The LACOE Community Schools Initiative (CSI) kicked off the 2024-25 school year with a successful Greater Los Angeles Grantees Welcome Convening on Thursday, Sept. 12, at Almansor Court in Alhambra. 

Over 300 educational leaders attended the event, representing local educational agencies and school sites across L.A. County that are grant recipients of the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP).

The inspiring day allowed attendees to enhance their understanding of the CCSPP framework to better support their Community Schools and engage in community-building opportunities with other Community School leaders from across L.A. County. The event also featured student performances, student and parent speeches, and a powerful keynote address by renowned UCLA professor and best-selling author Dr. Tyrone Howard on the transformative impact of community schools.

The Welcome Convening is one of several learning opportunity events scheduled for this school year by the Initiative’s Greater Los Angeles Regional Transformational Assistance Center (R-TAC) unit, which supports all current and prospective CCSPP grantees in L.A. County. 

The Greater Los Angeles R-TAC is one of eight technical assistance centers in California. It is led by the LACOE Community Schools Initiative in partnership with the nonprofit Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health and the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. Visit lacoe.edu/community-schools to learn more.

Special thanks to the following guest speakers and performers:

• Montebello High School Marching Band

• Itzia Rangel, a recent graduate of Bassett High School (Bassett USD).

• Rickesha Williams, a parent from McKinley Elementary School (Compton USD).

• London McDaniel, a student from Inglewood High School (Inglewood USD).