PSV High School Leadership Program

What is the PSV High School Leadership Program?

In 2022, PSV launched a program for High School students -- the PSV Student Advisory Council. This was a select group of high school students from various private schools who were leaders and who were interested in helping to build an empowered and educated student community across schools. It was an expansive group that PSV engaged to empower them to be the experts and architects of their own school experience -- we wanted to empower them to be agents in creating their community and meeting the needs of students!

 

Going into our fourth year of High School programming, we are evolving with many of the same goals, but implementing it all differently while also introducing a new component.

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The High School Leadership Program aims to:

 

• Offer students an opportunity to hone leadership skills both by offering peer leadership opportunities but also by providing access to resources and trainings and education that further build these vital skills

• Offer students an opportunity to meet volunteer service hours as a group which further offers an opportunity to build bridges and connections among Black high school students

• Offer students an increased opportunity to realize the benefits of racial socialization by providing social gatherings and opportunities to connect

• Offer students an increased opportunity to hone racial literacy skills by providing trainings and discussion that build this important skill 

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The PSV High School Leadership Program is designed for Black students in grades 9–12 attending PSV-partnering private schools in the Greater Los Angeles & Pasadena areas. It consists of two core components:

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• High School Executive Board

• High School Student Ambassadors

 

Together, these leadership tracks aim to uplift, empower, and resource students through racial socialization, community pride, and skill-building that supports success in predominantly white institutions.

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High School Leadership Program: Executive Board

Overview: The Executive Board is a leadership body of selected students who co-create PSV’s student-facing programming, support student ambassadors, and serve as visible leaders across their campuses. Executive Board members serve a one- to three-year term (reviewed annually) and represent the student voice within PSV and in select PSV board meetings.

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How You’ll Lead:

• Plan student-centered events: community service, social gatherings, cross-school initiatives

• Lead monthly virtual meetings with parent leaders and student ambassadors

• Check in bi-weekly with school ambassadors to:

  • Share PSV updates

  • Ensure Unrulr posts are made

  • Offer peer-to-peer support

• Create and manage a quarterly student newsletter

• Serve as a role model and representative of PSV in your school community

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High School Leadership Program: PSV Student Ambassadors

Overview: Each PSV-partnering school may nominate or support up to four students (one per grade) as Student Ambassadors. Students may also self-nominate or be nominated by a friend, parent, or school representative.

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Key Responsibilities:

• Attend one mandatory in-person training on August 24 or September 7

• Meet monthly with Executive Board reps

• Share PSV updates with their school community

• Post at least once a month to Unrulr

• Check in quarterly with their school's PSV Parent Ambassador

 

This is a highly visible, social-facing role. If you're more reserved, this may not be the best fit. Strongly encouraged: Participation in race-based affinity groups or identity-affirming clubs.

 

Why Should You Want to Participate in the PSV High School Leadership Program?

As a member of the PSV High School Leadership Program, you are helping to shape something that will have an immediate impact on students today as well as help lay a foundation for students for generations to come! Simply put, it's a leadership opportunity and a tremendous way to leave your mark on something life changing and impactful. PSV is the only grassroots, community-based nonprofit organization working to enhance the experience of Black and Brown families in private schools on a local and national level.

 

As such, the HS Leadership Program works to support, resources, and educate students across private schools about what it means to be Black in America in a way that is empowering, uplifting, joy filled and affirming. Together, we work to increase opportunities to build community pride, and identify ways to help prepare students for anticipatory experiences when in predominantly white institutions, in particular, so that they thrive in spite of possible challenging experiences. ​

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Additionally, where applicable, community service hours are accrued for volunteering time to plan, produce, and participate in PSV events and activities as PSV is a registered 501(c)3 voluntary, nonprofit organization. ​​​​​​​​​​