EXP to Support LAUSD Summer Bridge Program with Virtual Workshops on Stress on the Teenage Brain

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Getting a head start in a future career can make a big impact on a student's life. This summer, EXP is involved in Los Angeles Unified School District’s Linked Learning Summer Bridge Program, working in partnership with the Center for Powerful Public Schools. The 3-week Summer Bridge Program helps incoming 9th-grade students make a successful transition into high school and introduces them to acquiring high demand career skills. This year, the program theme is Stress on the Teenage Brain.

EXP plans to deliver more than 36 virtual experiences that focus on self-care topics. Students will have a chance to benefit from virtual speaker and panel presentations, as well as interactive workshops presented by self-care professionals, and experience virtual college and workplace tours. As a final project, students will create a public service announcement (PSA) on the topic of “stress on the teenage brain” and present it to a panel of community and industry partners.

“A majority of high school dropouts happen in 9th grade,” said Dr. Dennis Johnson, senior program manager, EXP. “Summer Bridge aims to decrease that rate by better preparing students for high school. This program fosters connectedness and exposes students to many career pathways through project-based learning. It also provides career-readiness learning opportunities to help students prepare for success in high school and in their future careers of interest.”

Volunteers needed!

We are currently looking for volunteers to be our speakers, mentors, and virtual workplace walk-through hosts to address the topic of “What are the functions and impact of stress on the teenager’s brain?”. The time commitment is about 20 minutes over Zoom, all facilitated by the EXP team. To volunteer as a judge for students’ final project, the time commitment will be 30-60 minutes. Please reach out to Dr. Johnson for more information at dennis@expfuture.org.

Participating Los Angeles Regional Area Schools:

  • Bravo Medical Magnet High School

  • Chatsworth Charter High School

  • Community Health Advocates School at Augustus F. Hawkins High School

  • John A. Sutter Middle School

  • Hollywood High School's Teaching Career Academy

  • Manual Arts High School (SMART)

  • Orthopedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School

  • RFK Los Angeles High School of the Arts

  • School for the Visual Arts and Humanities

  • STEM Academy of Hollywood

  • Theodore Roosevelt High School

  • West Adams Preparatory High School