A Brief Overview:

Juventud & Escalera

In partnership with the Madison Metropolitan School District, Centro Hispano annually provides afterschool programming to over 250 middle and high school students.

Middle school students selected for Juventud receive academic support through community volunteers, explore a variety of college & career options through hands-on workshops, activities and fieldtrips, and bond with other Latino students in a safe and culturally competent environment.

High school students participating in Escalera build on this initial exploration by focusing on resume-building, college and scholarship applications, life skills and professional internships. In addition to academic support from community volunteers, Escalera students are encouraged to participate in Centro Hispano's [Re]Generación program - an additional curriculum designed to instill cultural pride while teaching basic social justice and self-advocacy skills.

The Right Fit

While there are no strict requirements to apply, students who will benefit most from our programs generally:

- Identify as Latino
- Fall between a 2.0-3.0 GPA
- Would be the first in their family to attend college
- Have the desire to learn and try new things
- Are open to working with volunteers

We strive to support our youth in graduating from high school as independent learners ready to attend college with strong self-esteem, deep cultural pride, and grit to match. Students that would most benefit from our programs will share this goal with us, and will be ready to work with coordinators, school staff, community members and peers to get there.