PO Box 93531
Des Moines, IA 50393
Phone: (515) 864-9976
Website: www.alexitoiowa.org
Gabby Guerra
Email: gabby@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 positions 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 Exito cultivates academic achievement and leadership capacity for Latino students through comprehensive, culturally rooted programs that prepare them to fully participate and thrive in Iowa’s communities.
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 programs at Miller Middle School and Movimiento High School meet weekly at the schools in a safe space with a trained facilitator. All students are also about to participate in AE Exclusive Senior Online Programs and AE University College Prep Camp. All programs are free to participants. 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 youths 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.
Learn more about Al Éxito and download the AE Latinx Youth Mental Health Study at www.alexitoiowa.org. Learn more about the Latinx Project Nuestro Iowa Report and dashboard at https://www.iowalatinxproject.org/