Support Latina students - YWCA Boulder County

Latina Achievement Support, or LAS, is a culturally responsive mentoring program that supports local Latina high school students in overcoming systemic barriers to success and bridging the opportunity gap. The program encourages students to reach their academic and personal goals, pursue post-secondary education and opportunities and explore different career paths.

Our LAS Advocates are bilingual Latina college students and adults who provide guidance and create weekly programming to help the members of LAS have a space to grow, learn and support one another. Over the past four academic years, 100% of high school seniors in the LAS program have graduated, and 94% had plans to pursue post-secondary education.

“I honestly can’t think of where I would be now without the support that I’ve received. From both my mentors, the LAS program and my peers in the program. It would be really hard to imagine myself in a different place.”

Jenny Ornelas, Member of LAS

“The YWCA provides the students with a source of support that they otherwise wouldn’t have. It’s creating a club that comes to the school specifically for these students and creates a safe space for them. [They can] see representation in higher education with a woman of color.”

Isabella, CU Boulder senior and LAS Advocate for Centarus HS

Now Hiring LAS Advocates for the 2023-2024 School Year!

Visit our Employment Opportunities page for more information.

Program Background

Latina Achievement Support (LAS) provides a supportive and culturally sensitive approach to meet the needs of Latina students in Boulder County. The program is youth-led by bilingual, college-aged Advocates who work directly with LAS participants to address real-time challenges, such as coping and thriving with at-home learning.

Advocates meet weekly (virtually or in person) with LAS students for advice and mentoring to build academic, mental health and leadership skills. Participants build trusting relationships with their Advocates and with each other. Activities during and after school include:

Academic support and tutoring
Community involvement and volunteer opportunities
College prep and school visits
Field trips
Life skills workshops on topics ranging from drug and alcohol abuse to personal finance

Recent Activity

On May 10, 2022, LAS participants from New Vista visited the University of Colorado Denver to learn about their options for post-secondary education and future careers.

Participant Feedback

“I’m an immigrant student, so it’s been hard because you don’t know if you have the same opportunities as other students or if I can go to college and get a degree… So, for me, [LAS is] empowering and supportive just because I’ve gotten to know more about college, how to go to college, [and] what college has to offer for us. That’s really changed my life because I’ve been wanting to go to college since I can remember.

Thank you a lot, a lot [for] the amazing tours that I’ve gone to, amazing field trips that we’ve gone to. I’ve never gotten to do that because I’ve never really been offered those opportunities.” – Elizabeth Merazgordillo, Member of LAS

Get Involved

If you would like more information about this program, please email Marisol Garcia, Manager of Community Engagement and Equity, at mgarcia@ywcaboulder.org.

Latina Achievement Support participants share their experiences

Latina Achievement Support Students at Pathways to Teaching

Latina Achievement Support students in Denver

Latina Achievement Support students outside the Tivoli in Denver

Two young women with gift bags at Latina Achievement Support event

Logo for City of Boulder Housing and Human Services Thank you to City of Boulder Housing and Human Services Department for your grant funding for Latina Achievement Support!