Mission Statement
The Young Leaders' Academy of Baton Rouge, Inc. exists to nurture the development of leadership abilities of young African-American males, empowering them to improve the quality of their lives and assist them in becoming productive citizens.
 

History
Mr. John Littleford was the first to bring The Young Leaders' Academy concept to Baton Rouge. Littleford served as headmaster of a private school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he saw first-hand how members of the Youth Leadership Academy were involved in leadership training. The Youth Leadership Academy was an outgrowth of Inroads, Inc. The mission of INROADS was to develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership.

Starting in 1993, Littleford tirelessly met with any business leader who would listen to the concept. Eventually, the business community grew enamored of the idea and brought the public school system and the community foundation to the table as partners. This strategic partnership created the Young Leaders' Academy of Baton Rouge, Inc. Thus, John Littleford's visionary leadership combined with his perseverance and tenacity merited him with the title of founder.

To fully bring this concept to fruition, Littleford brought the philanthropic, business, and educational communities together. This was no easy task and is a testament to the Littleford Spirit. Accordingly, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation under the leadership of Mr. John Davies, the East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System under the direction of Superintendent Bernard Weiss, and the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce under the leadership of Jimmy Lyles are also afforded the titles of founding partners.

To sell the concept to the Baton Rouge community, Kirt Bennett was hired as the first executive director. His charge was to be an evangelist for the Academy building financial support from within the business sector and community support within the schools, churches and homes. Bennett hired three educators and recruited 45 third grade boys from six public schools in the heart of the inner city to start the first class of the YLA in June on 1994. Ms. Tonya Robertson took the mantle as executive director and has overseen a revitalization of the effort.

Overwhelmingly, Baton Rouge business leaders state that they invest heavily in the YLA because they have an obligation to invest in their future workforce. As one local CEO put it clearly, "we see no shortage of young black males in the courtrooms being adjudicated, we now need to work to prepare as many as possible for the boardrooms. The YLA affords us that opportunity."

Compelling reasons for our existence
The Village Foundation published some disturbing demographic facts about African American males, which affect many families.African-Americans make up just 13% of the total U.S. population, and African-American males make up 47% of the African-American population, under 6% of the total population.

• Of African-American families living in poverty, 80% are headed by African-American females;

• Without prospects for steady jobs, young black males are less likely to marry and form stable families; two thirds of African-American babies are born out of wedlock; 

• For African-American males aged 16 to 19, the 1997 unemployment rate was 36.5%, compared to 14.4% for white males in the same age range. 

• More than 26% of all African-American families live in poverty compared to 6% of white families.

• It is eight times more likely that an African-American male will go to jail than a white male; and

• African-American males represent over 50% of the total male prison population, yet only 4.8% of all African-American males are incarcerated.

The objectives of the Academy include: