At a time when true leaders are in short supply in Cleveland, Esperanza, Inc. has developed a program that promotes action, opportunity, and leadership among our city’s Hispanic teens.

The Youth Leadership Program (YLP) was designed to provide students with leadership opportunities, academic support, and life and employment skills through community service and afterschool activities.  The program meets Monday through Thursday from 2:30 through 5:00 pm.

Lessons learned: Volunteers promote skills to build success

Lessons fall into one or more of the following categories: Leadership & Citizenship, College & Academics, Work & Career Opportunities, and Life Skills.

Leadership & Citizenship: A student council leads most daily lessons, which include team building activities, goal development, and community service.

College & Academics: Lessons range from high school academics (study skills, writing and grammar, Proficiency testing) to college preparation (application techniques, financial aid awareness, how to apply for scholarships, and how to select a school).

Work & Career Opportunities: Whether students enroll in college or enter the work force after high school, instructors provide students with useful information on resume writing and interview skills, letter writing, how to dress for success, computer research and how to complete a job application. These lessons allow students to become comfortable with the experiences that will greet them in the work world.

Life Skills: Many factors can lead members of the young Hispanic community astray, but quality life-skill lessons provide students with real-world scenarios that raise their awareness of social dangers. Lessons include health and nutrition, planned parenthood, how to avoid loan scams, and even money management in which Esperanza helps students open and manage their own bank accounts.

Our mission continues

Esperanza’s mission has been to enhance academic and economic opportunities for Hispanic Americans since its inception in 1983.

Esperanza is battling a near 70% Hispanic drop-out rate in the City of Cleveland (based on 2000 census data). The adults who make the YLP and all of Esperanza’s programs a reality are examples of success, many of whom were once struggling students like those being helped today. We believe the Youth Leadership Program is providing Hispanic and minority teens with unique opportunities to be leaders in their own way: in school, at home, and in their community.