History

The Black Student Union Network of California has a long history of providing leadership development, cultural enrichment, and motivational opportunities for high school students.

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The goals of the BSU Network are:

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• To cultivate leadership

• To encourage young adults to make meaningful contributions to their schools and communities

• To assist students in preparing for college, careers, and lifelong success

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The Network hosts an annual leadership conference where student leaders collaborate to develop action plans for the school year. To support these goals, the BSU Network also hosts area planning meetings that bring students together to strengthen relationships, share ideas, and advance collective initiatives. Each January, BSU chapters are encouraged to organize community service projects in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

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Throughout the year, student leaders participate in monthly conference calls to connect with peers across the state, celebrate successes, discuss challenges, and strengthen the spirit of "One Sound! One BSU." The Network also hosts monthly virtual workshops featuring guest speakers and topics selected by student leaders.

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In addition, BSU members attend an annual Student Leadership Summit and continue to engage with partnering Black-led organizations, including BLU Educational Foundation, Umoja Community chapters, National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations, and other community partners. Through these partnerships, students receive ongoing leadership development, mentorship, workshops, college and career readiness support, cultural programming, and educational field trip opportunities throughout the year.

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Every summer, the BSU Network sends representatives to the Village Nation/UCLA UniCamp in Big Bear, California. This week-long experience focuses on leadership development through an African American cultural lens while providing students opportunities to participate in outdoor recreation, team-building activities, arts and crafts, archery, swimming, mountain biking, and the alpine climbing tower.

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At the conclusion of each school year, BSU Network schools celebrate the achievements of African American students through special recognition ceremonies. Graduating seniors are presented with traditional Kente stoles to wear during commencement exercises. These celebrations may take the form of awards ceremonies, Black Graduation celebrations, or African American Baccalaureate services. While each area creates its own unique traditions, the collective purpose remains the same: to honor our heritage, celebrate student achievement, and pass on important cultural rites of passage to the next generation.