College and Career Success

The College and Career Success Department (CCS) serves youth ages 16-24 as they prepare to graduate high school, attend college, and begin their careers. The Learn Empower Aspire Lead program (LEAL)  – Heart of Los Angeles’ academics, enrichment, and college access program serves eleventh and twelfth graders as they prepare to graduate, apply for college, and solidify their financial aid.  

As a continuation of the LEAL program, Heart of Los Angeles’ Alumni program provides resources to Heart of Los Angeles graduates as they pursue higher education, technical certificates, and meaningful careers. The CCS Department supports the alumni as they journey and grow by providing academic support, well-being check-ins throughout the year, career support by connecting students with mentors in their chosen career paths, workshop events with resume building, keynote speakers, and opportunities to meet employers, as well as financial support.

CCS also supports Heart of Los Angeles’ students and alumni through in-house scholarship programs, which have disbursed over $8 million dollars in scholarships, to primarily first generation and BIPOC college-bound and persisting students, since 2009. We supplement on-campus resources by providing alumni with toolkits, resources, and opportunities to build their professional and academic identities.

To accomplish these goals and address the needs in our community, Heart of LA students and alumni are provided with individualized, holistic, and intensive supports which facilitate student persistence through their academic journey and early career. These supports include academic advising, career counseling, professional development, financial aid advising, wellness and socioemotional empowerment, as well as financial support through our in-house scholarship programs.