L.A. Greens Launch Petra Kelly Scholarships

Los Angeles Greens Launch Petra Kelly Scholarships

The Los Angeles Greens launched the Green Party Petra Kelly Scholarship thanks to a generous donation from one of our members. Honoring the inspirational German Green Party cofounder Petra Kelly, international peace and environmental leader, and cultivating a new generation of young activists; the scholarship awards $500 each to two students graduating from the Los Angeles Unified School District, to offset college expenses. To highlight the fact that the Green Party strives for gender balance in our internal leadership positions, the recipients are one male and one female.

The scholarship's inaugural winners are Rumeisha Bowyer and Carlos Hernandez. Bowyer graduated from the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies and is currently attending Cal Poly Pomona. An avid basketball player, she served as a coach and mentor to younger players, as well as breaking the gender barrier in her community's basketball league.

At King/Drew Magnet High School, Carlos Hernandez sought to allay the racial and cultural conflict in his community by serving as Director of Assemblies and peer mediator. He hopes to continue building dialogue among Los Angeles' many diverse groups while attending the University of Southern California. Both Hernandez and Bowyer attended Los Angeles Greens' events in recent months, sharing their stories with local Greens while learning more about the Greens and what we stand for.

In addition to providing these outstanding students with extra funds to help with the costs of tuition, computers, and books, the Petra Kelly Scholarship allows the Los Angeles Greens to share with the young people of Los Angeles the Ten Key Values. "As a former Los Angeles City Council candidate, I hope the Petra Kelly Scholarship will inspire young people, especially women, to consider running for office some day," said Denise Munro Robb, the Los Angeles Greens' treasurer.

The group plans to throw an annual party to continue funding the scholarship each year. The late Petra Kelly stated, "Greens are neither left nor right--we are in front" -- by helping the next generation of leaders attain their goals, the Los Angeles Greens are living up to her words.

Find more information at www.losangelesgreens.org