ASPIRA of Florida, Inc. - Palm Beach County Division

ASPIRA Palm Beach, a division of ASPIRA of Florida, Inc., is a community-based youth organization. Operating in Palm Beach County since 1996, ASPIRA'S mission is "To empower the Puerto Rican, Latino and other communities through advocacy and the education and leadership development of its youth." The basic philosophy of ASPIRA is the belief that school, parents, youth, and community must interact to bring about positive results. ASPIRA'S goals are to develop their leadership potential, to develop their skills to the advancement of the community, to motivate, orient and assist youth through counseling and educational services, to advocate for greater access to quality education, leadership programs and other opportunities.

The ASPIRA Clubs are educational peer culture models organized and facilitated by Advisors at school sites. The Advisors follow a curriculum that includes educational, leadership, anti-violence and skill development components. ASPIRA utilizes an educational peer culture model known as the ASPIRA Club system. The ASPIRA Clubs meet on a weekly basis, operate under parliamentary procedures, and elect peer representatives as officers of the clubs.

In 2008/2009, ASPIRA in Palm Beach County provided many activities, workshops, events and conferences that allowed ASPIRANTES (ASPIRA program participants) to become involved with their community as well as educating them about their environment and how their daily habits have an effect the world around them. For example, our young female ASPIRANTES participated in the Muchachas Achievement Conference at Palm Beach Community College where a full day of workshops focusing on issues such as women in non- traditional careers, motivation and goal setting, and peer relationship sessions were given by female community volunteers and organizations. Similarly, ASPIRA hosted a Muchachos Achievement Conference in which young male ASPIRANTES participated in workshops dealing with healthy relationships, male responsibility, and career and college readiness. ASPIRA's annual Family Forum Picnic was held at a public park in West Palm Beach. ASPIRANTES and families from all the clubs attend to play games and share cultural, home-made food. ASPIRANTES volunteered for many community service projects including Locks of Love, Quantum House and environmental clean up projects. This year's Youth Award Ceremony was planned, implemented and hosted completely by the youth in our program.

ASPIRA operates 10 school leadership clubs, 1 college club, a parent education program and a parent child home program. ASPIRA's Parent Educating Parent program trained 11 parents that went out into the community and provided educational parenting workshops that reached 709 adults.  This year, ASPIRA was awared a Parent Child Home Program under the Healthy Beginnings System that will serve 60 Hispanic and other children ages 18 - 36 months throughout Palm Beach County.  This program is designed to provide 46 weeks of in home literacy program that provides books and toys for the families.  The program goals are to promote  parent child bonding and a have children ready to learn when entering kindergarden. To learn more about the Parent Child Home Program as well as the Healthy Beginnings please click on the picture above and it will take you to the Children's Services Council - Healthy Beginnings.

ASPIRA in Palm Beach ended our program year with the following successes:
308 youth and families were served
9,719 one on one services performed
2,997 hours of direct services performed
98% were either promoted or graduated from school.
0% of ASPIRANTES dropped out of school.
93% of 26 High School seniors enrolled into a post secondary educational institution and 7% enrolled into the military.

In 2008/2009, ASPIRA received funding from the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Quantum Foundation, The City of West Palm Beach, Comcast Foundation, Wachovia Foundation and Starbucks Foundation to operate its after school programs.