Gwen Gatson-Long Email & Phone Number

Volunteer position, I have volunteered with this organization for over twenty years. Advocates for Valley African American Students (AVAAS) currently collaborates with other community-based organizations in the San Fernando Valley, forming the Alliance Advocating for African American Children and Youth. The Alliance partnered with the Northeast Valley Best Start communities, bringing our collective expertise to engage in systems change work aligned with community-identified priorities: As the interim Education Chair of the San Fernando Valley Branch of the NAACP, I coordinated the recruitment, selection, and awarding of five local students $5,000 each of a SoCalGasCo Scholarship Grant a $75,000 regional scholarship grant to the NAACP. The SoCalGasCo awarded the scholarships during the African American leadership Organization’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. event, a virtual event this year. The Alliance also coordinated a culturally relevant Showcase exhibiting the creative talents of middle school students. Students presented their unique display of African Excellence during the Village Nation Partnership’s Annual Parent Empowerment Summit. A Virtual Zoom event. Under current development is a career readiness program for middle school students focusing on academic preparation, transferable skills, and an introduction to careers in insurance, claims, and construction defects.

Notary Public (Traveling)Essential Document Preparation