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Dawit Begashaw discusses what it means for him to be “Black and Educated” during “The Great Debaters” film screening and post-film panel discussion hosted by TELA. Photo by Melody Davalos/Staff

Martin Luther King, Jr., Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson graduated from Morehouse College. Alice Walker, Marion Wright Edelman and Esther Rolle are alumni of Spelman College. Lionel Richi, Ralph Ellison and Marilyn Mosby matriculated from Tuskegee University.

Southwestern College students now have a pathway to America’s best Historically Black Colleges and Universities thanks to an innovative program working to support underserved African-American students.

The Exponential Learning Academy (TELA) was founded six years ago by Professional Development Coordinator Janelle Williams and Assistant Professor of English Henry Aronson, said TELA counselor Michael Love. TELA is an extension of Umoja, a statewide African American learning organization that draws its name from the Kiswahili word for “unity.”

TELA counselor Abdimalik Buul said professors strive to tie contemporary African-American culture to the curriculum.

“We make the course relevant,” Buul said. “We talk about ads, black culture, today’s culture and connect it to each lesson.”

Buul said instilling critical thinking skills, learning how to question, networking and leadership are the main foci of the curriculum. Love agreed.

“I think being able to question everything is going to be the most fruitful contribution we can make,” he said.

Leah Richi, 24, psychology major, is TELA’s student president.

“You come in on your own and you are brought into a team,” said Richi. “TELA is a family.”

Buul said students who enroll in TELA receive priority registration, peer mentorship, financial aid workshops and a support group. There are almost 30 students in the community with GPAs at or above 3.0, he said.

“I want my students to (have) grit,” he said. “Perseverance, resiliency and the ability to look at obstacles and prevail is my main goal.”

Love said the TELA program caters to the African-American experience on campus, but its doors are open to students of all nationalities and ethnicities.

Josue Guerrero, 18, criminal justice, said he enjoys his experience within the organization.

“This program really pushes you out of your comfort zone to do better and helps you keep an open mind,” he said.

Raven Spellman, 18, English, agreed.

“Unity, community and diversity,” she said. “You become unapologetically yourself.”

Transfer agreements between California colleges and universities and nine HBCUs allow admittance to any of the colleges for students with a GPA of 2.5 or greater and 30 transferable units. Buul said this year eight Southwestern TELA students qualified to visit five HBCUs free of cost. Leni Russell, 19, an anthropology major, is one.

“To know that I qualify to go to a trip like this, to get on a plane and see a school that I may potentially attend, that in itself is its own resource,” said Russell. “It gives us motivation to work hard.”

Russell said the prospect of her younger brother joining the TELA community is important to her.

“For you to push a product on a family member you really have to believe in it.”