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Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook

Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us

Contact: Ron T. Suazo Office of Communications (310) 604-6529 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 27, 2013

Compton High Live Streams Discussions on STEAM & Community Activism to the World at First Ever Social Media Week Event Online Broadcasts Also Highlight the School’s Efforts to Clean the Compton Creek COMPTON, Calif., — Compton High School broadcast streaming video of panel discussions on the role Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) initiatives and social media to viewers around the world, Thursday, September 26.

Sponsored by Nokia and social media site Livestream, Social Media Week, connected online viewers to numerous events streamed by participants in cities including London, Chicago, Barcelona, Berlin, Hong Kong, and the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) high school.

With the cooperation of Dakar Interactive and host Richard Gant (“Men of a Certain Age,” “The Big Lebowski”), Compton High School’s series of panel discussions were held in the school’s auditorium, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guest speakers and students discussed a range of issues designed to spark interests in environmental science and community service. The worldwide event also provided the high school with an opportunity to showcase its STEAMbased curriculum, which was developed with nonprofit Heal the Bay, to online users across the country and around the world. Additionally, attendees were able to view an auto exhibition presented by the Up Fest United in Peace Foundation, featuring low rider-style cars.

Compton High’s live streaming program was split into three sessions. “The Greening of Compton Creek” discussed the school’s efforts to raise awareness about the local watershed, which is often cited as one of Los Angeles County’s most polluted, and environmental clean ups in the Compton area. Students also talked about their recent Compton Creek clean up event and used hash tags such as #doitforthecreek throughout the event. Panelists included Col. Kim Colloton, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Robert Delgadillo, City of Compton’s Planning and Economic Development; Sonya Trammell-Jones, Army Corp of Engineers E-CyberMission; and Edward Murphy, watershed education manager, Heal the Bay. (MORE) “Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321

Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook

Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us

Compton High School Participates in Worldwide Social Media Week Event

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The “Indy Social Media Garage” session introduced Compton High students, teachers, and online viewers to nonprofit Starting Grid, an organization dedicated to exposing young minority students to science-based careers in motorsports. The session featured Skype or Google Hangout video conference discussions with Bryan Herta Auto Sports in Indianapolis, Joe Ellis Customs, Starting Grid’s Principal Chris Miles, and Zimbabwean Indy Car driver Axcil Jeffries. Compton High students also connected with students at Westside High School in Gary, Indiana.

During the final session, titled “Race Matters, Dissecting the Digital Divide,” panelists discussed ways to develop and improve Compton High’s STEM program. Guest speakers included Michael Orosz of USC’s Internet Sciences Institute, Compton High School’s Principal Dr. Letitia Bradley, the Afro-Futurists Perspective (via Skype/Google Hangout), and online radio talk show host Tina Michelle, who brought her “Tina Speaks” program to the event.

Compton High School’s Science Department Chairperson Dr. Lorenita Holloway said she wanted students to see the potential to learn science and be active members of their community through social media. “We’re here to discuss three different issues affecting our community.

All of these panels are streamed live on the Internet and to the rest of the world. Our school is one of over 50 in the LA county area today,” she said. Dr. Holloway explained that the school’s participation in Social Media Week was designed to demonstrate the learning opportunities, especially in STEM or STEAM areas, available to students. “Science is important. We have to be better about showing students the connections between science and everyday life. This is one of the ways we can reach them by using tools they use like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

It’s also a chance for students to see beyond their own community.”

Principal Letitia Bradley, Ed.D., said the event also served to teach students how to empower themselves academically and how to inspire positive changes in their community through social media. “The connection between technology and student achievement is undeniable. By participating in this event we inject Compton into the worldwide conversation of that connection, especially as it relates to increasing access to STEM resources for our students,” she noted.

“When you take into consideration the fact that we’ve tied in the Compton Creek cleanup with Social Media Week, it shows the connection between the students, their ability to have an (MORE) “Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321

Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook

Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us

Compton High School Participates in Worldwide Social Media Week Event

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impact, and to make it known on a large scale.”

Edward Murphy, watershed education manager, Heal the Bay, said Compton High School has been actively raising awareness about the Compton Creek clean up efforts, and is looking to gain more exposure through social media. “Our beaches and watersheds are pretty polluted and suffer any number of impairments; one of them being social neglect and disconnection. How do you solve those problems? One way is through outreach. Social media is a new mode of outreach that helps with communicating our message,” he explained.

Murphy added that because the creek is right behind the high school, students and staff feel a sense of ownership for it and believe the community needs to share the responsibility with them.

“We are participating with the school, the city, and the Army Corps of Engineers to send the message out that these places are accessible but in need of care. Compton Creek is one of the most polluted water bodies in Los Angeles County. It runs right behind Compton High School.

The kids cross it on their way to and from school every day,” he said. “With social media, any increase in visibility is an increase in awareness. Even if their level of awareness is through a hash tag, that’s something. Every gateway is a way in. The creek belongs to this community.

Why not help the community take care of it and make it their own?”

Vanessa Felix, ninth-grader and Associated Student Body representative for Compton High School, said she was inspired by her school’s participation in Social Media Week. “I want to be a part of improving our city and school’s reputation beyond Compton,” she said. “It’s important for students to know how we can impact our environment, not just Compton and the creek, but everywhere else too. We should use the technology we have to spread the word.”

To watch Compton High School’s panel discussions including “The Greening of Compton Creek,” visit http://new.livestream.com/smwla/events/2394118 Additional information may be obtained by contacting CUSD’s Office of Communications at (310) 604-6529 or by visiting www.compton.k12.ca.us. Online users can connect with CUSD via www.facebook.com/ComptonUnified and www.twitter.com/ComptonUnified.

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“Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321

Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook

Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS TO ACCOMPANY:

September 27, 2013

Compton High Live Streams Discussions on STEAM & Community Activism to the World at First Ever Social Media Week Event

Live and Direct – Two Compton High School students share their thoughts on the power of social media, Thursday, September 26, during the school’s live Internet streaming broadcast of its first ever Social Media Week event. To their right are: Tina Michelle, host of Internet radio talk show “Tina Speaks,” and actor/event host Richard Gant, who moderated throughout each of the panel discussions.

(MORE)

“Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321

Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook

Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS TO ACCOMPANY:

September 27, 2013

Compton High Live Streams Discussions on STEAM & Community Activism to the World at First Ever Social Media Week Event

Streaming Discourse – From left to right are panelists Col. Kim Colloton, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Robert Delgadillo, City of Compton Planning and Economic Development; Compton High School Science Chair Dr. Lorenita Holloway; and Edward Murphy, watershed education manager, Heal the Bay. Each of them spoke about the importance of using social media to raise awareness and activism for the improvement of the Compton Creek, Thursday, September 26.

(MORE)

“Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321

Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook

Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS TO ACCOMPANY:

September 27, 2013

Compton High Live Streams Discussions on STEAM & Community Activism to the World at First Ever Social Media Week Event

Lowrider Tech – Students take a closer look at the technology and mechanics of one of six lowriders on display outside Compton High School’s auditorium, Thursday, September 27, during the school’s first ever Social Media Week event. The cars, which belong to members of the Up Fest United in Peace Foundation, were put on display to showcase real-world STEM applications and opportunities.

(MORE)

“Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321

Serving Compton Carson Enterprise South Los Angeles Willowbrook

Compton Unified School District 501 South Santa Fe Avenue Compton, California 90221 www.compton.k12.ca.us

September 27, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS TO ACCOMPANY:

Compton High Live Streams Discussions on STEAM & Community Activism to the World at First Ever Social Media Week Event

#doitforthecreek – Throughout Social Media Week, Compton High School students have used the hash tag #doitforthecreek on social media sites including Twitter and Facebook to raise awareness about the Compton Creek, which runs behind the school site and through much of the city. Edward Murphy, watershed education manager, Heal the Bay, said it is one of the most polluted bodies of water in Los Angeles County and is need of care by the community.

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“Excellence in Progress” 501 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton, California 90221 – 310.639.4321