LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Adelante Hispanic Achievers is a nonprofit with the goal of inspiring Louisville’s Hispanic youth to achieve their dreams.

Kayla Gordillo started with the program when she was in 6th grade and continued throughout high school.

“Talking about what career field I could possibly go into because I do art and I am interested in psychology,” said Gordillo.

From building a resume, volunteering, and scholarships, Gordillo says Adelante has helped her with it all.

“It definitely did help with my college readiness because I’m first generation, so nobody in my family has attended college. I am the first person in my family to go to college, so I had no idea where to even start and how I would afford it or where I would go,” shared Gordillo.

Adelante focuses on five core pillars: educational preparedness, career exploration, community service, cultural awareness, personal and social development, all to encourage students to become and contribute as creative and educated world citizens.

Executive Director Juliana Rodriguez says the Hispanic community continues to grow in Louisville, and there is a need for more services to break language, educational, and cultural barriers that would affect those higher achievements.

“We give and we provide all those tools and services and resources for them to be able to kind of build those dreams and build those goals and then be able to achieve them,” said Rodriguez. 

Rodriguez says Adelante started with 25 students and now has 100 students registered, but the impact is more than that as they also serve the parents.

“Parents can have those tools to support their students better. And then those students can thrive, right? And be better at school. And then the school can take advantage of great students as well,” said Rodriguez.

Gordillo is now a senior at Bellarmine University studying clinical counseling psychology with a minor in art. Gordillo says she is proof that the program works and her siblings are also getting involved in the program too.