LA's BEST Expanded Learning

Imagine What’s Possible ✨ Join us for the LA’s BEST Family Brunch on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at the Skirball Cultural Center as we celebrate the students, families, staff, and communities that make LA’s BEST so special. Enjoy: • Student performances • Interactive enrichment activities • Inspiring stories of impact • Special tributes to our honorees • A joyful morning supporting expanded learning across Los Angeles Skirball Cultural Center Sunday, June 7, 2026 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM Tickets are going quickly. We would love to celebrate with you! #LAsBEST #ExpandedLearning #AfterschoolEnrichment #WholeChildEveryDay

Summer enrollment is now open at LA’s BEST! ☀️ This summer, students can enjoy hands-on learning, games, enrichment activities, caring staff, and a safe place to learn and grow all summer long. Our no-cost summer program helps students stay engaged, build confidence, and keep momentum going into the next school year through fun experiences that feel like summer. Programs are offered at select LAUSD elementary schools. Families can apply at their school site or attend another nearby participating LA’s BEST location. Please note: If a school is hosting morning summer school classes, students must be enrolled in those classes to attend LA’s BEST at that site in the afternoon. Apply today and view participating locations at lasbest.org/application #LAsBEST #ExpandedLearning #AfterschoolEnrichment #SummerLearning #LAUSD

Whole City. Whole Child. Every Day. We do this by showing up where it matters most. In schools. In neighborhoods. In communities across Los Angeles. Through hands-on learning, caring staff, and safe spaces before and after school, students have the support they need to grow, explore, and belong. This is how expanded learning works. #LAsBEST #ExpandedLearning #AfterschoolEnrichment #WholeChildEveryDay

And that’s a wrap on our 32nd Annual Dance & Drill Team Showcase! To our incredible students and coaches, thank you for the months of dedication, discipline, and heart you poured into every performance. Across two days and six sessions, more than 100 schools took the stage, showcasing the hard work and talent that made this event unforgettable. Thank you to the more than 1,000 family members, friends, and community supporters who joined us to cheer on our performers and celebrate their accomplishments. We are also grateful to our special guests, including principals, board members, and community partners, for joining us, supporting our students, and helping present trophies throughout the weekend. Finally, thank you to the dedicated staff behind the scenes whose planning and coordination brought this showcase to life. We can’t wait to do it all again next year. 🪩✨

The countdown is on. More than 100 LA’s BEST sites have been preparing for this moment. Months of practice, teamwork, and dedication all leading up to one weekend. Tomorrow and Sunday, across six sessions, our students will take the stage for the annual Dance and Drill Team Showcase. This is one of our largest events of the year and a true reflection of the energy, creativity, and confidence built through expanded learning. Stay tuned. #LAsBEST #ExpandedLearning #AfterschoolEnrichment #thestageisyours

At BOOST Conference 2026 in Palm Springs, LA’s BEST and Evoke Collective led a session titled “Plan Better, Do Better: Strategic Planning Lessons from LA’s BEST.” Led by Michele Broadnax, President & CEO of LA’s BEST, Director of Evaluation Evelyn Wang, Evaluation Assistant Daniel Reyes, and Gina Airey, CEO of Evoke Collective, the session shared practical tools and lessons from LA’s BEST’s strategic planning journey. Participants explored how strategic planning can strengthen alignment, deepen partnerships, and help organizations build toward long-term impact. Proud to have our team sharing insights and helping move the expanded learning field forward. #LAsBEST #ExpandedLearning #BOOSTConference #WholeChildEveryDay

Imagine what’s possible when young people are given the space to grow, create, and thrive. Join us at the LA’s BEST Family Brunch on June 7 for a morning of student performances, hands-on activities, and meaningful connection, all in support of expanded learning across Los Angeles. Be in the room. Be part of what’s possible. Tickets and sponsorships available now lasbest.org/family-brunch-2026/ #LAsBEST #ExpandedLearning #AfterschoolEnrichment #WholeChildEveryDay #ImagineWhatsPossible

We’re excited to share that LA’s BEST will be presenting at BOOST Conference 2026. Join Michele Broadnax, President & CEO of LA’s BEST; Evelyn Wang, Director of Evaluation; and Gina Airey, CEO of Evoke Collective for “Plan Better, Do Better: Strategic Planning Lessons from LA’s BEST.” Together, they’ll share practical tools and lessons from LA’s BEST’s strategic planning journey, exploring how strategic planning can strengthen team alignment, deepen partnerships, and help organizations build a clearer vision for long-term impact. Attendees will walk away with actionable tools and templates to support an inclusive and effective planning process. If you’re attending BOOST, we’d love to see you there on Thursday, April 30. Check the conference app or flyer for full session details. #BOOSTConference #StrategicPlanning #LAsBEST #ExpandedLearning #NonprofitLeadership

We welcomed more than 100 of LA’s BEST program leaders during our 2026 Summer Leadership Summit for hands-on training designed to prepare them for the months ahead. From summer learning strategies to program planning, each session focused on strengthening the experience students will have across our sites. As we head into summer, this preparation matters. Continued learning, safe spaces, and consistent support help students stay engaged, growing, and ready for what’s next. Summer enrollment opens soon. Stay connected for more. #LAsBEST #ExpandedLearning #AfterschoolEnrichment #SummerLearning

Today, something new is growing at our site. Thanks to our partners at ALDI, our BEST Fit team worked alongside school staff and students to create a community garden that will live beyond today. This new outdoor space gives students the opportunity to grow their own vegetables, learn hands-on, and spend meaningful time outside the classroom. This is what enrichment looks like in action: spaces where students can explore, connect, and take pride in what they build together. A special thank you to our partners at ALDI and to our wonderful principal for their support and collaboration in bringing this outdoor space to life. As our principal shared, many students in this community do not have regular access to green spaces, making this garden a meaningful and transformational addition to their experiences. #LAsBEST #ExpandedLearning #AfterschoolEnrichment #WholeChildEveryDay

The Advocacy Cohort is a group of LA’s BEST staff who are trained to share their experiences and advocate for students, families, and communities across Los Angeles. Our Advocacy Cohort culminated months of preparation with a day at City Hall, meeting with City Council Members and their offices to put their learning into practice. Throughout the day, cohort members brought forward their lived experiences, recognizing the power of their stories and strengthening their ability to advocate for students, families, and communities across Los Angeles. Ahead of the Mayor’s budget release on April 20, we met with several Council offices to reinforce a clear message: since 1988, LA’s BEST has been a system that works. At a time when families are facing rising childcare costs and increasing need for safe, engaging spaces for their children, LA’s BEST remains a proven and essential model. These conversations were thoughtful and engaging, and we were proud to highlight how this work directly aligns with the Mayor’s priorities around public safety, affordability, and support for children and families. We closed the day by recognizing our cohort members with certificates from Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Los Angeles City Council President, honoring their civic leadership and commitment to advocacy. Together, they are elevating the voices of more than 24,000 students and families and advancing opportunities for youth across Los Angeles.

Yesterday we were at City Hall. Our President & CEO, alongside our advocacy cohort, met with City Council offices to talk about what LA’s BEST looks like for families across Los Angeles and how we can continue partnering to support communities across the city. Thank you to the Council offices that took the time to meet with us. For thousands of working families, LA’s BEST makes it possible to keep going supporting parents, giving students a place to grow, and creating stability beyond the school day. This work directly aligns with the City’s priorities—public safety, affordability, and supporting children and families. We’re not asking the City to build something new. We’re asking to continue investing in a partnership that’s already working.