals who share the lived experiences of our students, which makes the BSSS unique and particularly impactful for our students.
BEAM is excited to announce that the 11th Annual Black Student Success Summit will be held on April 19th, 2025, 9am-4pm, at the PSU Smith Memorial Student Center (1825 SW Broadway), Portland, OR.
All BSSS activities are culturally specific, in that they are created and implemented by Black professionals representing both public and private sectors acting in concert with Black educators.
Workshop topics stem from workshop evaluations, students’ voices, and an annual Black community needs assessment, conducted in conjunction with students and community members.
The overarching goal of the summit is to enhance students’ social capital such that they are empowered to be unlimited in their choice of educational and career opportunities.
The 2025 Black Student Success Summit is made possible through the generous support of our Foundation Sponsor:
The 2025 BSSS is also sponsored by:
Village Leaders
Village Builders
Village Members
Village Council
Village Communicators
Watch this video produced by Green Lighting Black Lives Matter Youth Media Training Program to learn more about the student experience at the Black Student Success Summit.
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