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The Ticket to a Bright Future: The Unity Council Latino Men & Boys Program

chrisiglesias
Explorer C
Southwest Airlines proudly gives back to the Hispanic community during Hispanic Heritage Month and all throughout the year through its support of nonprofit organizations like The Unity Council. The Unity Council’s Latino Men & Boys program (LMB) was developed in 2010 as an organizational effort to improve the wellbeing of Latino males in Oakland who, research shows, have a disadvantage building a successful educational and professional future. This summer, one of our great partners, Southwest Airlines, helped celebrate our young boys during our awards ceremony.  The event celebrated the accomplishments of our young Latino males enrolled in Oakland public schools.  These young men and their educators worked with LMB mentors at five Oakland schools in an effort to increase academic achievement, improve positive behavior, cultural awareness, and healthier choices for young men through direct collaboration with school health centers.  The event was a way to encourage and fulfill the traditional rites of passage for 100 young men who are learning to honor their word and be a positive example on their way to adulthood. We are very thankful to Southwest Airlines who gave two sets of roundtrip airline tickets to two special students and their families:  Brian Melendez, a senior from Fremont High and Rogelio Lara from United for Success Academy.  These boys have demonstrated consistent leadership in grades, attendance, and Joven Noble (program values) for over two years.  The young men and their families were so thrilled to receive this special award and were excited about the opportunity to use the tickets to further explore their academic future, with the option of taking an educational trip that would possibly include touring universities. The students shared what this special award meant to them.  “I received two Southwest Airlines plane tickets to go anywhere Southwest flies, and I was the only one of 24 brothers at United for Success to receive this prize,” said Rogelio Lara.  “The LMB program is a great group to be in.  As for my future road to success, I plan to follow along with the four values:  keep my word, to go to school, show others what it means to be a proud Joven Noble, and go to college.”
Southwest Airlines LMB Award Recipients presented by Wayne Campbell of Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines LMB Award Recipients presented by Wayne Campbell of Southwest Airlines
Brian Melendez shared, “These prizes are a really great award and privilege!  I also want to thank my mentors because I would not have made it without their help.  It really means a lot when you have someone that cares about you, that supports you, that helps you in any way, and that is always there for you to back you up.” We are very proud of these students and those currently enrolled in our program.  We hope that those who have graduated continue to have success in their academic future.  Programs like The Unity Council LMB give hope and help guide these young men into academic, emotional, and social growth and are applied in a collective manner that holds the group accountable to each other’s struggles and successes.