This Oakland teacher wants to empower students by exposing them to the HBCU experience
Oakland teacher hoping to take students on life-changing trip
One Bay Area educator is dedicated to empowering Black high school students, and one way he wants to do that is by exposing them to the HBCU experience.
OAKLAND, Calif. - One Bay Area educator is dedicated to empowering Black high school students, and one way he wants to do that is by exposing them to the HBCU experience.
HBCU stands for "historically Black colleges and universities." HBCUs are higher education institutions that were created to allow a space for Black and African Americans an opportunity for education, while other education institutions prohibited their attendance due to segregation and other racial restrictions.
Kyle Jackson teaches Manhood Development at Oakland's Skyline High School. He's hoping to lead a tour this spring to three historically Black colleges and universities in Atlanta.
For some of the students that would attend, it would be their first time outside California, on a plane, visiting a college, or even perhaps wearing a suit.
"I'm just trying to showcase Black Excellence. Showcase that they can be whatever they want to be. This is the first time they've had a black teacher… I'm trying to surround them, expose them to get them to believe they can be whatever they want to be," said Jackson.
"This trip is really important to me because I really want to focus on college. Growing up, my mom always said ‘focus on education. Figure out where you want to go. Have a good set future,’" said high school senior Jaden Arrona.
Jackson has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the tour. He hopes to have the money needed by the end of February for the April trip.
Those interested in donating can do so here.