Adelante Inc.

CONTACT:

40 Lawrence St.
Lawrence, MA 01840
978-687-9432
adelanteyouthcenter.org

David Hildt, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Lawrence is the poorest city in Massachusetts, and the 23rd poorest in the nation. Forty years of decline and demoralization, beginning with the closing of textile mills in the 1950s, subsequent waves of business disinvestment and "white flight" from housing, with ever-increasing ethnic immigration, culminated in 1993-4 with an episode of widespread arson, which destroyed 143 properties.

Rising from the ashes, thousands of poor families are struggling to build a future here. !Adelante! ("Moving Forward!"), was founded in 1992 to provide a safe haven and positive, character-building programs, mainly for Hispanic youth. It is a non-sectarian organization that builds bridges for Lawrence's urban youth, providing them with opportunities to enhance their education and economic success as adults. With a network of bi-cultural young adult volunteers, Adelante now runs a youth development after-school program and summer program involving 80-100 youths every day.

In order to develop the academic and leadership potential of Lawrence's future leaders, !Adelante! created School Success, a long term strategy for social change that affirms potential for leadership and academic excellence in all of our youth. School Success focuses on the preparation of eighth grade students to make a successful transition to high school and to strive toward acceptance at rigorous private high schools. Acceptance at such schools is accompanied by a $2,000 annual scholarship from Adelante, a matched scholarship by the receiving high school, and a commitment to community service as tutors and mentors for younger children at the Center, grades 1-7. This is a well-conceived, carefully-run agency that needs broader support for building renovation, programs, and scholarships.

(2000: HUMAN SERVICES: Children and Youth: General)