“Allow them to dream bigger:” PSUSD students tour Historically Black Colleges and Universities
It's been the trip of a lifetime for some valley students. Palm Springs Unified School District chose 24 students to tour Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Students have spent the past week visiting schools and cultural landmarks in Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Virginia. The tour aims for students to gain exposure to the Historically Black College & University System in hopes of realizing additional options—one of the students on the trip, Rancho Mirage High School junior Kyra Holland.
"It's like absolutely indescribable to be able to be around such a strong community of African Americans throughout different colleges," said Holland. "Just being educated on HBCUs, in general, seems like a blessing that most people don't really have."
The tour was made possible by The African American Parent Advisory Council in partnership with PSUSD. AAPAC and PSUSD strive to increase district graduation rates and college acceptance. This is the second year PSUSD has sponsored the trip financially.
"Each HBCU is different in its own way. However, you still get that same feeling of just like pure bliss and connection, and just being able to like relate to one another," said Holland.
A recent post from the AAPAC PSUSD's Facebook post says, "This HBCU Tour is designed to give our students greater hope and allow them to dream bigger."
Students visited Norfolk State, Morgan State, Coppin State, and Howard University.
Desert Hot Springs High School junior Antonio Whitney knew almost nothing about HBCUs, and now he plans to apply to the ones he's visited.
"It shows people who look like me, or students who look like me, the youth that they're able to overcome and become anything with determination and perseverance," said Whitney. "We don't get to see a lot of other students that look like us. So I feel like this is really a great opportunity and life-changing."
In addition, students visited the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture and spent time touring different historical and cultural landmarks.
"[The museum] just got into the nitty gritty of African American culture that you don't know about and that you don't learn about in school," said Holland.
The district's racial and equity specialist, Jarvis Williams, was one of the people who helped lead the tour.
"After they come back, they kind of become ambassadors that the hope says is that they share these stories on their campus, they have the opportunity to connect," said Williams. "Just knowing that we have no idea what these children will become, but planting those seeds to open up the possibilities, is just a beautiful thing to be able to say that that's what I get to do as a career choice every day of my life."
The district plans to host another trip for students next year.
"Having that support, and once again, in a place where you don't really have much Black support to start with, is critical to being successful in the world," said Holland.
