Monday, September 22, 2025

Curating Joy & Access: Black Education Expo Returns October 4

Southern California Families & Educators Unite for a Joyful Reunion at the Pasadena Convention Center

The free K-12 Black Education Expo (BEE), co-presented by Pasadena Councilmember Tyron Hampton, is back on Saturday, October 4, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center. Designed as a joyful family reunion, the Expo welcomes families, students, and educators from across Southern California—from Altadena to South Los Angeles to Riverside to San Diego—for a day filled with learning, laughter, and community connection.

“As a community builder with over a decade in higher education, I look forward to welcoming educators, parents, and students who are rebuilding their lives after the LA fires, as well as those eager to connect with new resources or simply reunite with old friends,” said Victoria Williams, Founder of the Black Education Expo. “The Expo is about more than resources—it’s about centering joy, promoting literacy, expanding career pathways, building futures, and bringing our SoCal community together.”

The curated Expo Hall will feature more than 70 exhibitors, including collegiate institutions such as UCLA and California State University, Dominguez Hills, career pathway programs, workforce development organizations, entrepreneurship resources, and training opportunities in fields such as STEM, skilled trades, and healthcare. Families will also discover options in homeschooling, charter, private, and public schools, after-school enrichment, arts, STEAM, and mental health services. Educators will also find dedicated resources and wellness experts ready to support classroom success and personal well-being.

The Joy Zone, open to all attendees, offers a fun and interactive space to connect and enjoy. Love, Peace & Spades will host spirited games of Spades, UNO, and Domino, while the Therapeutic Play Foundation provides coloring, sensory play, and photo booth activations. Additional highlights include storytelling by Altadena Library, face painting, the Teen Zone powered by Intuit for Education featuring a Teen Led Career Panel powered by PCL Construction that explores both college and career journeys, and the Parent Zone hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation and Pasadena Unified School District. The BEE Book Corner, presented with the Kiwanis Foundation, will promote literacy for all by giving away hundreds of free books for attendees of every age.

A special moment of the day will take place at 12:15 p.m., when BEE—in partnership with NATHA—will award five scholarships to BEE Scholars, uplifting young leaders who embody resilience, community service and excellence.

BEE 2025 is made possible through the support of Intuit for Education, Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation, Pasadena Unified School District, BWP Enterprises, PCL Construction, Citizens Business Bank, Russell Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation, Pasadena Community Foundation, IBEW Local 11, STARS, LA STEM Collective, Athens Services, NATHA.

Dozens of community partners—including the Los Angeles Urban League, Pasadena NAACP, Black Girls Code, Fly Compton, Clergy Community Coalition, Proverbs Counseling Services, Special Needs Network, BEAM, Jazzy Jam for Empowerment, Neighborhood Survants, SoCal Divine Nine Orgs and many others—help make the Expo a one-of-a-kind welcoming space for families and educators alike.

Admission is free and open to the public. Paid parking is available on site. Metro accessible. For more details, visit: www.blackeducationexpo.com or email info@blackeducationexpo.com.