The Upper School’s Black Student Alliance hosted the first-ever LA Black-Owned Business Expo on Feb. 16 in the Berry Performing Arts Center. The event began with guests browsing tables with local businesses owned and operated by Black entrepreneurs in the PAC lobby, where they also enjoyed appetizers and posed for selfies.
BSA leader Gbemi Olarewaju ’24 welcomed the audience and introduced keynote speaker Kerel Cooper, the President of Advertising at Group Black, a next-gen media collective and accelerator focused on the advancement of Black-owned media properties. Mr. Cooper shared a presentation with a few key themes: the impact of great leaders, important leadership principles, turning an idea into a purposeful mission, being true to yourself and following your passion.
A discussion including student panelist Jayla Presley-May ’26 and alumni panelists Jeanine Gill ’12, Ashley J. Hobbs ’04 and Jordan Shelby West ’04 followed the keynote. The BSA moderated the discussion and focused on five questions: What made you want to get into your industry? Do you have any advice for young people who may want to start endeavors like this? Do you have any future projects you’re working on? How have you impacted the Black community? What is your biggest piece of advice for young people in general?
The BSA continued its series of historical presentations with members Kayla Martel ’24, Natalie Koegler ’24 and Avarae Calloway ’24 sharing information about the Loving v. Virginia case at the Upper School meeting on Feb. 17. In the 1950s, Virginia miscegenation laws banned interracial marriage. In this case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that banning interracial marriage violated the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Middle School continued its recognition of Black History Month with an assembly Celebrating Black Leaders in STEM. Meeting hosts Nyah Roccamonte-Clark ’27 and Olivia Taylor ’27 shared a presentation that featured George Washington Carver, Dr. Marie M. Daly, Katherine Johnson, Vivien Thomas, Dr. Warren Washington, Lyda Newman, Bessie Blount Griffin, Alan Emtage, Frank Greene and Dr. Nola Hylton.