Youth Leadership Programs
MLOV runs the only youth program in DC that is led by and is for immigrant youth. We provide refugee and immigrant youth with pathways to academic success, civic/social engagement, and leadership/empowerment through engaging, culturally and linguistically responsive programming throughout the school year and summer.
Our programming addresses issues specific to the experiences of low-income immigrant and English Learner youth, i.e., multilingual instruction, cultural identity exploration, peer socialization, and culturally responsive policies, procedures, and practices.
Our programs provide a supportive space where youth can work towards both 1) individual goal setting and advancement and 2) collective action to create lasting change for youth and immigrants in DC.
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We implement bilingual programs for middle school and high school students from across DC.
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We implement our post-secondary prep program, Escalera, during the school year for 11th and 12th grade high school students.
We also implement a 2-week intensive college-prep program over the summer.
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MLOV's immigrant youth mentorship program is a transformative initiative designed to empower and uplift young refugees and immigrants who have arrived in the United States, aged 15 to 24. Having served dozens of participants so far and with new cohorts starting soon in 2025, MLOV’s Immigrant Youth Mentorship Program has grown and strengthened over the last two years.
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Our Youth Advisory Council, is a youth-led body of leaders composed of youth elected by their peers who representing all grades from middle-school through postsecondary.
The council represent the only immigrant student led body in the District organizing to address issues impacting our immigrant youth community.
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Through our new Advancing Through College program, launched in 2025, we are providing cohort-based and individualized support to 15 first-generation college students, expanding MLOV’s youth pipeline from middle school through college. This program enabled MLOV to support our first large group of 12th graders from the past SY who were accepted to postsecondary programs.
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We implement a 5-week summer program for middle school and high school students.