Youth Leadership Development Program News

The Youth Leadership Development (YLD) Program is ASPIRA’s flagship dropout prevention program providing community based guidance, counseling and leadership development opportunities to young people. Services are conducted through the ASPIRA Club System and facilitated by ASPIRA Advisors. Utilizing a school and community based approach, club meetings are held on a weekly basis. Curriculum instruction includes an educational and skills development component as well as individual academic and personal advisement. Students are identified and recruited directly from school computer profiles of potential dropouts, as well as from school counselors, teachers, parents, juvenile court and fellow peers. ASPIRA has also developed program initiatives in the areas of youth gang avoidance, drug prevention, alternative middle school education, community service, mentoring opportunities and charter schools.

ASPIRA of Florida, Inc. currently has five divisions: ASPIRA Wynwood & the Beaches, ASPIRA North, ASPIRA South (Homestead), ASPIRA Broward and ASPIRA Palm Beach.

The ceremonies were an opportunity for ASPIRANTES to celebrate their individual and scholastic achievements for the past year as well as reflect upon how ASPIRA has impacted their lives. "ASPIRA is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Participating in this club has been an awesome experience," stated Tynae Smith, a Miramar High School student who attended ASPIRA Broward’s Youth Award Ceremony. Shannon Sanchez, from the Hollywood Outreach Club stated, "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent and ASPIRA ensures that I use every ounce of mine."

The YLD Program Divisions also hosted their annual Young Latinas Conferences and Muchachos Summits. Two of the conferences were entitled, "Young Ladies Inspired by Extraordinary Women" and "Extraordinary Women Achieving their Dreams." ASPIRA invited women from various professions to serve as role models and speakers to empower young Latinas to strive for their goals and achieve their dreams. Hundreds of young Latinas from Palm Beach to Homestead participated in a series of workshops that included goal setting, manners, etiquette, domestic violence and abstinence.