PO Box 93531
Des Moines, IA 50393
Phone: (515) 480-0904
WEBSITE: www.alexitoiowa.org
Dawn Martinez Oropeza
Email: dawn@alexitoiowa.org
Al Éxito is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the educational achievement and transformative leadership capacity of Latino youth and their families, to succeed in life and participating fully in Iowa. Al Éxito inspires, prepares, supports, and postitions Latino leaders, middle school through college, for postsecondary attainment, career readiness, and civic engagement. Al Éxito integrates culturally specific strategies to ensure Latino youth have access to resources and opportunities. Al Éxito fosters Latinos' collective influence to build a better future for our communities and state.
Al Éxito mission is to accelerate Latinx youth's academic achievement and leadership capacity through transformative opportunities for youth, and their families, to fully participate and thrive in Iowa's communities.
Vision Statement: Al Éxito advances Iowa's prosperity through Latinx excellence.
The American Association of University Women-Iowa's Diversity and Equity Committee initiated a pilot program for Latinas in Marshalltown in 2006-2007. AE now is in its eleventh year of operation in Marshalltown and has grown to include boys as well as parent programming. The model developed in Marshalltown has been replicated in nine communities across Iowa. AE became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2009.
AE Afterschool at Miller Middle School and Movimiento high school programs meet weekly at the schools in a safe space with a trained facilitator. AE provides a culturally relevant curriculum focused on the assets that Latino students possess to be resilient and prepared to achieve their education and career goals.
AE goals are to increase Latino students' 1) school attendance, 2)academic achievement, 3) parental involvement, 4) graduation from high school, 5) enrollment in post-secondary education. AE believes achieving these goals will significantly increase the number of Latino youth who successfully graduate from high school and go on to earn college degrees. Many will return to the community to contribute to the local economy, engage in civic life and serve as role models to younger students.