CalSAC is proud to highlight Jumana Rose, Priscilla Parchia, and María Ramirez from CalSAC's 2020 Leadership Development Institute for Emerging Leaders of Color fellowship. Jumana, Priscilla, and María are leaders who have demonstrated unrivaled commitment to the field and drive for advanced leadership in the out-of-school time and early learning field.
Jumana Rose, Equitas Academy Charter School: Expanded Learning Program - Los Angeles
Jumana Rose’s passion for education began early on in life, as did the formation of her beliefs about the education system. She loved school as a youth, and recognized the impact and importance of a quality learning experience. Early on, she maintained a strongly idealistic stance that education and opportunity were two consistent, necessary elements of success readily available to all and any who were interested. Education and opportunity provided a framework of sorts, helping individuals create a pathway to greater opportunities and the chance to determine and define their future. Jumana knew that climbing over self doubt, realizing one’s potential, and attaining true focus were common obstacles found in most journeys. But her belief remained that whatever path chosen as a youth, invested individuals, education, and opportunity would be available as guidance.
Jumana quickly realized that her perception of access to education did not account for the hurdles of inequity, the roadblocks of limited community resources, and the glass ceilings created by systemic racist procedures and practices. It became clear that education and opportunity were not a mandated right, a civil liberty offered to all youth, but instead and unrightfully so, a privilege to those who can afford to acquire the knowledge to navigate the educational system, or to those who were deemed deserving of a quality education.
It was after this realization that Jumana knew her role within education was to stand up and show up as an advocate for youth, who are repeatedly denied opportunities available through education. Only through intentional leadership would Jumana be able to challenge systems and empower individuals to know their rights and their power, and to use both in defining, creating, and reaching success.
While obtaining her Bachelor’s in Public Relations from Howard University, Jumana tutored inner city students and worked with a national literacy program each summer discovering the potential for transformation when the individuals pushing, providing, and advocating share the same backgrounds and experiences as they students they serve.
Once Jumana moved into the role of Site Lead in an affluent, resource-rich community, she found herself thinking back to an afternoon she was tutoring one of her most beloved students at a program in South East Washington, D.C. and he refused to believe that a Black adult could hold any position of prestige aside from that of an athlete or an entertainer. This affluent community experienced an abundance of resources they happily made available to students, while Jumana just left a district experiencing school closures and sparse funding. This experience deepened her belief that this disparity must be dismantled and that all students deserve a chance to succeed with the best accommodations to do so.
Jumana is currently working in a space she feels most purpose and drive, an inner city program where she serves as an Expanded Learning Coordinator affecting real community change. Jumana is currently pursuing her Master’s of Education with a focus in Educational Leadership, continuing to take steps to address much needed system changes. “I cannot figure it out but I do know that after school is a safe space that has the intentionality needed to build young minds and to rebuild outdated systems,” Jumana said. “The possibilities, the relationships, the nurturing, the exploration, the truth telling, and the story sharing that occurs in after school is what is at the core and very foundation of education.” Jumana cannot stand by idly while any more children of color believe that only in their wildest dreams would a CEO of a Tech company ever be a person of color let alone an African American individual. Jumana will continue to work for every child of color to know they can be that CEO.
Top 5 Strengths:
Relator | Individualization | Input | Futuristic | Belief
Priscilla Parchia, Oakland Unified School District - Oakland
Priscilla Parchia has worked in the education field since her very first job at a summer camp in Atlanta at age 13. Starting as an unpaid half time camper/half time counselor in training, she further developed her sense of self by being nurtured and truly seen by the adults around her finding a sense of belonging and acceptance to quiet the untrue narratives running unchecked in her subconscious. She began her journey as an artist and an educator and where unbeknownst to her the love of youth development was born. In this position, she was able to use her strength as a relator and an activator to create belonging for others. Unfortunately, she was one of the few who had this opportunity as a scholarship student. Most families who came paid exorbitant amounts of money to send their children for this once in a lifetime experience. So Priscilla also knew that belonging should not be just for the privileged, elite, or lucky. Everyone deserves a place where they feel safe enough to bring their whole selves.
While following her dreams of being an artist through her BFA in Musical theatre and traveling as an artist and musician she was never far from her love of youth development. Summer camps, after-school programs, drama workshops, and directing were interspersed in her experience auditioning, touring, and creating. Year after year the one constant was youth development. This is where Priscilla was energized and her cup was filled as she fought to carve a place for herself. This is where she could align her beliefs around equity with her day to day responsibilities. She worked as an out-of-school time educator across the country as a counselor, drama instructor, choreographer, music director, program director, and stage director. In every position, she strove to recreate that sense of belonging from her first camp experience and harness her strengths of activation, connectedness, and her ability to collect data and strategies for change. Of course, with the desire for equity, came the constant reminders of this nation’s inescapable truth. The decks are stacked and the house just keeps winning at the expense of the limitless potential of our youth of color. Priscilla knew that she needed to continue to do the “real” work even though there was no true roadmap for change.
In 2008, music brought Priscilla to California. For the past 12 years, she’s worked in the Bay Area with Oakland Unified School District as a youth developer, assistant coordinator, literacy specialist, teacher, instructional leader, and curriculum specialist. Leveraging her strength to see the potential in others, she supported a school in East Oakland for 12 years before moving to her current position where all her strengths and experiences merge. Priscilla currently supports programs across the district as a Program Manager for the Expanded Learning Office in the Department of Community Schools and Student Services. She works to interrupt oppressive systems by supporting and collaborating with a network of professionals truly dedicated to social justice and youth empowerment.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Top 5 Strengths:
Activator | Connectedness | Input | Relator | Belief
María Ramirez, Girls Inc. of Alameda County - Oakland
María’s journey began with her commitment and dedication to her community. Maria grew up in a neighborhood that experienced many struggles and successes. As a first-generation college student, she began her work with the Unity Council as an AmeriCorps member. In this position Maria had the opportunity to work in the community she grew up in. As an AmeriCorps member she had many roles, from supporting people with job search to providing resources to small business owners around the neighborhood. Towards her last year of AmeriCorps, she led a community youth group in a program that exposed students to sports and resources available around their neighborhood and community. This role helped Maria realize the impact youth had by participating in a free program that allowed them to learn about their own community and to create positive relationships with peers and adults that support their success and believe in their potential. After this experience Maria knew she wanted to continue her work with youth and the out of school time.
Maria then began her work with Girls Inc. of Alameda County. She was a STEM program leader for girls in different schools around East Oakland. The dedication and commitment for the students allowed Maria to build relationships with families, students, school members and community members. With the support from Girls Inc. and her desire to learn, Maria moved into different roles within the organization. She went from direct service, site coordinator, special projects and compliance coordinator, to school-based program Manager. Through these 14 years with Girls Inc. Maria continues to grow and develop her strengths in discipline, arranger, learner, developer, and belief to support other adults in their work with youth. Through these years Maria has seen her student’s growth and share their appreciation for programs that provided them with tools and opportunities to express themselves and believe they can succeed. Not only has Maria connected with youth but also with the adults that work with the youth and share the same passion. These program leaders have become coordinators and continue to share their passion and dedication for serving youth in underserved communities during the out-of-school time. Maria values growth and learning, and sees potential in youth and adults that want to make a change. The following quote has stuck with her through the years:
“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducated the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore”