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Thursday, JuLY 14, 2022 • The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
www.sdvoice.info
BLUE HEART FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO SERVE WITH ‘A MARCH FOR BLACK BOYS’ By Voice & Viewpoint Staff Blue Heart, a 501(c3) non-profit, was founded in 2013 by the late Tracy Morris and his wife, April Ray. Their mission: Building our community by providing an equitable and secure path to higher education, emotional health and character development for young African American males. “This is an event that builds on the vision that our Co-Founder & Executive Director Tracy Morris worked hard to establish before his untimely passing. He envisioned a community where everyone comes together to wholly support young Black men, and this is the platform to realize that vision,” said Mathew Gordon, Blue Heart’s new President & CEO in a statement. The Blue Heart Foundation continues to do its part to change the lives of at-risk youth in San Diego’s underserved communities, bringing to light many of the issues adversely affecting
them. Social in-justice, scarce academic resources, disparities in employment, lack of upward mobility, and the lack of household role models are just a few obstacles that young men face on their path to a better future. Blue Heart offers youth programming in mentoring, character development, emotional wellness, scholarships, and their signature educational development program, H.E.A.R.T Academy, which opens for enrollment this August. Tracy Morris created a positive and lasting impact with young males here in San Diego. His legacy lives on with such inspiring events as last Saturday’s “A March for Black Boys”. To learn more about how you can support The Blue Heart Foundation’s mission and vision, visit their website at theblueheartfoundation.org.
Foreground Councilmember Pro Tem Monica Montgomery Steppe
Front, 3rd from right, Matthew Gordon, Pres. CEO of The Blue Heart Foundation
Photos by Mike Norris
Ebony Pearls and AKA Epsilon Xi Omega Chapter
Welcome SDUSD’s New Superintendent, Dr. Lamont Jackson By Voice & Viewpoint Staff The Ebony Pearls Foundation of San Diego Inc. and San Diego’s Epsilon Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc held a Welcome Reception congratulating the newly appointed superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, Dr. Lamont Jackson. The free event was held last Friday, July 7 at the UCSD Market and Park campus. The well attended event included community leaders, Mayor Todd Gloria, and the National Pan Hellenic Council of San Diego NPHC. “It was a wonderful occasion celebrating the ascension of an African American male elevating to the position of Superintendent,” said Mary Castleberry, President of the Ebony Hearts Foundation who MC’d the event. The goal of the reception was to show collaborative support for Dr. Jackson’s new position as superintendent and to ensure that children of every demographic have equal access to quality education. “Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. supports education and will continue to be on the forefront of initiatives and issues impacting education,” said Cassandra Clady, Publicity Chair, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc’s San Diego Graduate Chapter.
Photos: Darrel Wheeler
Center, Supt. Lamont Jackson with members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., San Diego Graduate Chapter. Photo_ Courtesy of Cassandra Clady
