As part of Somos CWRU and in collaboration with Cleveland’s Esperanza organization, Líderes Avanzando is designed specifically for Latinx students who could benefit from a more culturally aware, hands-on approach to navigating a highly competitive institution. The focus is on students who do not have an established academic or professional support system built into their networks.
Program Information
The goal of Líderes Avanzando is to enhance the CWRU undergraduate Latinx experience by combining student support and cultural awareness with the intent to address institutional gaps and increase retention, persistence, and completion.
Through the program participants are matched with a faculty/staff, alumni and Latinx peer mentor. Opportunities are provided for participants to enhance academic skills, build self-efficacy, explore career interest, prepare for career opportunities, and to learn from professional and academic Latinx mentors.
For more information about Líderes Avanzando, contact Edwin Mayes, director of First-Year Experience and Family Programs.
Participant Application Details
Participation in Líderes Avanzando is invite-only. Students will be invited to the 2023-24 cohort via email before August.
Becoming a Mentor
As a faculty or staff mentor, your relationship with your mentee will help form their first year student experience. Your role is important and we value your commitment to help the Latinx community thrive at CWRU.
Mentor Application Process
- Fill out the mentor application form
- Attend an online 30-minute program introduction session
- Participate in mentor/mentee matching
Mentor Expectations
- Reach out to your mentee at least once per month for no less than one hour
- Build a relationship with your mentee through conversation
- Help your mentee explore their interests
- Provide helpful feedback
- Be honest and authentic
- Complete monthly progress updates
Additional Program Information
Program History
Somos CWRU, is a committee that was formed in fall 2018 to help address the needs of our Latinx student population. Through Seed Sprint grant funding, this group, which is composed of faculty, staff and students, is working to increase awareness across our campus and among our stakeholders regarding the rising numbers of Latinx in higher education both overall and at CWRU.
For the next year, Somos CWRU researched best practices and compiled information from surveys and focus groups conducted with Latinx alumni and Latinx students. The results were presented to the Case Western Reserve community in May 2019.
Somos CWRU then collaborated with community partner Esperanza Inc. to adapt the Unidos US Líderes Avanzando program for the CWRU student population. A second Seed Sprint grant was awarded to fund the first cohort of students to participate in the 2020-21 Líderes Avanzando at CWRU.