UnidosNow

Future leaders academy (fla) is a year-long program offered primarily to low-income, first-generation latinx high school students and their families in sarasota and manatee counties to provide them with the tools necessary to build a secondary path and develop leadership skills. This program includes an introduction to postsecondary options such as technical and vocational colleges, community colleges, and 4+ year universities; college selection; career exploration; career panels; resume building; act/sat preparation; interviewing skills; and financial aid, including fafsa and scholarship applications. Each student is paired with a mentor and a college coach, who, supported, trained, and supervised by the program director, guide the student along their journey to postsecondary education.

The goal of our parent leadership program is to meaningfully engage, empower, and develop leadership among our growing latinx community. Participants learn life skills, leadership skills, tools to integrate into the school community, and english language skills. They also learn to understand how the education system works in the united states, experience hands-on community resources, and new parents receive education support through various community partnerships. Parents come from a variety of countries and often find it difficult to participate in their children's education due to language barriers or lack of understanding of the education system. Through structured activities, parents learn about and link up with the resources offered in their children's schools and the community. Field trips for parents and students include the local library, local colleges, selby gardens, and the ringling museum, among others.

Future leaders academy - elementary school (flae) is a school year program for 3rd-5th graders that helps them understand how to use their elementary school years to prepare for middle school and beyond. Gender norms and familial expectations can limit the career and exploratory choices of latinx/hispanic children, so flae addresses these issues by exposing all students to a variety of areas, encouraging confidence, and instilling life skills. Students learn about the importance of academics, study habits, self-awareness, and transitional skills. Students also explore stem careers through hands-on activities and facility visits. Future leaders academy- middle school (flam) is a program for middle schoolers that focuses on giving students the tools and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about high school and beyond. Students learn about topics including grades, school involvement, self-awareness, how to pick classes, and how to prepare for high school and college. Students attend college tours and gain important skills through hands-on stem career exploration. In addition to college and career readiness, the flam program also emphasizes life skills, goal setting, public speaking, habit building, and transitional skills.

Other programs include leadnow high school clubs, which provides support and mentoring for local high school students, college completion programs, and various regional collective initiatives, which parter with other youth-serving organizations to deliver programming to students.