Programs
programs
Afterschool
Afterschool
Safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning spaces that support the whole child and family are essential for the academic, emotional, and social development of Latino students. We understand that true achievement begins with the belief in our community's capacity and desire to succeed. LaAmistad Afterschool passionately seeks to serve elementary-age Latino students through engaging instructional strategies that include opportunities for voice and choice, fun, and mentorship with the aim of closing the educational achievement gap and preparing them for the academic journey head.
Fast Facts
- Volunteers play a leading role in assisting LaAmistad students during afterschool programming.
- Healthy snacks and recreation time are a daily part of the holistic afterschool program.
- Manners and character-building are interwoven in afterschool programming.
- Students work with volunteers in small classroom groups.
- Students work on remediation or refine academic skills once homework is complete.
- Students participate in cultural and enrichment activities throughout the year.
- Parents of enrolled students are encouraged to attend English classes and educational workshops, and complete community service hours to give back.
programs
Anímate Summer Academy
Anímate Summer Academy
At LaAmistad, summer is a time for fun AND learning. Many of our students need additional academic support in order to maintain their academic progress and strengthen areas of weakness. With the school community closed, it’s also a time when families need the most support. LaAmistad, in partnership with several private schools, is there to provide its working families with a no-cost camp that not only bolsters academic success but exposes students to activities that, while available to their more affluent peers, are normally beyond their economic means.
Many LaAmistad students attend Anímate Summer Academy, and students outside of the LaAmistad family are invited to fill any remaining slots. Our campers spend the first part of the day immersed in the main academic subject areas of language arts, reading, and math, taught by certified educators. A reading club and social-emotional learning round out the morning.
During the summer months, parents need childcare, transportation and meal solutions while children yearn for experiences that challenge their spirits, minds, and bodies. We believe summer is a time to support the whole family and cherish the opportunity to extend our impact through our Animate Summer Academy.
Thanks to our strong partnerships and generous donors, campers have access to summer meals, transportation and recreational experiences including:
- swimming
- soccer, tennis, and other sports
- arts and crafts
- gardening
- STEM projects
- mobile zoo
- field trips
After a summer of hard work and play, campers leave with their academics pushed to the next level, positive memories, confidence, a sense of belonging and prepared for a successful school year.
programs
Parent Partnership
Monthly Parenting Workshops
LaAmistad strives to support families with students participating in LaAmistad Afterschool through monthly workshops on a variety of topics such as:
- Navigating the school system
- Parent communication and interaction with their children
- Positive discipline
- Healthy living
- College prep
- Digital literacy
- Accessing community resources
The ultimate goal of our no-cost workshops is to strengthen, revitalize, and equip families to thrive while building and maintaining healthy family relationships. For inquiries about partnering to provide quality workshops to our community, please contact us.
Service Referrals
LaAmistad’s Parent Partnership further assists families by connecting parents to community resources and agencies that provide support services. Our network includes partners such as food banks, counseling services, churches, attorneys and healthcare providers to meet the needs of our students and families.
programs
English for Successful Living
English for Successful Living
EXCITING NEWS!!
Registration for our Adult ESL Summer Session is NOW OPEN!
120 Northwood Dr Suite 140, Sandy Springs, GA 30342
(470) 756 1558
LaAmistad offers students the opportunity to improve their English fluency in our English for Successful Living (ESL) program. The in-person classes are open to anyone in the community that wants to learn English regardless of origin. Our volunteer-led instructional program offers the immigrant population at large the opportunity to take English classes with an instructor. Our volunteers are trained and mentored by experienced and certified ESL professionals.
- The registration fee is $50 per 10-week session.
- Students purchase their own student pack (textbook and workbook) through Amazon. A link to purchase the student pack will be provided after registration is completed.
- Flexible Class Options: Courses range from Basic A to Level 4, ensuring you can start at the level that’s right for you!
- Our curriculum focuses on the use of English for everyday situations and provides preparation for various purposes.
- Convenient Schedules:
- Monday & Wednesday Classes: Twice a week for 1.5 hours each class.
- Tuesday & Thursday Classes: Twice a week for 1.5 hours each class.
- Saturday Morning Classes: Once a week for 3 hours per class.
If you would like to learn English, and improve your pronunciation and fluency, we invite you to join the growing LaAmistad ESL community! Or, if you would like to host an ESL program, contact us.
For specific inquiries, email esl@laamistadinc.org or call 470-765-1558
This session, we’re excited to offer a brand-new class designed for learners seeking a more relaxed and fun approach to improving their English skills.
- No Textbooks Required: Focus on engaging lessons to practice vocabulary, speaking, and writing in English.
- Flexible Levels: Classes are available at different levels, so everyone can find the right fit.
- Interactive Learning: A less structured, stress-free classroom environment.
- Start Date: March 31, 2025
- End Date: June 15, 2025
*Placement Test Required: All students must take a placement test to ensure they are placed in the appropriate class level.*
- Location: 120 Northwood Dr, Suite 140, Sandy Springs, GA 30342
- Hours: Weekdays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Contact: (470) 756-1558
programs
Adult Education
Adult Education
Our Adult Education classes and workshops in Spanish support personal and professional development. The offerings vary and cover topics such as:
- Financial literacy
- Mental health
- Entrepreneurship
- Immigration
- Home Buying
- Consumer awareness
If you would like more information on upcoming workshops or have a topic you would like to present, please contact us.
programs
The Suzanne W. Schirber LaAmistad Scholarship
About
The LaAmistad scholarship fund was created in loving memory of Suzanne W. Schirber, a former and dedicated LaAmistad volunteer. The scholarship will support incoming college freshmen and/or current college students in pursuit of higher education.
“Suzanne spent a lot of time with the LaAmistad students' and formed an emotional bond with many of them”, says Greg Schirber, widow of Suzanne W. Schirber. “Her wish was to see LaAmistad students' prosper and her hope was that this gift could help these students pursue higher education”.
Eligibility
- Enrolled in LaAmistad Afterschool for at least one year.
- Enrolled as a 12th grade student with sufficient credits to graduate in the spring of 2022 or enrolled full-time/part-time in an accredited, not-for-profit, 2-year, or 4-year university.
- Maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA based on a 4.0 scale.
- Immediate family members of any full-time LaAmistad employee or LaAmistad scholarship committee member are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Information
Applications must be filled out completely, include all required support materials and must be completely submitted by the deadline of May 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
In addition to a completed application and the required essays, every applicant must submit at least one letter of recommendation and a copy of their most recent high school or college transcript. Letters of recommendation and transcripts can be sent via email to [email protected].
Incomplete scholarship applications cannot be considered and will not be returned.
Awardees
In order for LaAmistad to disperse scholarship funds to the college/university, awardees must provide current proof of enrollment from the college/university with the student ID number as well as a contact name and mailing address for the Student Accounts Office.
Scholarship recipients will be contacted directly and posted here by June 30, 2025.
All eligible students are encouraged to apply. If you need any assistance when completing the application, please contact us.
Welcome!
We’re thrilled to welcome you back into the heart of LaAmistad as Alumni. Through the LaAmistad Alumni Program, we embark on a collective journey, forging a supportive community of Latinos committed to achieving academic excellence and personal growth. As part of the LaAmistad family, we will provide unwavering support and guidance as you navigate the transformative stages from Middle School through high school and into adulthood. Our LaAmistad family has no age limit.
LaAmistad Junior Alumni (Middle School)
Step into LaAmistad's Junior Alumni Program, where we craft an environment to foster positive academic and personal communities. We hope to have a dedicated space committed to the holistic growth of our middle schoolers. We invite you to join so that we can share captivating opportunities and trips that not only build camaraderie among Jr Alumni but also instill qualities of empathy and leadership through meaningful community service. Our commitment to your academic journey is unwavering, ensuring a well-rounded experience that cultivates confidence and fuels a passion for learning
LaAmistad Senior Alumni (High School +)
As a LaAmistad Senior Alumni, embrace a program tailored to empower you on your academic journey, with a focus on excellence, personalized guidance, and community. We will continue to provide exciting trips like the Junior Alumni, now enriched with a heightened emphasis on academic achievement and personalized support. We understand that the path to success takes various forms, which is why we are excited to support alumni pursuing skill-based training and certification. For those charting the course to college, we plan on guiding you through this process through our college workshops with ACT prep. Additionally, we are excited to launch our new mentorship program to pair Latino professionals with Alumni... Join us in shaping your future with a harmonious blend of exciting experiences and the unwavering support you deserve.
Social Media
Join the LaAmistad Afterschool Student Alumni Group on Facebook! You can also join our GroupMe
If you’d like to follow and connect with other LaAmistad Alumni, please click here to join the Alumni Facebook group. We post stories, job opportunities, and alumni news and events on this page. The group is private and open exclusively to LaAmistad alumni.
After joining the Alumni group, please follow us on our other social media channels to see great content and real-time updates on LaAmistad programs and people.
Newsletter
LaAmistad publishes a quarterly alumni newsletter. There you’ll see upcoming events, interesting stories affecting our community, alumni spotlights, and much more. We’ll also share opportunities for you, your college or employer to get involved and support our efforts.
Volunteer
There’s no better way to give back to LaAmistad than to become a volunteer. While we are always in need of Latino volunteers to serve as tutors, mentors and interns in all of our programs, your time and service to an Afterschool student will have a lasting impact.
We also have other ways for you to give back to your community. Click here to see our current opportunities.
Donate
We recognize our alumni may be short on time with school, work, or family but you can still make a difference with a small gift. Your donation helps make our work possible! Click here to contribute.
Work for us!
LaAmistad actively recruits former students to join us as interns and staff. We invite you to bring your passion, skills, and personal knowledge of LaAmistad as a member of our team.
Visit our careers page to browse current openings!
programs
Birth to Five
About!
Birth-to-Five is our newest program! This program teaches caregivers strategies they can use to help their young children learn new communication and literacy skills. The strategies that we teach parents are evidence-based, meaning that they have been shown by research to help children learn new skills and enter school ready to learn!
Program Components
- Our birth-to-five caregiver groups meet once each week over the course of 10-12 weeks. These meetings are run in Spanish by bilingual clinicians who are experts early communication development with the support of LaAmistad staff. Weekly meetings include:
- Motivation & Empowerment: Caregivers learn about the role they play in their child’s literacy in Spanish and English.
- Education and Tools: Caregivers learn strategies to help their child learn new communication and literacy skills.
- Practical Application: Caregivers practice with intention and integrate strategies into daily routines, such as mealtime, bath time, and time with family.
- Community Building: Caregivers learn alongside other caregivers of children of the same age.
- Parents get workbooks that they can take home and use as part of this program.
Birth to Five Cohorts
LaAmistad Community Center
Mondays 3:30-5:00PM
Birney Elementary School
Tuesdays 3:30-4:30PM
Virtual Group
Fridays 10:30AM-12:00PM
