LEAD is a six year program serving financially-challenged students from Houston, Texas beginning in their sixth grade year.
The LEAD program offers life-changing opportunities year round that instill confidence and strengthen self esteem in participating students, who we call LEADers. Our program is unique in that three mentors are chosen to lead each class of LEADers for the full six years of the program.
We saw mountains, snow, buffalo, dear, eagles, moose, bears and we were so close to them! We went to a rodeo, we climbed a mountain, we went canoeing - it was very cool! - Daniel, LEADer
Summer Program
LEADers and their mentors participate in a week long wilderness program in a different part of the country every summer for six consecutive years. The summer program is structured to facilitate the emotional, social and cultural development of our LEADers. In addition, the outdoor summer experiences emphasize healthy habits, reinforce what students learn during the school year, and provide a cultural awareness of the world around them. LEADers learn teamwork, respect, discipline and leadership skills.
We learned to work as a team, to be a team - Daniel, LEADer
Academic Year Program
Throughout the school year, mentors and LEADers participate together in team building activities and leadership training exercises. For example, every winter LEADers help to identify needs in their communities and each class joins together to complete a community service project. Throughout the years our mentors ensure that their LEADers are receiving any additional services they need to succeed and in our program.
LEAD College Fund
The LEAD program will work closely with our LEADers schools to help our LEADers apply for and obtain financial aid to attend college. LEAD also hopes to award summer activity grants so that our LEADers will have the opportunity to continue exploring the world around them during college.
