Orgullo Latinx Pride Youth Program

Orgullo Latinx Pride (OLP) was created in 2017 in response to our Community Needs Assessment, in which Latinx parents identified critical needs for their teens, including academic support, dropout prevention, college preparation, healthy after-school opportunities, civic engagement, and connection to their heritage.

OLP is a free, year-round program for Latinx high school students in grades 9–12 at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City and Seaforth High School in Pittsboro.

We provide academic and emotional support, leadership development, service opportunities, educational field trips, and help with the full post-secondary enrollment and scholarship process. Most youth remain in OLP throughout all four years of high school.

In 2026, we proudly enrolled our largest class ever: 94 youth.

OLP Empowers Youth to Thrive and Lead

We help youth build the confidence, skills, and support they need to succeed academically, pursue higher education, strengthen their mental wellbeing, and grow into informed and engaged community leaders.

Stay in school and excel academically

Take charge of their mental health and become more resilient

Advance to the next grade level and/or graduate from high school

Pursue a higher education at a university, community college or technical school

Be well-rounded, informed, and confident  community  leaders

Core Activities:

Weekly 3-hour after-school meetings offering homework assistance and educational sessions
Weekly Senior meetings to work on college financial aid, scholarships, and interview skills
Weekly grade monitoring; we text grades to parents to keep them updated
Group check-ins by grade level to review grades, set goals, and plan for college
Individual check-ins for youth who need additional emotional support
Year-round field trips to colleges, universities, leadership conferences, career fairs, and cultural events
Year-round volunteer service to develop leadership skills and a culture of giving back to the community
Leadership Team: 5 youth from each school are elected each year by their peers. They meet bi-weekly with program staff to plan activities, share feedback, and develop leadership skills. They also facilitate monthly group meetings.

Our Initiatives

Parent Empowerment Program

Launched in 2022, our Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) equips Latinx parents with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to support their children’s success. Parents of our OLP youth members meet monthly to learn about the U.S. school system, student rights, and strategies to support their child’s academic achievement.

We offer culturally responsive workshops to help parents develop advocacy skills, participate in school board meetings, and engage with school leadership.

PEP helps families become informed advocates for their children and community.

Our goals are to:

Increase parent knowledge of educational systems and student rights
Improve family engagement in schools and advocacy spaces
Strengthen parent confidence in supporting academic achievement
Expand access to culturally relevant mental health education and resources

Youth Mental Health

Launched in 2026, our Youth Mental Health & Wellness Initiative creates culturally affirming spaces for OLP youth to become more resilient, develop healthy coping skills, and strengthen their sense of belonging.

Youth learn to navigate stress through creative expression, mindfulness, movement, peer connection, nature-based experiences, and supportive mentorship. These approaches offer multiple ways to process emotions, reduce stress, and build resilience.

This initiative helps reduce stigma, increase access to support, and promote long-term well-being.

Through this initiative, Latinx youth will:

Increase their knowledge and use of healthy coping strategies
Improve self-confidence and emotional resilience
Reduce stigma around mental health within youth and families
Increase their sense of belonging and peer connection
Expand access to culturally responsive mental health resources

CULTIVAR (Cultivate)

Launched in 2025, OLP Cultivar inspires the next generation of Latinx leaders in conservation and sustainable agriculture. Through hands-on learning, field experiences, internships, and culturally rooted environmental education, youth explore career pathways while deepening their connection to land, community, and stewardship.

Cultivar is rooted in Latine and ancestral traditions, centering culture, identity, and lived experiences as powerful tools for learning and growth.

Cultivar helps young people see themselves as changemakers who can shape a healthier and more sustainable future.

Our goals are to:

Empower youth to become environmental stewards
Redefine the narrative of Latine communities in American agriculture
Inspire future leaders in conservation, agriculture, and sustainability
Connect youth to meaningful career pathways in conservation and agriculture

Cultivar is a collaborative project with Asekia, an organization dedicated to enhancing access to resources, improving outreach, and promoting bilingual talent development for the United States Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service.