Jose Serrano Leadership Institute at Lehman College

The goal of the Jose Serrano Leadership Institute at Lehman College (JSLI) is to provide junior and high school students the opportunity to discover their leadership potential through a structured program designed to prepare them for a future in politics and public administration. The target population will be those youth who are living below the poverty level and will be potentially the first in their families to graduate with a baccalaureate degree. A total of 50 students will participate in this two-year program. The students will have an active role through an internship program that will give them an understanding of and experience within the political system. Students will interact with and learn from key individuals, managers, and the government sector. They will be evaluated on their talents, skills, and aspirations as they considered what it would take to enter and succeed in law, government and public advocacy careers. Students will be mentored with an undergraduate student from Lehman College. As a result, 80% of the students will demonstrate readiness for college success; 100% of students will complete the program; and 90% will successfully complete the internship program. Information on effectiveness of JSLI interventions will be based on participation rates and student achievement scores data available from the public schools. NCA/NCF