The Latinx Leadership & College Experience Camp
The Latinx Leadership and College Experience Camp (LLCEC) is a holistic, culturally responsive, and community rooted program empowering the will to act, inspiring transformation, cultivating self-reflection and sharing precious, beautiful knowledge with and for Kentucky’s growing and emerging Latinx, immigrant and refugee populations. Created in 2006, the LLCEC provides youth an intensive college/career preparation, social justice education, and leadership development program that includes mock college classes, college/career planning sessions, and social justice arts and science based project classes. Additionally, the program themes and curriculum is further developed during peer mentoring sessions, health and wellness activities and follow-up mentoring and outreach throughout the school year including full “familia” gatherings and place based high school or community visits.
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During the camp, each student is able to visit with representatives from all major colleges and universities in Kentucky, participate in workshops on college planning, financial aid and scholarships, and gain insights from leadership workshops, motivational speakers, community artists and current college students. The LLCEC integrates culturally responsive lessons within the courses provided and offers activities that expose the students to African American and Latino American history and cultural in an effort to help students better develop their self-awareness.
Students participate in mock college classes, social justice project courses, interactive activities such as hip hop, baile folklorico, capoiera, salsa, and more as well as outdoor activities, small group discussions, and nightly cultural keynote speakers and performers. |
Currently in Kentucky, only 24% of Latinos ages 25-64 have an associate’s degree or higher. According to the CPE, 61% of Latino students graduating from Kentucky’s high schools are not prepared for college. The LLCEC has set out to improve these numbers. The program has served 1,000 students; of those who have completed high school 84% have enrolled in college. LLCEC participants have enrolled in nearly every Kentucky regional/ flagship institution and a variety of institutions within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. The first LLCEC cohort in 2006 boasts a 79% college completion rate fair exceeding the state average for Latino students. While we have a lot of work to do to ensure all of our students complete high school prepared for college, enter college, and successfully progress, this program has shown promise that, simply put, it works. By combining academic preparation with leadership development and college coaching support, students have been able to succeed.
In 2019, the Plantory awarded the Lauren K Weinberg Humanitarian Award to the LLCEC.
In 2015, the LLCEC was selected by the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence of Hispanics as a Bright Spot for Latino student success.
In 2013, the LLCEC was named as an Excelencia in Education Finalist for the Examples of Excelencia Award.
In 2015, the LLCEC was selected by the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence of Hispanics as a Bright Spot for Latino student success.
In 2013, the LLCEC was named as an Excelencia in Education Finalist for the Examples of Excelencia Award.
