Education

• Atlanta Braves Foundation
• Atlanta Foundation
• Comcast
• 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

Latino students drop out of high school at higher rates than their peers, and they are also less likely to attend a four-year college full time. According to the Pew Research Center, young Hispanics are less likely than their white counterparts to enroll in a four-year college (56% versus 72%), they are less likely to attend a selective college, less likely to be enrolled in college full time and less likely to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Our Youth Programs Department staff works closely with students, parents, teachers and school administrators to help reduce the Latino dropout rate and make sure that Latino students see college as a viable and affordable option.

From year-round academic programs at various schools in the Atlanta metro area to an annual youth conference that motivates Latino youth to pursue post-secondary education, we offer the tools and resources to help Latino youth succeed in school and in life.

• 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.

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 Rigoberto Rivera at (404) 638.1810 or  rrivera@thelaa.org.

Become a youth Mentor

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

• Honors Latino parents’ strengths
• Grounded in research
• Reflects parent input
• Draws from real-life experiences
• Incorporates data about local schools and the community
• Focus on helping Latino parents understand their important role in the development of and long-term impact on their children’s education outcomes
• Uses “popular education” approach to engage parents in culturally familiar and interactive activities
• This results empowers Latino parents become powerful agents of change in the lives of their children and in their communities
• It also creates a sustainable program that reaches beyond the initial training course

• Session 1: Concept of being the child’s first teacher and the home is the first school. It expresses the importance of education, parent engagement and leadership.
• Session 2: Emphasizes parent’s role as leaders by practicing family values, good communication, positive discipline, authoritative parenting, goal setting, and planning.
• Session 3: Emphasizes role in their child’s development and increases response to their needs by knowing the milestones in child development. Provides resources and services that in the community for early detection and support for children with special needs.
• Session 4: Provides information on language development and advantages of bilingualism.
• Session 5: Highlights the importance of reading to children early in development. Teaches parents about libraries and gives strategies on reading to their child. Also, provides information on how to do taxes.
• Session 6: Focuses on the importance of balanced nutrition and exercise. Teaches healthy habits and provides resources on programs in the community they can turn to.
• Session 7: Explains the concept and importance of mental and emotional well-being of the self and of their child. Explains and provides resources on helping the socio-emotional development of their children.
• Session 8: Demonstrates the importance of having and choosing quality childcare and the benefits of enrolling their child in pre-k. Also, provides ways on how to develop good communication with teachers.
• Session 9: Teaches the rights and responsibilities in the public school system and the process to change policies. Also, teaches leadership and advocacy skills and challenges faced in the community.
• Session 10: Time for testimonies and give certificates of completion of the program.

• Approaches to reading with child: sustained and increased reading with their child compared to others not in the program
• Parent educational activities-parents engaged in reading, telling stories, letters, games etc. with their children
• Library use- parents used effective reading strategies, and where and how to access books
• Knowledge about aspects of child care equality-endorsed healthy snacks, daily reading, active play, and teaching children to play with others
• Family organization and planning –parents felt knew how to communicate and discipline better
• Parent role modeling –realized they are role models and set an example for their children

The program has also helped increase:

• Confidence about parenting.
• Knowledge about available health services and other family support services.
• Social support and connections in community.
• Community involvement and civic engagement.

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.

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.