HBCU Caravan at Pasadena City College to feature actor and producer Yara Shahidi

Event on Oct. 24 will provide students direct access to more than 20 historically black colleges and universities

PASADENA, Oct. 19, 2023—Actor, producer and change agent Yara Shahidi will visit Pasadena City College on Oct. 24 as part of the On the Yard HBCU Caravan, an event connecting students directly with representatives from historically black colleges and universities, known as HBCUs. 

Shahidi is an award-winning actress, producer and the breakout star of ABC’s Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated series black-ish. Currently, she serves as executive producer and lead of Freeform’s black-ish spinoff series, grown-ish. Offscreen, Shahidi is a champion for inclusive media programming, and an advocate for equity. 

During the event, Shahidi will share with students the importance and power of pursuing higher education as a vehicle for achieving their dreams.

More than 20 HBCUs, including Clark Atlanta University, Dillard University, and Tuskegee University, are taking part in the touring college fair, which will be held in the Quad of PCC’s Colorado Campus from 4 to 6 p.m. 

Students and their families will have a chance to learn about the admissions process, financial aid, and student life at the participating HBCUs, while enjoying food, giveaways, and music curated by DJ Brian Henry, a Morehouse College alumnus. Some institutions will be offering on-the-spot acceptances and scholarship decisions. Students are encouraged to bring copies of their unofficial transcripts. 

Other speakers at the event will include leaders from PCC, the Pasadena Unified School District, and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. 

The HBCU Caravan is part of the California Community Colleges Transfer Guarantee Pathway to Historically Black Colleges & Universities, an initiative that aims to streamline the process for students to transfer from community colleges in California directly to an HBCU. 

PCC is one of 11 community colleges in California to be selected to host the touring HBCU Caravan this fall. The event at PCC is presented in partnership with the California Community College Chancellor’s Office and PCC’s Transfer Center and Division of Institutional Equity, Diversity and Justice.

Learn more about the HBCU Caravan and register on the event website.