GSEP Urban Fellows Culminate Year at Holmes Elementary School
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Students in the Urban Fellows program at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology recently gathered at Holmes Elementary, a GSEP community partner school, to give final presentations summarizing their yearlong research and service learning efforts in urban communities, particularly K-12 schools and mental health sites across Greater Los Angeles. Donald Grant, adjunct professor of psychology, facilitates the Urban Fellows program, which is dedicated to training students to work effectively in urban settings and respond to the complex issues facing these communities.
“The Urban Fellows program really helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and my practical application of cultural sensitivity and understanding while conducting therapy,” said psychology program Fellow Karen Olivares, who used her bilingual skills while serving mostly monolingual Spanish-speaking clients at 1736 Family Crisis Center.
Alejandro Gomez-Quinones, who presented on behalf of his three person team of education Fellows, highlighted strides made while teaching science in the Holmes Avenue Elementary Science Lab. Education professor Anthony Collatos has been the driving force to bring together GSEP, Los Angeles Unified School District, and private partners, resulting in the renovation of the Holmes science lab, now a state-of-the-art classroom for hands-on learning.
Following the final presentations, Fellows worked alongside students, faculty, and community volunteers to revitalize the Holmes campus as part of Sharefest’s Annual Workday.
The Urban Initiative is an umbrella program developed by GSEP to prepare a new generation of education and mental health professionals with the skills to work effectively in culturally diverse, underserved urban communities for the long-term.