What We Do

 

Black Student Success Summit

The Black Student Success Summit (BSSS) is an annual one-day event held in the spring where Black youth learn how to navigate the education-to-career pathways for various industries, through interactive workshops, affinity group caucuses, motivational speeches, and structured networking activities.

 

Black Baccalaureate

The Black Baccalaureate welcomes graduating Black students from post-secondary institutions, high schools, and alternative schools in the Portland Metro area. We also recognize students who earned their GED. The Black Baccalaureate Ceremony is a space to honor our youth and instill a sense of cultural pride in those who have fulfilled this pivotal stage in their development.

 
 

Working in Partnerships that build Unity in our Community

BSTRONG Summer Program

BSTRONG is an extracurricular culturally infused summer program that exposes students to a variety of experiences and activities that increases the self-efficacy needed on their educational pathway via interactive workshops, research projects, volunteer, and civic engagement opportunities. Students gain historical knowledge, cultural values, and community healing artistry that translate to academic excellence and a yearning for lifelong learning

Tappin Roots Partnership

Tappin Roots is a year-long environmental internship program for Black identified high school youth in the Portland Metro region. Created and hosted by a collaborative group of community-based organizations including lead partner ELSO Inc., The Blueprint Foundation, BEAM Village, Friends of Tryon Creek, and Wild Diversity. Look for new applications in December 2022.

Community-Led Learning Hubs

Community-Led Student Centered Learning Hubs hubs are designed as spaces to promote Black educational excellence in youth and strengthen economic resiliency. Working in unity to design educational ecosystems driven by family values, yet youth centered.

 

Students connecting with peers, adults, and community to strengthen cultural ties, discover hopes, dreams and aspirations through networks built of professionals and educators with shared experience to promote academic excellence.

BEAM: The beacon of light that brightens the path to success.