Institution Edu-Futuro State Virginia Academic Level Community-Based Organization Issue Area Access Website https://edu-futuro.org/emerging-leaders-programs/ Key Personnel Manuel Pineros Program Focus College Prep, Mentoring Overview Edu-Futuro’s mission is to empower immigrant and underserved youth and families through mentorship, education, leadership development, and parental engagement. The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is the cornerstone of service offerings, helping to break the cycle of poverty among Edu-Futuro families by providing Latino and immigrant students in Northern Virginia with long-term support for high school graduation and college success in four consecutive stages. Program Description First, ELP STEM offers science-based academic enrichment activities for middle school youth. Participants are then encouraged to enroll in ELP-I: a series of college readiness workshops, campus visits, and speech/essay competitions that develop the academic and leadership skills needed for high school graduation. Next, ELP-II helps rising seniors access millions of dollars for college tuition by providing a year-long, one-on-one mentoring program that helps students prepare applications for college admissions, scholarships, and financial aid. Finally, ELP-III provides mentorship for first-generation college students to graduate and attain their first professional jobs. ELP intentionally serves Latino students by prioritizing linguistic and cultural competency: approximately 80% of the staff is fluent in both English and Spanish, and 80% are immigrants or children of immigrants. This bilingual capability is critical to providing equitable services. Outcome Over the past three years, ELP served 1,927 unduplicated students through its core programs. Approximately 78% of students reached during this period were Latino. Across all programs, outcomes were consistent for Latino and non-Latino students. ELP STEM: The program served a total of 712 students in FY20-FY22. Of the ELP STEM students completing the program in FY22:100% developed strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, 96% improved their mathematical, technical, and scientific competencies and increased their confidence in STEM subject areas. 98% reported that the program strengthened their abilities to work in a team. ELP-I: The leadership development and college readiness program served a total of 995 students in FY20-FY22. Of the ELP-I students completing the program in FY22: 95% exhibited the confidence, abilities, and skills needed to stay on the college track. 89% agreed or strongly agreed that they connected to at least one adult who is invested in their success. ELP-II: The college access program for high school seniors served a total of 178 students in FY20-FY22. In FY22, 100% of the ELP-II graduates were accepted into postsecondary institutions, and also collectively offered $1,267,772 in scholarships and financial aid for their first year of college, and a remarkable $3,495,909 in four-year renewable scholarships and financial aid. ELP-III: Still in its early years, and is the new college support/retention program that served a total of 42 students in FY20-FY22. Learn more about Latino College Completion in Virginia Return to Growing What Works Database
