Africana Studies Welcomes Students from King Drew Magnet High to CSU Dominguez Hills

Last month, 30 King Drew Magnet High School juniors and seniors visited the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills, to attend “Planting Seeds for Academic Success,” a program organized by the Department of Africana Studies (AFS) and the Organization of Africana Studies (OAS).

The purpose of the ongoing program is to introduce potential students to Africana studies and the university environment. By visiting the campus and sitting in classrooms students are more apt to make an easier transition from high school to the university experience, program officials say.

Throughout the course of the day at CSU Dominguez Hills, the visiting students participated in guided campus tours by AFS student representatives and attended information sessions with the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), admissions, and financial aid representatives. AFS faculty spoke to the students, who also had time during lunch to socialize and interact with university students.

AFS developed the program due to the belief that positive self-identity contributes to academic success, says M. Keith Claybrook, lecturer, Africana studies.
“Africana studies has a commitment to the community and [providing] quality education,” Claybrook says. “The AFS department continually seeks to develop relationships with the surrounding community with programs such as ‘Planting Seeds for Academic Success.’”

Students and teachers alike were moved by this program. Monique Fordham, a teacher from King Drew, told Claybrook, “I just wanted to thank you for everything. My students learned so much and felt special in the fact that they were the center of attention. You [chose] some powerful speakers who truly have the gift to inspire.”

According to Claybrook, AFS looks forward to expanding this program.

“When students have positive self-esteem, it provides them with confidence and purpose,” he says. “The Department of Africana Studies provides students with a learning environment that promotes and supports intellectual and creative development to prepare students for employment, professional and graduate education. The department strives to prepare its students to be critical thinkers, scholars and leaders in their communities and the world.”

- Amber Lewis, Class of 2009, English/Communications College of Arts & Humanities Representative, Associated Students Incorporated