How LIA Works
TUTORS AND ROLE MODELS:
LIA is a leadership class taught at the high school and junior high/middle school level by a highly-qualified and committed educator. The robust LIA curriculum trains students as paraprofessionals and leaders who visit their local elementary schools in an effort to not only increase literacy and math rates of those who are struggling, but to act as role models. This allows younger students to build leadership and self-efficacy that will propel them to join LIA when they reach Junior High and High School and continue the cycle of support and leadership demonstrated by older LIA students.
SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP:
LIA students are required to engage in service opportunities within their local communities at least once a semester or more. The intent of this course requirement is to allow students to “give back” to their communities and also offers an avenue of resources to their own families and neighbors. The service component of LIA is one of its strongest values and teaches students the importance of giving back to their community. It’s the hope that these students will not only progress in education and in life, but that they will take the skills and knowledge they have gained back to their communities and continue to cultivate a foundation of excellence.
EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE:
In order to participate in an LIA class, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher. The majority of LIA students currently maintain a 3.2 GPA and many are well above that average. Students are expected to engage in extracurricular activities which helps these students integrate into their school environments and also allows their classmates to break down potential stereotypes within their school communities. Latinos in Action makes a considerable effort to track student participants with help from teachers, guidance counselors and college advisors. LIA works hard to find the best strategies to improve our program. Through tracking efforts, LIA students have shown to have a 98% high school graduation rate and an 85% college enrollment rate.
CULTURE:
Latinos in Action also places great significance on culture. Culture largely contributes to the Latino identity, and LIA harnesses it as another tool to help students succeed in education. Being bilingual is an asset most LIA students possess, but do not understand the benefits of this skill. Latinos in Action strives to help students understand in this competitive and diverse society, second language fluency is an advantage in the work field. In addition to encouraging students to strengthen their Spanish skills, LIA encourages participation in cultural performances.
LIA Objectives:
- All LIA students graduate high school, college and career ready.
- All LIA students retain character traits and leadership skills to be successful in life
- All LIA students complete post secondary educational tracts and enter the work force earning a livable wage.
- All LIA students have the self-efficacy to persist through their educational goals and become contributing members of their communities.