- ESPERANZA'S LATINO LEADERS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SOCIETY

At a time when Cleveland hopes to expand and retain its pool of local talented leaders, Esperanza is promoting a program that encourages leadership, action, and service among young Hispanic women and men. The ELLOS Program is a gender-specific leadership program which brings together Latino adults with Latino high school youth. This program encourages leadership, action, and service among young Hispanic men.

Esperanza’s leadership clubs provide at-risk, inner-city Hispanic youth with a positive alternative to gangs, violence, and dropping out of school. It creates a nurturing peer supported environment for Hispanics of high school age and encourages them to stay in school and develop their leadership skills.

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.