Developing Leaders in Our Community

"If in my mind I can conceive it... And in my heart I can believe it... Then certainly I can achieve it"

Since 1993, the Young Leaders Academy of Baton Rouge, Inc. has cultivated and trained a new generation of leaders who are rooted in academic achievement, strengthened in service to community and are prepared to lead lives of success, compassion and excellence.

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Community service is an integral part of the YLA. A strong commitment to service drives our value-based leadership curriculum. Through service the boys learn the importance of giving of themselves and caring about others.
At the YLA, we subscribe heavily to the philosopy, "To whom much is given, much is required". Community service affords our members the opportunity to repay the investment made in their lives by the business community and our many supporters.
Each month our members are required to contribute at least three hours to fulfill his monthly community service requirement. Past community service partners include Mid City Redevelopment Alliance, Kiwanis Pancake Festival, American Heart Walk, Baton Rouge Green, Oaks of Mid City Nursing Home and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, among many others.

The Young Leaders Academy of Baton Rouge, Inc., now entering its 18th year, provides young African American males with the supports needed to achieve educational success, develop leadership abilities and become healthy, successful and productive members of society. The comprehensive program includes Saturday Academy, six week Summer Academy, Homework Investment Center, Mentoring Program, community service projects, an active and engaged Parent Support Network (PSN).

The results of our program have been extremely positive, yielding the following outcomes: 100% of our members have been promoted to the next grade in school following the 2010-2011 school year. The average member gpa is 3.7 out of 4.0 grading scale.

For the fifth consecutive year, YLA 4th and 8th graders achieved 100% passage on Louisiana's high stakes LEAP/Iowa tests, with the majority receiving at least Mastery on the very important tests that determine if 4th and 8th grade students in Louisiana are promoted to the next grade.
Our goal is to improve the long term outcomes of African American males. YLA aggressively monitors the academic progress and educational achievement of each member and is proud to report the following member statistics for the 2010-2011 program year:  100% passage on the high stakes LEAP/Iowa tests; average member gpa is 3.7gpa out of possible 4.0; 92% program attendance rate; more than 700 volunteer hours invested back into the Baton Rouge community through a myriad of community service projects and 100% of our members passed on to the next grade level!