A group of students based in Palm Springs, California, is sharing the insights gained during a tour of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
The free trip went down earlier this year, and a total of 24 students within the Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) were selected. It was funded by resources accessed through the California Department of Education’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).
During their East Coast visit, the students were able to tour the campuses of Howard, Morgan State, Hampton and Norfolk State. Additionally, they got to check out some noteworthy historical sights and museums, as well as experience an area with a greater Black population than Palm Springs.
View this post on Instagram
On Tuesday night, participants got the opportunity to reflect on the experience during a presentation to the Board of Education.
“I was really passionate about being able to go to the East Coast and learn something new,” Rancho Mirage High School senior Tiyane Skosana said. “Not only seeing the colleges, but also the Black-owned businesses, the historical sites. I didn’t feel like I wasn’t educated enough on my own history and culture.”
Ziere Revis, a high school junior, shared similar sentiments.
“Learning more about my people, about my culture, what they did for me… that’s the reason why it’s life changing,” he noted. “It definitely inspired me.”
“I, for once, had a space where I belong, a space where I felt nothing could go wrong. In the end, we grew. We learned to love the Black — the Black that is seen as threatening. I am more than my Black skin,” Cathedral City High School sophomore Alessia Shaw added.
A moving and inspiring presentation from young student leaders, to our @psusd Board, about their recent HBCU tour! 🌟 #psusdproud #collegeandcareer pic.twitter.com/XAQkliasN1
— Dr. Deanna Keuilian (@PSUSD_CCReady) May 25, 2022
With the success of the recent HBCU-focused trip, PSUSD Superintendent Dr. Mike Swize says he and Dr. Nicole Crawford, the district’s coordinator of diversity and racial equity, to set up a plan to tour Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the near future.
