Principles Young people are a community asset, not a problem. Young people are a community asset, not a problem. It is important to build meaningful relationships.

PrinciplesYoung people are a community asset, not a problem. Young people are a community asset, not a problem.

It is important to build meaningful relationships It is important to build meaningful relationships across race, class, gender, sexual identity and across race, class, gender, sexual identity and generations to strengthen the existing social capital generations to strengthen the existing social capital of young people in low income communities. of young people in low income communities.

Youth leadership development takes a long time -- it Youth leadership development takes a long time -- it is a process. Caring adults need to invest in young is a process. Caring adults need to invest in young people over a period of years. people over a period of years.

Young people need to be actively engaged in the Young people need to be actively engaged in the process of community change at all levels, from the process of community change at all levels, from the street corner to the board room. street corner to the board room.

PrinciplesSociety must acknowledge and embrace Society must acknowledge and embrace

the idea that youth are talented and the idea that youth are talented and capable of leading community change.capable of leading community change.

Young people must lead positive change Young people must lead positive change themselves in order for it to succeed. themselves in order for it to succeed.

Leadership programs must identify, Leadership programs must identify, nurture and support more than a talented nurture and support more than a talented elite. elite.

The process of developing young leaders The process of developing young leaders begins with learning how to learn.begins with learning how to learn.

Elements of a Successful Program Help youth learn specific knowledge and skills Help youth learn specific knowledge and skills

related to leadership.related to leadership.

Enable youth to understand the history, values Enable youth to understand the history, values and beliefs of their society. and beliefs of their society.

Facilitate the development of individual Facilitate the development of individual strengths and leadership styles.strengths and leadership styles.

Facilitate the development of ethics, values and Facilitate the development of ethics, values and ethical reasoning. ethical reasoning.

Elements of a Successful ProgramPromote awareness, understanding, and Promote awareness, understanding, and

tolerance of other people, cultures and societies.tolerance of other people, cultures and societies.

Embody high expectations of, confidence in, and Embody high expectations of, confidence in, and respect for the teens served.respect for the teens served.

Emphasize experiential learning and provide Emphasize experiential learning and provide opportunities for genuine leadership.opportunities for genuine leadership.

Involve young people in service to others to their Involve young people in service to others to their community, their country and their world.community, their country and their world.

Elements of a Successful Program Facilitate self-reflection and processing of Facilitate self-reflection and processing of

learning both individually and cooperatively.learning both individually and cooperatively.

Involve youth in collaborative experiences, Involve youth in collaborative experiences, teamwork and networking with peers.teamwork and networking with peers.

Involve youth in significant relationships with Involve youth in significant relationships with mentors, positive role models, or other mentors, positive role models, or other nurturing adults.nurturing adults.

Be developed around stated purposes and goals.Be developed around stated purposes and goals.

Methodology: Experiential Learning

Having the participants experience the activity--perform Having the participants experience the activity--perform or do it; or do it;

Having the participants share the experience by Having the participants share the experience by describing what happened; describing what happened;

Asking participants to process the experience to identify Asking participants to process the experience to identify common themes; common themes;

Having participants generalize from the experience to Having participants generalize from the experience to form principles or guidelines that can be used in real-life form principles or guidelines that can be used in real-life situations, e.g., life skills; and situations, e.g., life skills; and

Asking participants to apply what was learned to another Asking participants to apply what was learned to another situation. situation.

Program Delivery The program will be implemented through the Aspira Clubs;The program will be implemented through the Aspira Clubs;

The Club Advisor will be the training facilitatorThe Club Advisor will be the training facilitator

Implementation Issues:Implementation Issues: The The clubs are youth lead.clubs are youth lead. How you will facilitate the training at the How you will facilitate the training at the

same time young people keep leading the club?same time young people keep leading the club? How you will facilitate the training process?How you will facilitate the training process? How you will incorporate Experiential Learning?How you will incorporate Experiential Learning?

GoalsGoals Aspirantes Aspirantes will learn how-to-learnwill learn how-to-learn Aspirantes Aspirantes will masterwill master the use of information technology to advance the use of information technology to advance

their agendastheir agendas

ASPIRA Youth Leadership Development Model

Public Policy and Community ServicePublic Policy and

Community ServiceCommunity

OrganizationsCivic Participation

Community Organizations

Civic Participation

Entrepreneurship/BusinessDevelopment

Entrepreneurship/BusinessDevelopment

Foundations ofLeadership

Foundations ofLeadership

Young Latino LeadersYoung Latino Leaders

Community DevelopmentCommunity Development

Program ComponentsPrior to engaging in training and activities specific to each of the Prior to engaging in training and activities specific to each of the above streams, students participate in the semester-long above streams, students participate in the semester-long Foundations of Leadership workshopFoundations of Leadership workshop. This workshop will prepare . This workshop will prepare Aspirantes to participate in one or more of the programs strands Aspirantes to participate in one or more of the programs strands to:to:

1.1. Analyze the policy making process and leaders in this arena locally, Analyze the policy making process and leaders in this arena locally, statewide, and nationally and learn the fundamentals of community statewide, and nationally and learn the fundamentals of community service;service;

2.2. Gain a better perspective of what it means to be a leader in the Gain a better perspective of what it means to be a leader in the business world; learn how entrepreneurship extends beyond the business world; learn how entrepreneurship extends beyond the corporate world by being exposed to creative methods of problem corporate world by being exposed to creative methods of problem solving and creative ways of identifying and securing resources in solving and creative ways of identifying and securing resources in order to serve as leaders; and.order to serve as leaders; and.

3.3. Better understand the critical role and operation of community-based Better understand the critical role and operation of community-based organizations in various community contexts, learning about the role organizations in various community contexts, learning about the role of their leaders -and of civic participation- in their local communities, of their leaders -and of civic participation- in their local communities, as well as nationally in an increasingly interdependent world.as well as nationally in an increasingly interdependent world.

Fundamentals of Leadership

Unit I -Overview of ASPIRA Unit II -ASPIRA ClubsUnit III -Personal Growth Unit IV -Building Resiliency Unit V -Leadership DevelopmentUnit VI -Academic SuccessUnit VII -Career AwarenessUnit VIII -Community InvolvementUnit IX -Cultural AwarenessUnit X -Public Policy and

LeadershipUnit XI -Financial Literacy

Overview of ASPIRAParticipants will develop knowledge of

ASPIRA’s mission, vision and history and the ASPIRA Process. Participants will also understand the importance of ASPIRA in the development of the Puerto Rican and Latino community. The overall aim is that youth will use ASPIRA’s principles as a guide for their future actions and development.

ASPIRA ClubsParticipants will develop knowledge of

ASPIRA Clubs, and the responsibilities of club officers. The overall aim is that students will use ASPIRA’s AAA Process as a tool in their future development.

Personal GrowthParticipants will develop knowledge of self

and others in order to prepare for effective leadership through the exposure to a series of activities that promote healthy self esteem, identity, cultural awareness, development of critical thinking, communication, and organizational skills.

Building ResiliencyYouth will develop resiliency skills through

participation in workshops on gangs, bullying and youth violence prevention. This course promotes child-parent communication and emphasizes self-responsibility.

Academic SuccessParticipants will learn how to plan their

academic studies in order to have successful academic performance in preparation for postsecondary education. In addition, they will learn about the college application process and opportunities for paying for college.

Career AwarenessParticipants will become familiar with career

research and paths to careers. They will also apply their decision-making skills to career selection.

Leadership DevelopmentYouth will learn the basic concepts of

leadership development. They will learn the concept of leadership and will understand what it means to be a leader. They will also learn different models and theories of leadership.

Community InvolvementYouth will learn the basic concepts of

community and community history. They will also examine the influence of culture on community and will have an opportunity to develop and implement a community service project.

Cultural AwarenessParticipants will develop knowledge and

awareness about the Latino culture. They will be able to define culture and race. Participants will also develop consciousness of issues related to diversity, such as inclusion, cultural appreciation, prejudice, racism, and stereotyping.

Public Policy - LeadershipParticipants will learn about the public policy process, while developing their leadership skills that will facilitate their involvement in the policy arena at the local, regional, and national levels. Students will define public policy and study policy-making structures. Students will become more acquainted with their community, and the public policy issues affecting it. They will be provided with applications of policy development for influencing public policy.

Financial LiteracyParticipants will learn and develop knowledge

of financial literacy by understanding the ABC’s of a checking account, savings and investment account, and the importance of maintaining a healthy checking account. They will develop an importance for setting financial goals, building monthly budgets, establishing and maintaining good credit, having proper use of credit cards, managing credit issues and concerns, and securing tax records and implications.