The Big O recently sat down with Appollonia Washington, co-owner of 4 Apple Learning Center and Today’s Central, to discuss her 36-year legacy of serving the youth in the Central District. Washington is known for helping build the future of the CD, and her commitment to her longstanding familial legacy in the neighborhood. Offering classes ranging from STEM, art, fitness and cooking, she is committed to meeting every child’s unique needs.

Reclaiming the Village: A Black Family & Community Summit is back this Saturday, January 10 at Garfield High School, marking the follow up to the inaugural summit last August. An essential conversation and community-building event, Reclaiming the Village is designed to center Black families, students, and the crucial community-based organizations that support them, all with the goal of strengthening the partnership between the school and the families it serves.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund is here to help high schoolers seeking higher education turn that dream into reality. This scholarship is all about finding future leaders in the Pacific Northwest who are ready to crush their college goals and take that next step to reaching their full potential.

In a society often focused on traditional college pathways, Federal Way High School in Washington state is carving a unique route for its students, one that leads directly to fulfilling and lucrative careers in the trades. Former State Representative Jesse Johnson, a community organizer and educator, is at the forefront of this initiative, emphasizing the importance of hands-on skills and mentorship for young people.

#SupportBlackBusiness - Catrice Dennis, the self-proclaimed melanated Miss Frizzle, operates her mobile classroom Teaching with Love and Care (TLC) from a shuttle bus based in Federal Way. With the help of her daughter Asiyah Davis, Dennis brings her passion for nature and experiential learning to young children and parents who struggle with aspects of traditional education.

Elizabeth City State University (ECSU), a historically Black university with a legacy spanning over a century, is not only making higher education affordable but also fostering a nurturing environment where students thrive.