Community Transformation

The BHLC approaches education reform as a community enterprise and links schools, parents, students, community organizations and civic leaders to work together towards the collective vision of higher academic achievement in Boyle Heights public schools. The BHLC brings people together to transform and align policies and practices to better support youth and families. Some key initiatives that are currently in the works include:

Building a Healthy Boyle Heights

"Building Healthy Communities Is a 10-year, $1 billion program of The California Endowment. 14 communities across the state are taking action to make where they live healthier. They’re doing this by improving employment opportunities, education, housing, neighborhood safety, unhealthy environmental conditions, access to healthy foods and more. The goal: to create places where children are healthy, safe and ready to learn. Ultimately, we’re aiming at nothing less than a revolution in the way all of us think about and support health for all Californians."

Linked Learning

California's high schools are not working for large numbers of young people, with students feeling bored, unchallenged, or unclear about the relevance of school. Linked Learning is a high school improvement approach that makes learning exciting and challenging. Linked Learning connects strong academics with real–world experience in a wide range of fields, such as engineering, arts and media, and biomedical and health sciences—helping students gain an advantage in high school, college, and career.

Pathways that link learning with student interests and career preparation lead to higher graduation rates, increased college enrollments, and higher earning potential. While there is no one right way to implement a pathway, each embraces four guiding principles and four core components. Used in schools throughout California, this integrated approach helps students build a strong foundation for success in college and career—and life.

Promise Neighborhoods

The Boyle Heights Learning Collaborative (BHLC) is excited to share its involvement with the Promise Neighborhoods initiative, an initiative that was started by President Obama to help communities transform systems to improve educational outcomes and living conditions for low-income children and their families. Through a highly competitive process, Boyle Heights was selected as one of only 21 communities in the nation to receive a Promise Neighborhoods Planning Grant and much planning has already taken place. Although Boyle Heights was not selected to receive the implementation funds $4-6 million annually for 3 years, the Boyle Heights Promise Neighborhood group (a collective of individuals, community members, schools, government agencies, and community based organizations) has committed to carrying out the work outlined in the proposal.

The plan that was developed by BHPN specifically targeting a thirty block area of Boyle Heights near Hollenbeck Middle School, Mendez Learning Center, and the Pico Aliso public housing community. The area has been selected for development based on need and opportunity for reform and is also home to 19,500 residents and 6,000 children ages zero to 18. To address the concerns of parents and students and improve academic achievement in Boyle Heights the Promise Neighborhoods initiative will consist of a scaling-up strategy, concentrating on serving that specific zone first and eventually expanding to serve all of the children and families in Boyle Heights.

The BHPN has been working to ensure children receive the quality education they need to thrive all the way from cradle through college. Thus far over 715 parents and 430 youth (comprised of middle and high school students) were surveyed to better understand the needs of the area and how to make the most effective reforms.

Community input is an important aspect of the initiative and we would like to encourage residents, parents, teachers, and students to participate in the process and attend the General Body meetings open to the community.