Thank you, Black Scholars Community, for allowing me to introduce myself to you all and share some of my journey. My name is La Keysha Carter, and I am a Senior Undergraduate Graduation Coordinator at California State University, Long Beach. I was brought into the world by an amazingly beautiful and strong young woman and raised in a single parent household. At that time, American society would have you believe that I would become a statistic. That I would likely not graduate high school. That I would be a teenage single mother on public assistance. However, that would not be my story, but not for lack of society trying to make it so.
Education for me has been a pursuit of my own choice. I was an Honor Roll student in high school, but due to my family financial struggles higher education just wasn’t seen as a possibility due to cost. It was expected that I would get a job and contribute to the household. In school, no one ever encouraged me to consider furthering my education by attending college even though I had good grades. It wasn’t until a chance meeting with a substitute Guidance Counselor that all of that changed. She couldn’t believe that no one had been encouraging me to think about continuing my education since I enjoyed school and excelled. By the time I met her it was already too late to apply to 4-year schools, but she told me about community college and that I could go for free. I was seen as a person capable of and able to obtain higher education. That was the spark I needed, the encouragement and support that set me off on my educational journey.
I was a non-traditional student, taking courses part-time while working full-time to support myself. I have been blessed to work at CSU campuses throughout my adult life. This gave me the opportunity to continue to learn and reinforce my love for education. 20 years of service and 2 degrees and a certificate later, I continue to defy what others may expect of or for me. Throughout this time, I have never forgotten how powerful that chance conversation was with that high school counselor. I often tell people that my journey in life has not only been for me, but also for those that I encounter. Using these opportunities to encourage, uplift, support, and provide understanding to those on their own journeys.
As a Senior Undergraduate Graduation Coordinator part of my role is being an academic advisor. I bring to that role my own experiences of being a Black woman, a non-traditional student, an educated person, and a person that cares. I desire to be a spark, a support, a safe space for those that need me. It allows me to continue to pay it forward and honor the gift I was given many years ago. Though I work with primarily Undergraduate students, I try to do what I can for all students who need help, be it a listening ear, or by providing encouragement to keep them going on their journey. It is fulfilling work and I know it has impact.
I work with a great team in the University Center for Undergraduate Advising (UCUA) and we seek to help students to the best of our abilities. For more information visit our website at https://www.csulb.edu/ucua or you can email me at LaKeysha.Carter@csulb.edu.
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Aquila Jacquette, CSULB Senior - Accounting Major, ASI Senator for College of Business, President for Black Business Students Association (BBSA), Alumni Director for Hispanic Students Business (HSBA) and Treasurer for the Musical Meditation Club. |
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The Robertson’s talk to Amber Wright, Communication Expert & Consultant, Class of 2003 - Major: Speech Communications.
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Local Community Business Highlight |
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Fluffy’s Sno-balls
1208 Long Beach Blvd. Suite B, Long Beach CA 90813
Phone number- (424) 206-0333
Native of New Orleans born and raised, Kevyn Lee is the owner of Fluffy’s Sno-Balls along side his partner, Darren Wellington. At Fluffy’s Sno-Balls, they offer over 60 flavors with options in sugar free, dairy free and vegan. Kevyn’s journey started in California after becoming a recent graduate of the illustrious Tuskegee University and fleeing from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 during which he lost everything. On a hot summer day while walking along Venice beach, he had the thought of building a snowball stand. 15 years later during a time of uncertainty and in the shut-down phase of the pandemic, Kevyn decided to start his own business. He chose Long Beach because of its vibrant, artistic, and eclectic atmosphere and when he saw the exposed brick wall building, high ceiling and exposed wood beams, it was reminiscent of Bourbon Street located in New Orleans.
Fluffy’s Sno-Balls appeals to all your senses from the pastel royal Mardi Gras theme colors, the aromatic candle scent, the cleanliness of the restaurant, the taste of the delicious sno-balls, inviting jazz music and of course the open, friendly and phenomenal customer service. The goal at Fluffy’s Sno-balls is to provide the best tasting sno-balls and to ensure that they always provide authentic quality products and ingredients that are biodegradable and recyclable.
The most popular items are Puebla created in honor of Cinco de Mayo and B-Rocka (Cookies &Cream). There new flavor is a Snapping Gator “Energy” sno-ball that gives you the pick me up to last through the day. Kevyn’s (owner) favorite is the Li Hi Mui sno-ball which is a fruit that derived from southeast Asia and popular in Hawaii. “The flavor is to be described as a plum dragon fruit flavor,” Kevyn says. Some advice Kevyn offers to those wanting to be an entrepreneur is to believe in yourself and know that you are capable and worthy, don’t compare yourself by another person’s measuring stick and make sure the finance and legal structure of your company are solid.
Be sure to come by and celebrate the restaurants one year anniversary on April 7th with a delicious sno-ball. They are also planning to have a crawfish broil and the community is invited! For more information, they can be reached on the following social media platforms.
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Congratulations to the Honorees of the 2nd Annual Black Alumni Scholarship Gala – August 23, 2022
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Rashida Crutchfield, Associate Professor- School of Social Work, CSULB
Change Agent Alumna
Carl Kemp, Public Affairs Manager
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Alumnus of the Year
Steven Neal, President – Board of Harbor Commissioners
Community Partner of the Year
Naomi Rainey, President NAACP-LB Chapter
Alumna of the Year
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Congratulations to Dr. M. Keith Claybrook! The Journal of Black Studies published his new article entitled "Becoming an Africana Activist Scholar: David C. Turner, III and Black Graduate Student Activism as Professional Development, A Case Study
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Congratulations to Dr. Kagba Suaray, Mathematics and Statistics
For his recent University Award: Faculty Excellence in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities |
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SAVE THE DATE – Saturday, April 23, 2022
Keynote Speakers:
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Denise Young Smith
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Join Farmers and Merchant Bank for two free educational webinars |
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Roadmap to Homeownership - Thursday, April 7 at 5:30 pm
What will you learn?
- Local residential real estate market trends
- Calculate how much you can afford
- How to obtain a mortgage & compare financing
- Steps to the loan decision phase & how to prepare for closing
Credit as an Asset - Thursday, April 7 at 6:30 pm
What you will learn?
- The value of credit reports & how credit reporting works
- The relationship between credit reports & credit scores
- Credit reporting laws & consumer rights
- How to access your personal credit report and improve your credit score & save money.
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Sofly Surf School
Free Surf Lessons
Contact: 562-384-9991
Location: 17173-17399 N. Pacific Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92649. Between Beach Towers 8&12. 9am – 12pm
Rental Equipment: Huntington Surf & Sport
3801 Warner Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92649
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Did you know that Naomi Rainey-Pierson is on the Board of Trustees of the National History Museum of Los Angeles County?
She invites us to visit the Butterfly Pavilion March 20 - September 5, 2022
Exhibits are educational and informative for young and mature.
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Dr. Amber Johnson, MPH, PhD moderates as Long Beach Alumnae Chapter - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc presents
2022 NONPARTISAN VIRTUAL CANDIDATES FORUM
Saturday, April 30th 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
City of Long Beach Mayoral Election
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Submit Questions for the Candidates
We are now accepting questions for the candidates. This link will be sent to all registrants through the Eventbrite page once they register, but we wanted to share it with planning committee members. The link to submit questions will be available until Friday, April 8, 2022 5:00 PM:
Questions from Candidates and/or their Campaign
Be mindful that as community leaders on the planning committee for this event, we must remain nonpartisan AND candidate neutral.
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According to The State of Higher Education in California— Black Californians have improved their educational outcomes over the last couple of decades. Black adults today are more likely to have a high school diploma and a college degree than in 1990. Black students are also more likely to graduate from high school and college today than they were ten years ago. However, compared to the major four racial/ethnic groups in California, Blacks still experience significant opportunity gaps. For example, 23 percent of working-age Black adults in California have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 42 percent of White adults. Black adults are the most likely to have attended some college but left without earning a degree. Black youth overwhelmingly attend lower performing elementary through high schools characterized by lower-than-average test scores, inexperienced teachers, lower levels of resources and funding, and insufficient counselors. As a result, Black high school students are less likely than students from most other racial/ethnic groups to graduate from high school and to do so having completed the sequence of A-G coursework that makes them eligible to apply to California’s public four-year universities. When they do arrive in college, Black students are most likely to be placed into pre-college level coursework, the least likely to graduate from college, and the most likely to enroll in for-profit colleges which have traditionally poor rates of student success and in some cases high costs and student debt levels. |
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"Where there are many, nothing goes wrong"
~ Swahili Proverb
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All funds raised support the mission of the Black Resource Center and Scholarships for students supporting the advocacy of our African American population on campus. |
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Please contact us if you have any upcoming events, celebrations, or stories you would like us to share with our community.
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