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I'm David Nazar.

The United States offers a lot of choices for student education.

Public school, private school, charter school, religious school, even home school.

The list goes on.

In this country, if you're a student and you're persistent, determined, believe in yourself.

Challenge yourself.

You can accomplish anything.

This is true.

And yet, with all the amazing education opportunities and the most level playing field there has ever been, while there can still be some education challenges these days, and while this should never be the case, unfortunately, in certain cases a socio economic status a zip code can have some influence on a student's future.

That's why Los Angeles officials have introduced a new type of school for young people who are seeking better education opportunities.

school has just opened its doors in Southern California's South Los Angeles neighborhood.

Once known as South Central L.A.

This renamed community is now introducing a different kind of school.

Out here at the intersection of Vermont and Manchester.

One of the intersections made famous, or in some cases, infamous during the LA riots three decades ago.

Today, this once blighted, neglected and forgotten community is getting some help where education is concerned.

This is seed LA County, the first of its kind in SoCal, an urban public boarding school that prepares kids for college, specifically in the fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics, transportation, the humanities, and life skills.

How's that for an education?

A high school boarding school for a community of kids that might not otherwise have such great education options.

LA is now proudly part of a unique and innovative education project that includes the Seed School of Washington, D.C., the Seed School of Maryland, and the Seed School of Miami.

The school is free and students are chosen, and the money for seed LA was courtesy of a public private partnership, a partnership that included la metro, the city and County of LA philanthropists, and some help from tax credits.

A good investment for the future of the children of Los Angeles.

Some 400 students now live here on campus, five days a week in a 24 hour learning environment.

not many of us can say that an institution like this was built for us.

And seed.

LA County, established in 2022, was built for the scholars on this campus.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell was part of the brain trust that helped bring the Seed school to L.A., a labor intensive project that began about two decades ago.

Fast forward to a groundbreaking in 2022.

And now students walking through these doors beginning just a few months ago.

Mitchell second district encompasses some of the most disadvantaged communities of Los Angeles.

Makes me feel good because I'm old enough to understand the history of the land that it would go from, a community that was thriving and local small businesses that was destroyed during the uprising.

never to return.

In 1992, a jury acquitted four Los Angeles police officers accused of nearly clubbing Rodney King to death following the officer's high speed car chase of King through the streets of LA.

And despite the fact video evidence show the officers repeatedly clubbing King while he was on the ground.

The officers were found not guilty.

That's when tens of thousands of angry residents took to the streets of South L.A. and this intersection during the L.A. riots.

Well, decades later, parts of this South L.A. neighborhood remain a wasteland.

A ghost town Today as you tour parts of this community, the area is overwhelmed with abandoned stores, empty lots, old dilapidated houses, blighted streets, the compensating sidewalks, the list goes on.

Not all of South L.A. is this way.

Some of the area has been rebuilt.

There's certainly not nearly enough of South L.A., where these days most residents are pleading for repair and revitalization.

Over the years, a lot of promises were made and then broke into the neighbors of this disadvantaged community, a community even years after the L.A. riots, struggling for survival to some degree.

Well, supervisor Holly Mitchell has tried over the years to be one of the officials who kept promises.

In this case, the education promise of seed la.

day that my constituents and I drove past this intersection, it was an additional insult.

It was a further reminder about, broken promises.

to see scholars from all over L.A. County and some from other states understand the value of a publicly funded.

Institution, I will say a higher learning resilience, higher learning, even lower to high school level is just amazing.

the public private partnership, the partnership with Metro, a great opportunity.

I true pipeline and to that field.

It's a beautiful day in South Los.

You know, the concept of boarding schools is not common on the West Coast.

So it's not always common.

The common concept.

In black and brown and poor communities, boarding school education is perceived as one that is very costly.

And so to really understand the value, to have the full 24 hour wraparound experience, I think is what makes the space unique.

kids know what they need to be supported and to excel.

And so I would tell a parent or grandparent or caregiver, listening to very young scholar, and if they believe this kind of environment where you have college tenants in windows and you are surrounded by fellow scholars who are on a similar path, who are fighting every day for excellence for themselves and their communities, for the history of L.A. County across Ruth Stafford is part of the seed LA effort.

Ruth began working on this project over 20 years ago to help try and bring the best education possible to the young people of LA and beyond.

Ruth is a founder and executive director of the Los Angeles nonprofit Make Good, Inc., an organization that helps young people, especially foster kids, succeed through literacy and other education efforts.

this school is open to anyone who lives.

it is meant to be the perfect fit for young people who are interested in a 20 per hour, five days a week.

Learn how to adapt.

It's not just.

But it is definitely the place for the young people who are interested after class who are college prep focused for in all the state of the art.

opportunity.

So we offer that and their leader and their family.

we are so.

This count comes in all.

This particular piece of land that's fallow for for years and during years of the past to develop and not have it.

So we really are the first year to since, it's so much faster, so we all comes in from this cycle around is.

An act of kindness.

A promise kept for the students who are reaping the rewards of two decades of blood, sweat and tears.

With all the efforts to bring seed LA to South L.A.. think what makes us special is just the mentors, the students.

And also one thing that you know, stands out is that We were the first seed to, be on campus two years, after opening.

you have so many opportunity teams and people around you who are there for you, who want to see you succeed in life, but you just got to learn how to take advantage of it.

So I feel like that's something that makes us special and unique in our own way.

it can be overwhelming sometimes.

But, you know, over time, these the students around you, they start to become family in a way.

you have that support system.

You have people who are willing to drop anything to make sure you become that successful person in life.

So it's amazing.

From the dorm live to the classrooms, it's all amazing.

I it's more about the opportunities, and that's more of why I came, because I see something in all of these students that I didn't see.

Old school.

Right.

These students are dedicated.

They're committed to doing, what's best for them.

reason I actually came to see was the opportunities opportunities are boundless.

I see from scholarships to jobs.

So to help you out, the opportunities they give your teachers to for our support They seem like strangers at first, but they become family is indeed the greatest option, which gives you all the support that you can possibly need, And with all the amazing seed LA opportunities, the students have set goals for themselves.

Lofty yet achievable goals.

If you believe in yourself.

I currently serve as a united excuse of California State president.

And prior to being in that position, it kind of motivated me to want to make a difference in the community.

Which ultimately led up to me getting an internship with a youth Democratic program in Lancaster, California.

And it inspired me to want to go into politics.

And I also plan on running for president in 2064.

That's a promise right there.

And joining me now to further the discussion is doctor Jerry Lewis.

Doctor Lewis is the founding head of school for the Seed School of Los Angeles County.

Jerry has worked in education over 20 years, dedicating his life to academia.

Thank you so much for being here, Doctor Lewis.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you for having me.

It's our honor now, doctor Lewis, I began the broadcast with a field report about the seed school.

Talked a bit about what's going on there.

Can you give us more of the logistics?

This very new and unique concept for this seed LA school give an overview of all of this.

How this all began?

Yes, absolutely.

Let's see the LA actually is the fourth school within the Seed network.

And so Seed has been in existence now for 26 years.

We started in Washington DC, on the East Coast, our co-founders, Rasmus Nakota and Eric Adler.

You know, we're truly, visionaries, with just a simple question.

What if what if we create, a learning and MIT that reduces the distractions for young people, who are low income, young people who have had some adverse childhood experience.

Just for that young person who really needs a space, to focus on their academics, to really springboard them, to be college ready.

We understand that poverty has a huge, adverse impact, on young people's readiness, for learning, readiness, to be college ready.

And so there are simple question, really, sent them full speed ahead, in creating, what is now the nation's first and only college preparatory, tuition free, network of schools and that is seed.

So seed is a place, where we always say for young people who need and deserve a 24 hour, five day a week, learning experience, poverty are often, create academic deficits, for students, and we, you know, typically follow, statistics that show that students who are low income off two times 2 to 3 grade levels behind.

And so seed is a really special place, that students, live here from there, from age 14 when they enter the ninth grade until they are ready to depart, and move on to college as an 18 year old.

You know, Doctor Lewis, it is a very interesting concept.

You talked about poverty just a moment ago.

I actually began the broadcast telling our viewers that really, if you look at education objectively in the United States, we have the most level playing field we have ever had.

However, with that said, there are disadvantages in certain socioeconomic backgrounds, certain zip codes.

It can't be denied.

That is the truth.

Even though the level the playing field has leveled out tremendously.

So in addition to poverty, what are some of these other challenges that you are dealing with?

With some of these young people, these students, what are their backgrounds, their family situation?

What what are the difficulties they deal with that we might not know about?

a number of our young people, are have lost parents, and are living either, you know, with, a family member who is not biologically their mother or father or they are with a foster parent.

We also have a focus on young people who have a family member who have been impacted by the criminal justice system.

And we really utilize this space, this learning space, to really refocus that young person, on, being ready, for a four year college degree that is going to what we call our ultimate mission and vision, which is to break generational poverty.

And we all know that, a college degree is considered the most reliable way of are really moving socio economic statuses.

Speaking of that, there are many options for students in the United States for for schools.

There's public school, private school, charter school, or religious school.

Why is the Seed program such a good option?

In other words, what is really setting seed LA apart from some of these other schools or types of schools?

I just mentioned?

this is a place that a young person can really maximize their potential.

Their potential is not only just in the classroom, but we know that the classroom is really where we want, our students to be able to thrive.

It is a learning space, that is going to also affirm, young people who, often marginalized in our greatest society.

It is a place, that, is going to really push students critical thinking is going to foster divergent thinking as well.

And is also, a place where students can create and innovate.

We have a partnership with L.A. Metro, and there's no other seed school, or even many schools that have an industry partner that is investing, in really preparing our students, to be the next leaders, in the field of transportation, engineering and infrastructure.

And we have a specialized curriculum, and those offerings, for our students, what you do becomes a habit.

And we are creating scholarly habits for our students.

So we are teaching time management.

Students are living in community, with, individuals who are not part of their family.

So our students at 14 years old, they are already doing what, 18 to 22 year old is doing on the college campus.

They're living in a dorm.

They are having to, practice those skills of independency.

They are resolving conflict in an amicable way, with their roommate.

They are also, you know, in clubs and activities, every student is required to be in the club or activity is not a choice in our traditional schools that are 8 to 3 students go to school and for the most part, 20% will stay and participate in clubs or athletics.

And 80% go home.

However, that's not the case.

I see 100% of our students are required, to be a part of, some activity, and they really helps to create a sense of belonging, here.

And this is true of Los Angeles County.

And, also, we offer our students, international experiences.

Our students have traveled to Brazil to do service learning.

Jamaica.

Students have also pitch their business in Miami, Florida, to the Grant Cardone Foundation and also have participated in the Harvard Model Congress in San Francisco.

And so these experiences really, help to cultivate what we actually called a well-rounded scholar who is ready to participate in a 21st century global society.

I want to get back to something you just mentioned a moment ago.

You said, if I'm not mistaken, you're partnering with la metro, one of the largest transportation systems in the world.

Obviously, just out of curiosity, how is transportation linked to education?

Yes.

Well, our students are as, as early as the ninth grade are taking part in a very comprehensive curriculum that la metro, has designed, that is exposing them to the various careers, that, L.A. Metro touches.

So you have engineers, you have project managers, you have urban planners.

We are exposing our students to the various careers because l.a. Metro, and in the field of infrastructure have realized that.

See, does college prep.

Well, and so why not partner with, a school organization that is preparing, the next generation of leaders?

But let's prepare the next generation of leaders in the field of infrastructure that is growing exponentially.

And that is going to need, young people who have been prepared as early as 14 year olds.

So, Doctor Lewis, can you talk more about the curriculum?

I've seen la.

It is so unique.

Schools are often associated with reading, writing, arithmetic, Stem, science, technology.

What have you.

Did I hear you correctly?

You said something like conflict resolution.

All these other sort of disciplines that are being taught at the school.

I mean, that's quite a learning, discipline for the students.

Yes, yes.

you know, we follow, the research, and, the research has shown that students who are, persisting through college, they are not just a strong academically.

They are also, showing that they have, strong evidence of social and emotional learning skills.

You know, those skills are, are self-management.

Are you discipline?

Are you able to, accept and embrace others perspective?

Are you able to resolve conflict?

And are you able to, exhibit responsible, decision making and we are teaching and really employing, young people with these skills, both in the classroom and also when they are in their dormitories.

Here I see the lay our students live in what we call houses, in the dorms, we have about 4 to 5 dorm rooms that are, that creates a house.

And they have a living room, bathroom and 4 to 5 dorm dormitories.

And it is led by what we call our student life counselor.

It is the dorm parent or, the caring adult, that is really guiding our students, in friendship.

How to show compassion?

What is respect?

How do you show respect to each other?

We also pride ourselves on what we call to be practicing restorative justice.

So when someone has caused harm in the community, we, don't just send students out and you're suspended.

We actually really have what we call the circle time.

And we, provide a platform and a space for students to express, how they feel, either disrespected by, their roommate or a classmate.

And here is how I want to be treated.

And so we are really teaching our students and and, you know, how to practice nonviolence we and we really espouse to you like Doctor King's mantra, what is the true goal of education is to teach.

You want to think critically, but also to be a character.

And that is, you know, the heartbeat of what we do see the light as.

It's so fascinating that you are instructing students with this, and anyone I've ever known who is a success, they've had so much more than just the book knowledge of schools, the character, the conviction, the due diligence, all of what you mentioned.

It really is amazing.

We have a few minutes left.

I have just one final question for you.

Better here from you than me, because I mentioned in the field report at the beginning of the broadcast, and I talked a little about this in a story.

Anyone who is from the Los Angeles area knows that there is quite a complicated, history with, with South L.A.. You know, obviously, this school is so vital for the neighborhood.

You know, some could say South L.A. is famous.

Some could say infamous, certainly.

Post L.A., right.

It's with everything that's going on.

Formerly known as South Central, now the Watts, Willowbrook, South L.A. area.

Just a storied history.

A lot of promises made, a lot of promises broken to the salt of the earth people who live there.

What is your take on that neighborhood?

Why the seed school there?

And why is the neighborhood vital to forwarding and advancing this narrative, Doctor Lewis?

Yeah, yes.

seed is a part of the community, that we are serving.

And so we are going to plant roots, where our young people live.

We want them to take pride, in where they are from, where they are living, and also where we would hope that they will come back and bring their talents, and their gifts and their knowledge, to their community to really continue to build it out.

Often, you know, our young people, they, believe that, you know, I have to go out, you know, to find, you know, an amazing educational experience.

And we, we really want to, you know, change.

You know, that thinking, around, you have to, you know, go somewhere where the socio economics is, you know, up, you know, to really find quality education, we are committed to bringing a world class quality educational experience to communities that absolutely need it.

Schools historically have been the hub of the community.

And that's what we are continuing, and will continue to do as a school, organization.

We, have such a beautiful campus we have state of the art classrooms, we give students a 1 to 1 computer device, we have a library, a gymnasium, a 170 dormitories, a dining hall, edible garden on the rooftop, a sports court on the rooftop, courtyard where students are building lifelong friendships.

And all of this right here in South L.A., in South Central.

And it also really tells this community that we appreciate, you we value you.

We value your child, your children, have a place, where, you know, they are getting you know what?

Others are paying $70,000 for and it is free of charge.

And this community absolutely deserve it.

This is what we call a transformation of work.

And it also really highlights what we refer to as disruptive leadership.

We are disrupting the status quo.

So profound.

No truer words were ever spoken.

If you've traveled in the South L.A. community over the decades where I have, this is an amazing, piece of real estate that has been developed this school.

And I hope this sets an example for future progress there.

Doctor Lewis, thank you so very much for this interview.

I can't say how much we appreciate it.

Thank you Dave, and it has been my pleasure.

And we're going to talk to you again and follow more of the progress of Seed.

Now for more information about our program, just click on to KLCS.org and then click Contact Us to send us your questions, your comments, even your story ideas so we can hear from you or contact me @DavidNazarNews on X or on YouTube or just go to DavidNazarNews and contact me there and be sure to catch our program here on PBS or catch us on the PBS app.

Thank you so much for joining us.

I'm David Nazar.