Civitas

School of Leadership

CHAPTER 1 STUDENT/COMMUNITY PROFILE AND SUPPORTING DATA AND FINDING

School/Business Relations Civitas has many partners with community and private organization throughout the years. However they have decreased over the last three years due to budget cuts. The Strongest and most active at the moment are the Asian Pacific American Legal Council, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, UCLA-Xinatchli and Rock on Education. The Asian Pacific American Legal Council has partnered this year with Civitas to assist students with test taking and study skills. They send staff every Tuesday and Thursday to train our top 11th grade students. These students take the information back to the other grade level advisories to train and practice these skills. Last semester the training focused on SAT study and test taking skills for all 11th grade students. This semester they are concentrating on study and test taking skills for all. This council has also provided free legal aid and informational meetings to our undocumented families to assist with residency and apply for AB540. This council is responsible for our community gardens. They have funded the majority of project. The purpose of the community gardens is to unite the Roybal Learning Center community and families to share the responsibility of maintaining the gardens and enjoying the consumption of organic produce. LAUSDs Youth Service Academys partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has provided Civitas SOL with four internship positions to our Seniors on- track to graduate. They provide work experience and training for our students in a professional environment. As part of the program, students are required to take a work experience course led by LAUSD personnel that concentrates on professional work ethics and maintaining a budget. The Constitutional Rights Foundation partnered with Civitas SOL in 2011. This organization offers Summer internship opportunities within a students identified area of interest. Students accepted into the program receive a three week summer training on work ethics, developing communication skills and SAT prep. Students are placed in internship positions based on results from interest inventories. Some of our students have been given internships in law offices and museums. While on the job students have gained experience as note takers, office duties, and meeting preparation. Students that have participated in the program state that they enjoy the network building that occurs when working with professionals. UCLA-Xinantchli is another partner that joined the Civitas family in 2011. Five UCLA students come to campus every Tuesday and Thursday afterschool for two hours to provide mentoring, tutoring, guidance for college admission, and career planning. They also provide fieldtrips to different colleges and an overnight stay at UCLA to shadow a student. Rock on Education is a federally funded program that provides afterschool services to students. Last year, they received a grant that hired a part time college advisor for Civitas students. Currently, they are providing tutoring and online classes to our students.