NHCLC’s La Educacion es la Llave Initiative
NHCLC launch in 2014 with the support of Vista Hermosa Foundation a program as part of a broad youth education initiative called, La Educacion es la Llave. The purpose is to equip individual Latino churches to bring education under the ministry umbrella of their church, ensuring that youth, their parents and the wider Hispanic community within their sphere of influence grasp the vital importance of high school graduation, pursuing college and speaking English. The aim is saturation coverage (total participation) in each church so that the church’s educational culture is transformed from within NHCLC believes that when churches engage in the education of their youth, they build a “firewall” against social and community problems including poverty, teen pregnancy and juvenile delinquency/gangs.
Inclusive, Community-Based Model
La Educacion es la Llave takes an inclusive community-based approach, involving the church congregation, students, their parents and local schools. In many cases, Hispanic parents don’t understand the educational system in the U.S. and education isn’t a priority for them. If Hispanic youths are to succeed, their parents and the church community—as well as the local school district—have to be on board.
The Urgency
Hispanic youth in the U.S. are more likely to drop out of high school than any other youth
51% of Hispanic youth failed to graduate from high school (EPE Research Center, 2009)
Latino students make up 38.6% of U.S. college drop-outs
10.4% of Hispanic adults have a bachelor’s degree (lower than any other U.S. ethnic group)
69% of Hispanics speak Spanish at home (Pew Research Hispanic Center)
The Program
The Goal: to equip churches to reduce the high school drop-out rate, increase college readiness, and improve Hispanic parents’ English skills.
Pilot Components: NHCLC will train and work alongside churches and work directly with the appointed Education Advocate in each church. Specific components will include:
Printed curricula materials (in Spanish and English)
Web-based support and digital materials (in Spanish and English)
Training for Project Coordinator and in-church Education Advocates
Develop reporting mechanisms
Education seminars
Follow-up with individual youth and parents
support on Development of after-school tutoring and mentoring program
support on the Launching of adult education classes (GED) and/or ESL
Partnerships with community groups and local schools
For more information of to partner with us contact ……….