The centerpiece of our youth services is the life-changing ELP-II program, which offers high school seniors who graduated from ELP-I a year-long series of invaluable educational workshops, and matches students with mentors who provide intensive one-on-one weekly sessions aimed at guiding participants through the college admissions, scholarship, and financial aid application processes. The program’s ultimate goal is to ensure that youth can graduate from high school, enroll in college, graduate with postsecondary degrees, and establish career paths that can break the cycle of poverty. 

We are very proud to report that the 219 outstanding high school seniors who graduated from ELP-II during the last four years were collectively offered more than $29 million in scholarships and financial aid for their four-year college education. Past and present ELP-II graduates are currently attending the following universities: American University, Catholic University of America, George Mason University, George Washington University, James Madison University, Marymount University, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Old Dominion University, Penn State University, Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, Radford University, Rhode Island School of Design, School of Arts in Chicago, Virginia Commonwealth University, Northern Virginia Community College, Virginia Tech, and the College of William and Mary.