The Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member George McKenna hosted David Johns, executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African-Americans, and more than 30 educators and community leaders last Thursday at Audubon Middle School. The group aims to achieve positive outcomes for African American students in South Los Angeles.

During the site visit, McKenna and Johns observed a sample module from Audubon’s Magnet Bridge Summer Program, which helps prepare incoming students. More than half the enrollment is made up of African-American students.

“It was an honor to welcome David Johns to Audubon Middle School to discuss how Los Angeles approaches African-American educational excellence,” McKenna said. “This event was a great opportunity to collaborate with the White House and share the academic successes of our African-American students and families.”

Congresswoman Karen Bass, whose district includes Audubon, said she is excited to see the middle school and McKenna garner national attention for the work they do for African-American students.

“We are lucky to have partners like David Johns in the White House to emphasize the importance of African American education and spread information about best practices,” she said. “We must continue working across all levels of government and in the community to ensure that each and every child is prepared for success in our schools.”

McKenna and Johns were joined by Charisse Bremond-Weaver of the Brotherhood Crusade; Nike Irvin of the California Community Foundation; Aurea Montes-Rodriguez of the Community Coalition; Derrick Mims, district director, for Assembleyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer; and Sydney Kamlager, member elect, of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees.