Profile: Adelante

In eighth grade, Jesenia Tejada was just testing the waters at Adelante. Before long she committed herself to the School Success program—and participated all the way through high school. Now in her 20s, Jesenia credits Adelante with inspiring her career. In the School Success program, she spent 640 hours volunteering as a tutor for young children and found her calling. “I never knew my passion for serving the community could turn into a paying job.” After earning a BA from Northeastern University, she joined La Vida Inc., a nonprofit organization serving the Latino community. Her role there? Helping high school students prepare for college.

Community service is just one component of the Adelante School Success program. Services include Prep programs for seventh and eighth graders to help build literacy, essay writing and public speaking skills. Additionally, the High School Scholarship Program helps older students gain admittance to rigorous private high schools. Admission is often accompanied by an Adelante scholarship that is matched 100 percent by the schools the students attend. Throughout their time at Adelante, students are required to maintain high academic performance.

Like Jesenia, Adelante Scholars learn to embrace challenges. No one is more aware of the possibilities for success than Executive Director David Hildt. He knows that for each scholar he meets at Adelante, there are hundreds—if not thousands—of young people with the same hopes and dreams. David knows that an investment in an Adelante Scholar is an investment in the wider community. Like Jesenia, when given an opportunity to succeed, Adelante Scholars use this opportunity to help others.

Jesenia spoke at the most recent annual Adelante celebration. She urged all students to plan their education carefully—and to follow their dreams. She added, “Without the support and guidance I found at Adelante, I would not have found my passion for community service and accomplished all that I have.”