How your gift can make a difference

For 10 years, the Spark community has supported the work of SFUSD's African American Achievement and Leadership Initiative to promote the success of African American students and families.

The impact is immeasurable. Your support helps expand Each and Every by Name, boosting African American and Pacific Islander kindergarten literacy proficiency from 32% to 52% in a single school year. It sustains Mastering Cultural Identity courses across 12 high schools, powers Black Star Rising STEM programming for middle schoolers, and strengthens family voice through the African American Parent Advisory Council and Black Student Unions at 15 school sites.

Last fall, AAALI launched a new program - the Learning Lab on Saturdays. The Learning Lab is that extra touch during the weekend. Held in a warm, community-focused environment, it allows teachers to focus on smaller groups, where students can feel safe and supported in meeting academic challenges together. It’s an uplifting space to support increased outcomes for Black students in literacy, math, college & career pathways.

Black Star Rising (BSR) is a holistic Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program for high school students that focuses on STEM achievement, authentic community engagement, culturally sustaining practices and exposure to careers. Last year, BSR served 100% African American students, 65% of whom were economically disadvantaged.

Mastering Cultural Identity (MCI) aims to disrupt persistently inequitable outcomes for Black students by employing culturally affirming curricula and pedagogies. MCI courses teach lessons that integrate historical and contemporary African and African American cultural elements, empowering students to explore their identity, manage emotions, harness personal determination, and cultivate a positive sense of purpose for themselves, their families, and their communities. By enhancing students’ sense of belonging, self-identification as Black individuals, and fostering self-awareness and literacy, MCI significantly enriches the educational experience for Black students.

The African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC) is central to AAALI's work, empowering Black families as active partners and co-leaders in their children's education. These councils provide culturally responsive spaces where families build community, develop advocacy strategies, and strengthen home-to-school connections through monthly meetings, workshops, and collective action when needed. Rooted in the Dual Capacity-Building Framework, AAPACs simultaneously strengthen the skills of both families and educators, equipping parents with tools to support their children's academic and social-emotional development from early childhood through high school.

Each and Every by Name is an initiative for all SFUSD Black and Pacific Islander Kindergarten students to ensure that they are proficient in literacy by 3rd grade.