The mission of the Central Cities Association for Gifted and Talented Children (CCAGTC) is to ensure that underrepresented and marginalized children of the Central Cities have an opportunity to maximize their full innate potential by advocating for equal access to identification and participation in high-quality educational programs and services (i.e., gifted and talented, advance placement, technology, visual and performing arts, and athletic programs) providing equity for all students. Our vision is to build a community of support and to educate, advocate, and empower families with the necessary tools to nurture the gifts, talents, and creativity of their children.
CCAGTC was established in 2020 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization by Patricia and AyiKwei Kimathi, who have been working with gifted and talented children in the Central Cities community for over twenty years. Through their work at The Learning Tree Enrichment Center, which they have owned and operated since 1995, they have created a space where Central Cities children and families do not have to leave the community to receive assistance and support to improve their educational experiences and outcomes.
The Kimathi’s have established the Central Cities Association for Gifted and Talented Children as a continuation of their long-standing commitment to providing educational support and advocating for equal opportunities for all children in our community.
Why Does Our Community Need CCAGTC?
According to the California Department of Education, gifted and talented education programs are intended to enable school districts to provide unique educational opportunities for high-achieving students. Gifted and talented education programs take a variety of forms, but all have in common the need for districts to identify high-achieving students and create differentiated opportunities for learning.
Unfortunately, school districts have for many years failed to provide the proper resources and opportunities to nurture gifted and talented students from communities of color and low-income households. Students in the Central Cities areas of Los Angeles continue to be severely underrepresented and marginalized in the gifted and talented community. The number of identified gifted & talented students of color continues to decline, and schools do not take a proactive approach to identifying their gifted students. This leaves many extremely talented students languishing in classrooms that are not equipped to nurture their gifts. Additionally, many parents are unsure of how to formally identify their children’s talents, and when they are aware, these parents are uncertain how to navigate the school district system to gain access to gifted and talented educational options.
CCAGTC Activities
The Central Cities Association for Gifted and Talented Children serves as a community-wide resource for families of gifted and talented children through the following activities:
Community Building – CCAGTC builds a community of creativity and innovation through partnerships with community-based programs focused on advanced education, technology, visual and performing arts to nurture all aspects of the gifted and talented child.
Advocacy – CCAGTC disseminates information to school districts & public officials regarding the ongoing needs of gifted and talented children in the Central Cities and advocates for equitable access to programs regardless of race, gender, age, location, income, or disability. Empowerment – CCAGTC provides support & information to families about their rights and creates access points to empower parents to advocate for their children and ensure they receive the services they are entitled to.
Access – CCAGTC creates opportunities for underrepresented children to access community-based programming to nurture their gifts and talents, regardless of family income.
How You Can Get Involved Central Cities Association for Gifted and Talented Children, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is currently in its start-up phase. The co-founders and board of directors are seeking early investors to assist with our strategic planning and, program implementation & outreach efforts. We encourage members of the community to join the CCAGTC Founder’s Circle and be part of this movement to improve equity and opportunity for our community’s gifted and talented children.
CCAGTC Founder’s Circle members will receive regular communications from the co-founders, unique opportunities to participate in CCAGTC activities, and the satisfaction of knowing that they are supporting members of our community as they continue their long-standing commitment to serving the children and families in our community. To join the Founder’s Circle, see above or Email: ccagtc100@gmail.com. Phone: 323-750-6559 to use Zelle or pay by check.
Central Cities Association for Gifted and Talented Children
AyiKwei Kimathi, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Patricia Kimathi, Co-Founder and Director of Programs
8465 S. Van Ness Ave., Inglewood, CA 90305
Web: www.ccagtc.org Email: ccagtc100@gmail.com Phone: 323-750-6559
