Olani LeBeaud, Public Policy & Advocacy Fellow, BLU Educational Foundation

As a Public Policy and Advocacy Fellow with BLU Educational Foundation, Olani LaBeaud became involved in civic engagement due to her passions for community service and advocating for those who may not have the resources to do so.

BLU Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in San Bernardino that focuses on college and career access, leadership development, civic engagement and the arts. Olani’s journey with BLU spans throughout her adolescent years into her current role with the organization. Throughout high school, BLU played a pivotal role in Olani’s educational journey by providing guidance, advising, and overall educational support. In addition to developing and delivering exceptional services and programming, BLU takes pride in being a support system throughout students’ educational journeys. This is monumental, as it is crucial that students have a support system, not only during college, but during their paths to success and graduating with the necessary tools to thrive.

As a proud community member of the Inland Empire, Olani continues to have a passion for serving the community that poured into her by giving back in any capacity when opportunities arise.

“I believe we deserve to live in a community with equitable access in education, information, and resources to all students, especially those who are actively underrepresented. We are only as strong as our community and we must work actively to ensure that equality is present in the different social institutions, including education and everyday practices.”