Executive Summary

Future Leaders of America was established in 1982 in Oxnard, CA as a response to high-risk behaviors (high teen pregnancy, drug use, gang violence, etc.) among Latinx high school aged youth. Since its beginning, FLA has successfully trained over 9,500+ youth from the Central Coast through its peer-to-peer leadership model; channeling young people to break the poverty cycle through leadership, community organizing, and education. FLA caters its programming to the needs of young people of color, most predominantly Latinx youth in Ventura and Santa Barbara. Throughout the years, FLA has adapted its program to be culturally relevant to the young people, and the families, that FLA serves. FLA staff, and board membership, further, reflect the community that FLA serves; ensuring that the needs of the community are met.

FLA’s flagship program, the Youth Leadership Conference, is the genesis for leadership development. Most recently, FLA has elevated its youth leadership program to address systems that present barriers to young people in education, health, and immigration. Through their grassroots leadership efforts, FLA young people have successfully addressed education access (A-G for All!), healthier communities (ban on flavored tobacco products and mitigating underage alcohol access) and addressed xenophobia by successfully advocating for immigration agents off school campuses. FLA alumni are now spearheading FLA’s community efforts by serving as school administrators, teachers, lawyers, judges, elected officials, health care providers, executive directors, business owners, and non-profit leaders throughout the Central Coast. Because of FLA, youth succeed! The FLA Way embodies leadership, social justice, and community.

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