2. 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 across race, class, gender, sexual identity and generations to strengthen the existing social capital of young people in low income communities. It is important to build meaningful relationships across race, class, gender, sexual identity and generations to strengthen the existing social capital of young people in low income communities. Youth leadership development takes a long time -- it is a process. Caring adults need to invest in young people over a period of years. Youth leadership development takes a long time -- it is a process. Caring adults need to invest in young people over a period of years. Young people need to be actively engaged in the process of community change at all levels, from the street corner to the board room. Young people need to be actively engaged in the process of community change at all levels, from the street corner to the board room.

3. Principles Society must acknowledge and embrace the idea that youth are talented and capable of leading community change. Society must acknowledge and embrace the idea that youth are talented and capable of leading community change. Young people must lead positive change themselves in order for it to succeed. Young people must lead positive change themselves in order for it to succeed. Leadership programs must identify, nurture and support more than a talented elite. Leadership programs must identify, nurture and support more than a talented elite. The process of developing young leaders begins with learning how to learn. The process of developing young leaders begins with learning how to learn.

4. Elements of a Successful Program Help youth learn specific knowledge and skills related to leadership. Help youth learn specific knowledge and skills related to leadership. Enable youth to understand the history, values and beliefs of their society. Enable youth to understand the history, values and beliefs of their society.history Facilitate the development of individual strengths and leadership styles. Facilitate the development of individual strengths and leadership styles. leadership styles leadership styles Facilitate the development of ethics, values and ethical reasoning. Facilitate the development of ethics, values and ethical reasoning.ethical reasoningethical reasoning

5. Elements of a Successful Program Promote awareness, understanding, and tolerance of other people, cultures and societies. Promote awareness, understanding, and tolerance of other people, cultures and societies. Embody high expectations of, confidence in, and respect for the teens served. Embody high expectations of, confidence in, and respect for the teens served. Emphasize experiential learning and provide opportunities for genuine leadership. Emphasize experiential learning and provide opportunities for genuine leadership.experiential learningexperiential learning Involve young people in service to others to their community, their country and their world. Involve young people in service to others to their community, their country and their world.

6. Elements of a Successful Program Facilitate self-reflection and processing of learning both individually and cooperatively. Facilitate self-reflection and processing of learning both individually and cooperatively. Involve youth in collaborative experiences, teamwork and networking with peers. Involve youth in collaborative experiences, teamwork and networking with peers. Involve youth in significant relationships with mentors, positive role models, or other nurturing adults. Involve youth in significant relationships with mentors, positive role models, or other nurturing adults.mentors Be developed around stated purposes and goals. Be developed around stated purposes and goals.

7. Methodology: Experiential Learning Having the participants experience the activity--perform or do it; Having the participants experience the activity--perform or do it; Having the participants share the experience by describing what happened; Having the participants share the experience by describing what happened; Asking participants to process the experience to identify common themes; Asking participants to process the experience to identify common themes; Having participants generalize from the experience to form principles or guidelines that can be used in real-life situations, e.g., life skills; and Having participants generalize from the experience to form principles or guidelines that can be used in real-life situations, e.g., life skills; and Asking participants to apply what was learned to another situation. Asking participants to apply what was learned to another situation.

8. 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 facilitator The Club Advisor will be the training facilitator Implementation Issues: Implementation Issues: The clubs are youth lead. How you will facilitate the training at the same time young people keep leading the club? The clubs are youth lead. How you will facilitate the training at the 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? Goals Goals Aspirantes will learn how-to-learn Aspirantes will learn how-to-learn Aspirantes will master the use of information technology to advance their agendas Aspirantes will master the use of information technology to advance their agendas

9. ASPIRA Youth Leadership Development Model Public Policy and Community Service Community Organizations Civic Participation Community Organizations Civic Participation Entrepreneurship/Business Development Entrepreneurship/Business Development Foundations of Leadership Foundations of Leadership Young Latino Leaders Community Development

10. Program Components Prior to engaging in training and activities specific to each of the above streams, students participate in the semester-long Foundations of Leadership workshop. This workshop will prepare Aspirantes to participate in one or more of the programs strands to: 1. Analyze the policy making process and leaders in this arena locally, statewide, and nationally and learn the fundamentals of community service; 2. Gain a better perspective of what it means to be a leader in the business world; learn how entrepreneurship extends beyond the corporate world by being exposed to creative methods of problem solving and creative ways of identifying and securing resources in order to serve as leaders; and. 3. Better understand the critical role and operation of community-based organizations in various community contexts, learning about the role of their leaders -and of civic participation- in their local communities, as well as nationally in an increasingly interdependent world.

11. Fundamentals of Leadership Unit I - Overview of ASPIRA Unit II - ASPIRA Clubs Unit III - Personal Growth Unit IV - Building Resiliency Unit V - Leadership Development Unit VI - Academic Success Unit VII - Career Awareness Unit VIII -Community Involvement Unit IX -Cultural Awareness Unit X -Public Policy and Leadership Unit XI -Financial Literacy

12. Overview of ASPIRA Participants 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.

13. ASPIRA Clubs Participants 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.

14. Personal Growth Participants 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.

15. Building Resiliency Youth 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.

16. Academic Success Participants 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.

17. Career Awareness Participants will become familiar with career research and paths to careers. They will also apply their decision-making skills to career selection.

18. Leadership Development Youth 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.

19. Community Involvement Youth 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.

20. Cultural Awareness Participants 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.

21. Public Policy - Leadership Participants 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.

22. Financial Literacy Participants 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.