The ELLA (Esperanza’s Latina Leadership Alliance) Program is gender-specific leadership program which brings together Latina adults with Latina high school youth. ELLA provides a safe place for girls to learn social and communication skills, cooperation and leadership, the importance of education, and most important of all, a safe place to discuss the many issues that adolescent females cope with daily. Participants also go to cultural and sporting events, and field trips, and host celebrations for their families. Throughout it all, we consistently reinforce the message that graduating high school and going on to college is the most important thing they can do.

Our purpose: Development and encouragement
By providing teenagers with leadership and educational resources, students increase knowledge and expand their awareness of the common challenges and opportunities before them.

Our format: Hands-on, real-world, and in-person

• Both clubs meet monthly in groups of approximately 20 to discuss issues affecting their lives and learn
  from role models in their community.
• A community leader volunteers as coordinator of program activities to deliver the leadership-training
  lesson and skill-development exercises.
• Guest speakers are invited to present topics relevant to young Hispanics and allow for group discussion,
  brainstorming, and problem-solving.
• At the middle of the school year, participants select a leadership project they believe can impact their
  community. Adult mentors are selected from various professions to guide the students in their projects.
• At the year’s end, students participate in a community project and demonstrate their leadership skills.

Our sessions and curriculum: Personal and practical

• Gender-specific issues
• Latino issues and how they impact the family and community
• Understanding the principles of leadership (position, relationships, successes, and production)
• Higher education (information, options, and procedures)
• Building consensus and managing conflict
• Understanding how culture impacts leadership
• Personal health and safety

For more information, or to register, contact our Mentoring staff.