Alisha James, Senior High Teacher at San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD), will receive a Black Rose Award at the 34th Annual Black Rose Award Celebration on Saturday, September 12, at Cal State San Bernardino.
James is a Spanish teacher at San Bernardino High School. She and a team of Black educators at the school have gone above and beyond to create opportunities for students to see themselves in excellence and to support students in being their best selves. Most recently, Alisha’s team held a Career Day featuring all-black vendors, employers, and presenters for black students on campus.
James had this to say when she learned she had gotten the award: “This means so much to me because I love my students and the population I serve, but a very small percentage is Black, so everything I’ve done with my colleagues to support our Black students has been voluntary, doing additional tasks to support our Black scholars.
“It’s a work in progress, but I can see the improvements. I’m so happy to be part of an amazing team of Black professionals as well. Thank you!”
With more than 15 years of teaching experience, she has built trust and generated support for high-profile, often complex projects.
James led a team of Black scholars at San Bernardino High School to form the first Black Student Union there. This has resulted in Black students receiving recognition for their work. Black students are a small population at the school, so creating this organization helps them gain recognition for their achievements.
She and her team organized the upcoming All Black Scholar Awards, which will be given out at a special event on April 30, 2026. They have also put together a Black Student Professional Development program in which students learn about Black history and culture and participate in a Q&A forum with prominent Black leaders.
The Black Rose Awards gala takes place on Saturday, February 1, at 5:30 p.m. at Cal State San Bernardino, in the Santos Manuel Student Union, located at 5500 University Parkway in San Bernardino. For tickets to the gala, visit the Black Culture Foundation website: sbbcfoundation.org/black-rose-tickets/
This year’s recipients include the Jim King Founders Award recipient, the J.W. Vines Medical Society. The recipient of the Dr. Juanita Scott Humanitarian of the Year Award is Carl M. Dameron. Other Black Rose Award winners include Alisha James, Alton Garrett Jr., Anthony Morris, Chache Wright, Dr. Keith Moses, Jonathan Beauregard, Marcelino “Mars” Serna, and Tawon Green.
To become a Black Rose Awards sponsor, visit sbbcfoundation.org/black-rose-sponsorship/
About the Black Rose Awards
The Black Rose Awards are sponsored by the Black Culture Foundation, founded in 1968 by a group concerned that nationwide school systems haven't incorporated Black history into curricula, preventing students from learning about an important part of U.S. history. The Foundation aims to promote interest and understanding of Black culture, raise awareness of Black accomplishments, organize an annual Black History Month parade and cultural activities, and foster unity across cultures.
For more information about the Black Culture Foundation, go to: SBBCFoundation.org.