¡Adelante! America Prepares Next Generation of Leaders

Spanish Community of Wallingford (SCOW) is helping Latino youth step out of their comfort zones, take on community projects and develop into the next generation of leaders.

The ¡Adelante! after-school program for high school students and Pasos ¡Adelante!, for middle school students, works with about 100 adolescents annually, helping them learn to become comfortable meeting new people, speak in front of groups, collaboratively problem solve and work on projects to better their community.

The program also gives the students opportunities to expand their horizons. Guest speakers are invited to help the students think about future career options and the program takes the students on trips to Washington DC and to youth leadership conferences.

The Spanish speaking instructors at the Adelante and Pasos Adelante programs provide the students with important support and help to develop skills and knowledge that will make the students' transition to life after high school easier and successful.

The program works in collaboration with the Wallingford school district, which also offers a high school ¡Adelante! club for students who cannot attend at SCOW. Other partners include Choate Rosemary Hall, Rotary, Boys & Girls Clubs, Hubcap and the Coalition for a Better Wallingford.

The Community Foundation is supporting the after-school programs with a three-year, $105,000 grant awarded in 2018.

The Spanish Community of Wallingford, a.k.a. Comunidad Hispana de Wallingford, Inc., was founded in 1972 by a small group of Latinos in Wallingford, Connecticut, who experienced difficulties finding translators, interpreters, employment, and medical assistance within the community. Its mission is to respond to the needs of the Latino Community by assisting them to succeed in U.S. society and to enable Latinos to maintain and share their rich varied cultures with the broader community.

To learn more about Spanish Community of Wallingford, visit its website.

Did you know?

SCOW has found that most Hispanic students in the greater Wallingford area high schools are first generation born in the United States and are first generation attending high school.

This story is part of the Inspiration Monday story series produced by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.