SUCCESS STORIES - LEO MENDOZA

Leo Mendoza volunteers with the Challenge Learning Center middle school program with quiet faithfulness. He serves as a leader and role model to middle school students who are learning how to lead low ropes courses. “Before, I thought that grown-ups did it [leadership], not teens or kids,” says Leo. He continues, “The only leadership example I’d seen had been someone who is popular.” Leo signed up for the LEAD program his sophomore year at East Palo Alto High School, but did not begin to attend meetings regularly until his junior year.

Check-ins, the period of time when those in attendance share the high and low of their week, drew Leo into the LEAD program. As a Latino who went to majority Latino schools from elementary to middle school, it fascinated Leo to hear some of his peers and the adult volunteers share about their differing cultures, and other aspects of their lives with vulnerability. “Check-ins kept me going back,” shares Leo.

The informal check-ins outside of the LEAD meetings by the adult volunteers also impressed Leo. “It was good to know someone it mattered to - other than my mom - what I was doing, and that I was taking the right classes.” Check-ins also increased Leo’s desire to share parts of his life with other people. “I began opening up more than before with check-ins,” he says. “Not that they pressure you, but you feel like you want to add something like everyone else did. Before, it would take me forever to think of something.” Now, Leo comes ready to share.

CLC’s leadership programs have also shown Leo different examples of what it can look like to show leadership. “Now, when I see someone take initiative to get the work started in class – I say, ‘That’s a leader,’” he shares. Leo takes this initiative himself when he steps in with ease and respect to calm down the middle school students who sometimes talk and hit each other during the program’s check-ins. He uses the leadership skills that he has gained through LEAD to create a space for other students to listen to each other and grow as leaders.

Leo helped to create a welcoming space for his peers and adults to enjoy when he co-emceed the Fourth Annual CLC Fundraising Breakfast. Leo spoke to over 200 adults in the attendance at the Breakfast. After graduating from East Palo Alto High School this spring, Leo plans to attend college to study computer science or filmmaking.