Patricia Washington

Professional Expert for Parent Outreach and Engagement @San Diego Unified School District

San Diego Unified School District, Parent Outreach and Engagement Department’s Harold J. Ballard Parent Center Project Ujima Co-facilitators: Ms. Elneda Shannon and Pat Washington, PhD Ujima is the third principal of Kwanzaa, which means collective work and responsibility. Project Ujima is built upon the shared sense of responsibility all of us have for the educational success of African American children in the San Diego Unified School District, with a focus on how the District can augment what parents, extended family, community members are already doing to promote academic success.Goals: •To improve academic performance and increase graduation rates among African American students in San Diego Unified School District; •To facilitate stronger partnerships and resource sharing between parents, students, and district staff in order to promote productive learning environments for African American children and families; •To engage African American parents in collaborative programs and activities that respect, value and validate African American culture and contributions to the educational achievement of African American children;•Bring African American parents and caregivers together in an informal, yet structured educational setting, to strengthen family involvement in the educational achievement of youth;•Reaffirm African American cultural understandings and teachings that promote positive development and achievement;