Bessie Morris Foundation

05/28/2026

05/25/2026

Today on , we remember and honor the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our country. We are grateful for their service and dedication. They are the true heroes of our nation.

04/30/2026

Bessie Morris Foundation is pleased to announce that applications for academic scholarships will be accepted from May 1 through May 29. The review process will take place from May 30 through June 6, and all scholarship recipients will be notified no later than June 13.

These scholarships are available to current college students and graduating high school seniors who have been accepted into an accredited college for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Apply Here: https://bessiemorris.org/apply-for-college-scholarship.shtml

03/25/2026

LA Youth - here’s a great development opportunity! Be sure to apply.

The Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (EmpowerLA) proudly presents the 2026 EmpowerLA Youth Conference, a one-day event on Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. designed to engage and inspire youth from across Los Angeles. This year’s event will welcome 100 young peop...

03/24/2026

We hope the stories of these amazing women featured on our Women’s History Month, have inspired you as the Bessie Morris Foundation celebrates two leaders whose impact continues to shape communities and expand opportunity.

Dr. Brenda Thames, a pioneering leader in higher education has championed student success that empower both learners and educators.

Secondly, the Honorable Lora J. Livingston has dedicated her career to advancing justice and equity, rising to become a historic leader in the courts while advocating for those often unheard.

Explore their stories and more in the Bessie Morris Foundation’s latest electronic magazine: https://bessiemorris.org/inspiring_women_emagazine.shtml

03/17/2026

Bessie Morris Foundation is proud to highlight Honorable Lora J. Livingston and her accomplishments during Women’s History Month.

As a young woman growing up in South Los Angeles, Lora committed to giving voice to the voiceless. She, therefore, was drawn to law and earned her Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law. Interested in poverty law, her first legal position was a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellow.

Visit our site to read Hon. Livingston’s journey to become the first African American woman to preside over a district court in Travis County, Texas. She has been recognized at the local, state, and national levels for her efforts to make justice accessible to all. Case in point, this month, the Travis County Law Library, which houses the Self-Help Center she initiated, will be dedicated in her honor: the Lora J. Livingston Law Library.

03/16/2026

Have you heard of Anne Lowe? A trailblazer!

https://fb.watch/FTSxmvj-zz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/01/2026

March is National Women’s History Month, honoring accomplished women who have shaped our world.

Bessie Morris Foundation seeks to inspire girls and young women to define their own success, and to become tomorrow’s leaders. To this end, over the last several years, we have shared stories of inspiring women, their lives and journeys. Each story is unique, but their determination connects them all.

This year, we’ll highlight two more Inspiring Women. You’ll read about how a first-generation college student overcame her struggles to become the Superintendent of the El Camino Community College District and President/CEO of El Camino College. Then, you’ll learn how a South Los Angeles high schooler came to have a Law Library named in her honor, resulting from her accomplishments to make justice accessible to all, whether poor or rich.

Each woman, in their own way, have built bridges for advancement for all.

Look for these Bessie Morris Foundation’s Inspiring Women articles in the coming weeks.