Black SEL Matters

✨ Meet Your Culture & Climate Lead: Jahara Davis ✨

Jahara serves as a vice principal with a deep commitment to student growth, teacher development, and building school communities where every young person feels seen and supported. Her work lives at the intersection of education, equity, and empowerment, especially creating spaces where Black students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Rooted in relationships, high expectations, and culturally responsive practices, Jahara helps cultivate environments where identity, voice, and lived experience are centered. Everything she does is about helping young people realize their power and navigate the world with excellence and authenticity.

She is most excited to be in community with young people this summer. They energize her and continually spark the “why” behind her calling as an educator and leader.

Fun Facts:
🌱 She was one of the first two Summer Institute leaders
✨ Her favorite memory is watching students step into their identities and grow in just one week

Summer Institute 2026 is open.
📍 June 15–19
⏳ Enrollment deadline is May 15

Spots are filling quickly.
Enroll your child at blacksel.org

Today we celebrate the mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and mother figures who nurture, guide, protect, and pour into the next generation.

Thank you for your love, your sacrifice, your wisdom, and your strength. Because of you, our children grow in confidence, identity, and brilliance.

Happy Mother’s Day. 💐

⏳ 6 days left.

Enrollment for Black SEL Summer Institute 2026 closes May 15.

This five-day immersive experience centers Black identity, leadership, and social-emotional growth for students in grades 6–12.

📍 June 15–19
📌 Durham, NC

Spots are limited and filling quickly.

Secure your child’s place at blacksel.org/summer-institute

✨ Meet Your Facilitator: Kamweli Wilson ✨

Kamweli is an educator with over 20 years of classroom experience and a deep commitment to community-centered learning. A self-proclaimed quirky soul, they blend creativity and purpose to help Black youth reconnect with their most authentic, vibrant selves.

They believe every Black child is born a genius and are most excited to be in community this summer, witnessing students grow in confidence, creativity, and self-discovery.

Fun Facts:
💡 They use creativity as a compass for deep self-discovery
🍩 Their favorite Summer Institute memory is when a camper surprised them with homemade donuts

Summer Institute 2026 is open.
📍 June 15–19
⏳ Enrollment deadline is May 15

Spots are filling quickly.
Enroll your child at blacksel.org

Final reminder: The Telling: Advocate & Family Listening Session takes place tomorrow.

This virtual session brings together Black SEL Advocates and families for reflection, dialogue, and community-centered feedback that will help inform the future of the Advocate program.

May 6, 2026
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Virtual

Register at blacksel.org/events

You were never meant to carry everything by yourself.

There is strength in reaching out. There is power in being held.

Let your community show up for you.

💛🎉 Happy Birthday, Olivia! 🎉💛

From student to leader, Olivia’s journey with Black SEL reflects growth, vision, and purpose.

As our ReSELient™ Engagement Ambassador, she helps shape the spaces that once shaped her.

We celebrate her leadership and the intention she brings to this work every day.

Show her some love below 💛✨

🎓 Decision Day Spotlight: Taj Scott 🎓

We are proud to celebrate Taj and his impressive college acceptances:

Howard University
North Carolina A&T State University
NC State University
North Carolina Central University
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

These opportunities reflect his leadership, dedication, and commitment to growth.

Taj continues to show what it means to move with purpose, represent community, and lead forward.

We are proud of you and excited for your next chapter.

🎓 Decision Day Spotlight: Gianna Peterson 🎓

Today we celebrate Gianna, a Hillside senior and Black SEL leader, as she commits to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Her excellence speaks for itself. Gianna was also accepted to:

Clark Atlanta University
Radford University
University of Memphis
UNC Charlotte
East Carolina University
North Carolina Central University
University of South Carolina Columbia
NC State University
Spelman College
Howard University
North Carolina A&T State University
Virginia Tech

This is what happens when identity, discipline, and community align.

Black SEL leaders do not just participate. They prepare. They apply. They excel. And they move forward with purpose.

Gianna, we are proud of you.

The pipeline continues.

125+ students already enrolled.

Spots are filling quickly for Black SEL Summer Institute 2026.

June 15–19
Hillside High School
Grades 6–12
Free program

This is more than a summer camp. It is identity. Civic engagement. Leadership. Community.

Enrollment closes May 15 or when capacity is reached.

Do not wait.

Secure your child’s spot today:
blacksel.org/summer-institute

Over six months, Black SEL directly served more than 300 students and 150 adults through immersive programming and applied leadership experiences .

That impact represents more than attendance.
It represents identity development.
Confidence.
Belonging.
Leadership.

Summer Institute is where it begins.

Enrollment closes May 15.
Secure your child’s spot at blacksel.org