The goal of the Education focus area is to empower Latino youth to achieve educational success. This work includes the Latino Youth Leadership Academy and Latino Youth Mentoring Program; large-scale annual events La Feria de Educación Latina and the Latino Youth Leadership Conference; and advocacy to address Latino K-12 education access and in-state tuition for DACA recipients.
Supporters
- Atlanta Braves Foundation
- Atlanta Foundation
- Chick-fil-A Foundation
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- Georgia Power Foundation
- Georgia State University Research Foundation
- The Brace Family Foundation
- The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia
- The Imlay Foundation
- The John and Mary Franklin Foundation
- United Way of Greater Atlanta
Events
La Feria de Educación Latina
Latino Youth Leadership Conference
Programs
Latino Youth Leadership Academy (LYLA)
Research shows that engaging Latino youth and their families in school leads to better student performance. The year-round Latino Youth Leadership Academy initiative, offered now at six metro Atlanta schools with a high percentage of Latinos, provides middle school and high school students with an after-school program that teaches them skills needed to succeed in school and college; leadership development; cultural and physical activities; test preparation and academic support; digital literacy; and college and career exploration through field trips, career days and mentorships. Parent involvement is a critical component of this initiative.
Latino Youth Mentoring Program
The LAA’s Latino Youth Leadership Academy offers a mentoring program for 200 ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders in Dekalb, Gwinnett and Fulton counties who are currently participating in our youth program. College students, civic leaders and professionals are invited to serve as mentors, working with Latino youth to develop leadership skills, answer questions about college, offer career guidance and provide academic and social support.
Mentor Expectations
- Mentors must make a nine-month commitment to meet with their mentee a minimum of two times a month after school or on weekends.
- Mentors and mentees will be matched according to gender, interests and personality traits.
- Mentors must attend a mandatory mentor orientation and a meeting with the family of the mentee.
- Mentors must schedule a minimum of two meetings per month in advance.
- Mentors must work closely with the program managers, providing activity logs, updates and feedback.
- Mentors must maintain communication with mentee and follow through on commitments.
- Mentors must serve as a resource and source of support for assigned mentee.
*All mentors must undergo a background check prior to being matched.
How to Apply
Please complete an application by clicking here. You will need to provide your contact information, a résumé and references, and you must also submit two essays.
The Youth Department will notify the first cohort of mentors regarding next steps.
For more information, please contact Alexandra Campos Castillo at 678-663-2332 or acampos@thelaa.org.
The Latino College Leadership Alliance (LCLA)
The Latino College Leadership Alliance is a new Youth Programs initiative that seeks to empower Latino college students and young professionals through leadership development and civic engagement. This program provides participants with meaningful service-learning opportunities aligned with the mission of the Latin American Association. Participants engage with middle and high school students and advocate on issues that matter to Latino youth. The Latino College Leadership Alliance aims to develop leaders that serve as role models to the younger generation.
Parenting Program
The LAA offers a 10 week curriculum called Opening Doors. Parent input helps develop the Abriendo Puertas / Opening Doors curriculum, which uses the “popular education” approach to engage parents in lessons that reflect the culture of the target audience. The interactive sessions draw from real-life experiences, incorporate data about local schools and communities, and focus on helping Latino parents understand their important role in the development of and long-term impact on their children’s educational outcomes. The train-the–trainer model helps local family service providers improve their outreach and interaction with families, and create a sustainable program that reaches beyond the initial training sessions.
Each of the curriculum sessions is grounded in a “dicho” or popular sayings, and incorporates culturally familiar activities and data. The curriculum, available in both Spanish and English promotes:
- school readiness, family well-being, and advocacy by addressing best practices in brain development
- key aspects of early childhood development (cognitive, language, physical, and social/emotional)
- early literacy, numeracy, bilingualism, health, attendance, civic engagement, parent leadership, goal setting, and planning for family success
To support Latino parents in their roles as family leaders and as their child’s first and most influential teacher.
- Abriendo Puertas is the nation’s first evidence-based curriculum developed by and for Latino parents with children ages 0-5
- Developed by the Tides Center, a respected national nonprofit advocacy and research organization, in partnership with Latino-serving nonprofits and educational institution
- Through a two-generation approach, program builds parent leadership skills and knowledge to promote family well-being and positive education outcomes for children
- 10 week course
Latino College Resources
College Access Workshops
Our staff conducts several college access workshops each year for high school students and their parents focused on topics such as applying to college, getting financial aid and succeeding in college.
Cultural Competency Training
We also work with school administrators, teachers and other community organizations – such as Teach for America — in offering cultural competency training. These sessions are aimed at providing proven strategies for teaching Latino students and supporting their academic success.
