Enlace leadership institute

Prior Program Initiatives

ENLACE Future Leaders Camp

future leaders campThe ENLACE Future Leaders Camp has been held 3 times since 2004 and consists of a week-long leadership training program for selected eighth- and ninth-grade Latino students along with young adult leaders to support them (50-60 in total) representing the ENLACE partners and their communities. The purpose is to help motivate and encourage the students to complete high school and to enroll and graduate from college. Follow-up has shown that the initiative has had a positive influence on the long-term educational attainment of participants.

Program components include:

  • Cultural Awareness (interactive activities)
  • Adventure-Challenge Teambuilding & Leadership Development (including planning for involvement in school and community)
  • Community College/University Preparation
  • Citizenship/Civic Responsibilities
  • Training in Government Election Process
  • Self-Esteem
  • Public Speaking
  • Goal Setting
  • Challenges That Young Latinas/os Encounter
  • Camp Familia Sessions
  • Speakers for Career Exploration Workshops and a Unity Rally with their parents upon returning to share the learning gained at this leadership camp (presented by each of the “camp familias”)

This initiative was modeled after the California State University (San Bernardino) Inland Empire Future Leaders Program, and their guidance and technical support was appreciated.

A National ENLACE Student Leadership Training Camp for college students was organized in response to the request from Kellogg Foundation staff that provided additional funding to do a training for college students from all the 13 ENLACE sites in December 2004.

Peer Mentoring

The goal of the project has been to help strengthen and expand the educational pipeline to increase opportunities for Latinos to enter and complete college. During the initial Kellogg Foundation period of the program this initiative recruited 30 peer mentors annually from the partner colleges and high schools and trained them to meet with and speak to K-12 students during the academic year. Half of the selected peer mentors were students who were marginalized young people identified as “at-risk.” Investing trust in the potential dropout helped reconnect him/her to the educational pipeline, while honoring their insights.

These ENLACE peer mentors engaged vigorously in thoughtful activities, creative environments, and reflective opportunities that brought them before groups of younger students to talk about their experiences and challenges, and to share their strategies for reaching their educational goals. The majority of the interaction occurred in classrooms or school settings at K-12 Chicago public schools and at suburban K-12 schools with significant Latino enrollment. The experience afforded all mentors the opportunity to become valued shareholders of the Latino educational pipeline.

Parents Project

The HECA - ENLACE Parents Project provided training for parents from four partner middle schools: Ames Middle School, Irving Park Middle School, Gerald Kanoon Magnet School and Lozano Bilingual and Bicultural International Center. Also, parents from the four community-based organizations with head-start programs associated with the ENLACE partnership were involved. The parents met for six seminars, which were held the first Saturday of each month. The initiative focused on practical information for parents about the importance of education to effectively support their children’s highest academic goals, and in the process, develop leadership skills and create a support network to help “plug leaks” in the educational pipeline.

Seminars included:

  • Establishment of Support Systems (Critical Mass)
  • Parents as First Teachers
  • Excellence for All
  • Heading Towards College
  • Making It Happen in Your Community
  • The Parents’ Recognition Event
Student Leadership Team

The goal of the ENLACE Student Leadership Team (SLT) has been to develop and cultivate Latino leadership potential in order to strengthen the educational pipeline for Latinos. The SLT students included middle school, high school and college students involved with ENLACE. The ENLACE Fellows who work in partner schools, CBO’s and post-secondary institutions have helped in the selection and training of the SLT. Leadership development activities are facilitated by the ENLACE Fellows and supported by program staff from partners, including Gear-Up—a program of the Chicago Teachers’ Center.

ELI Fellows Program

The ENLACE Leadership Institute (ELI): Pre-Servicing Latinos for Higher Education Faculty Ranks Initiative helped prepare promising Hispanics with the skills and experience needed to become part of the faculty ranks in higher education. Northeastern Illinois University in partnership with St. Augustine College and in cooperation with other Illinois colleges and universities, led a three year initiative funded by a Higher Education Cooperative Act (HECA) grant of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Through a comprehensive nine-month program, selected candidates (with a terminal academic degree or who were at the dissertation stage) were introduced to the pathway of entering the faculty ranks of higher education. The initiative aimed to open doors for access, preparation, networking, and teaching in higher education.