Inglewood’s program had been chain-sawed by financial challenges and the pandemic, but Joseph Jauregui built it back up – and his students are winning scholarships

Joan Rosas says educators as early as kindergarten flat-out told him he wasn’t capable. “I got horrible grades,” he said. “I could barely read until eighth grade when I figured out how to teach myself.”

The Inglewood high school sophomore says he received little meaningful support for his learning challenges and, under the circumstances, grew to dislike school. Eventually, he started acting out, trying things like smoking.

The bi-monthly group gives Black men a safe space to share, reflect and support each other

Desmond Carter is on a mission to save the lives of Black men.

Carter, founder of Mental Health Is Real Wealth, leads a bi-monthly mental health group in Los Angeles’ Leimert Park neighborhood, and on a recent Thursday, 15 Black men gathered inside a conference room without pressure and without women.