A brighter future starts today
Links 2 Learning (L2L) is a teen program at the South Orlando YMCA Family Center, established in partnership with Lockheed Martin.
This program is designed to create new opportunities for local teens and engages more than 100 students from the surrounding community during the academic school year. Links 2 Learning equips them with the skills they need to build a brighter future! Every program activity incorporates functions of logic, analytical thinking, and problem-solving along with general life and character-building skills.
2021-2022 School Year
If your teen is interested in getting involved in our Links 2 Learning program, please email our Middle Schools Program team at [email protected] for more information.
We use four components to bolster a creative and interactive learning environment. This combination empowers life-long success in and out of the classroom. Additional activities include field trips, college tours, guest speakers, and community service projects.
Our Promise
Through our multi-faceted approach, Links 2 Learning accomplishes several key objectives while addressing local community needs.
- The Y will provide a minimum of 10 role models to reinforce positive behaviors amongst students.
- L2L will prepare students to serve as agents of change in their community. We’ll help to foster idea creation and entrepreneurship within students.
- Students will develop a sense of personal power by being able to discuss local and global challenges.
- Students will gain greater access to, understanding of, and skills relating to emerging technologies.
- L2L instructors will create strategies for students to play a role in creating positive change.
- We’ll provide exposure to post-secondary educational options, career opportunities within the field of technology, and other business professions.
Education
Component 1
Technology is everywhere! It’s in our schools, our homes, our places of business and it’s one of the fastest emerging industries in the world. Yet, the industry drastically lacks minority representation as developers. Through L2L, we educate teens beyond simply playing the role of the technological consumer, but the role of a developer in today’s digital market place.
Life Skills
Component 2
Developing positive life skills to navigate through both personal and professional opportunities is a critical component of students thriving. L2L helps students enhance their problem-solving skills, communication skills, and build character to develop into a better prepared, more productive, and positive contributor to society.
Career Opportunities
Component 3
Where many see high school graduation as a milestone, our expectation extends to post-secondary education to ensure students create an appetite for life-long learning, ultimately resulting in elevated career opportunities.
Social Responsibility
Component 4
At the Y, we believe it’s important to instill in our youth a sense of civic duty and the motivation to give back to their community. As we work with students to foster a love of service, it not only strengthens the community, but also builds a greater sense of self. We encourage students to develop projects that serve a purpose based on a need or issue they’ve identified in their community.
descargar la guía del programa (español)
Descargar Ahora
Ways you can help
By supporting L2L, you’re giving youth the opportunity to build their own road to success. The South Orlando YMCA Family Center is seeking partners to enhance the curriculum by providing workshops, one-on-one and group mentorship, industry tours, job shadowing, and financial support.
Every volunteer is part of the lifeblood of our community work. While each may demonstrate unique ways and varied amounts of engagement, our role is to connect you to meaningful opportunities that allow you to utilize your expertise and passion while strengthening community. Volunteers will serve as inspiring models of success for students, committed to helping them increase their likelihood for college, career and life-long success, by demonstrating the benefits of hard work, service, professionalism, integrity, educational achievement, and community involvement.
Financial support of the L2L program will assist the Y in providing programs and services that support young people to stay engaged in positive out-of-school programming. With the support of our corporate sponsors, the opportunities for the young people we serve can become real and life-changing. To take advantage of one of our opportunities to transform a young person’s life, please get in touch!
Lockheed Martin partnered with the Y to create the program’s central component: The Lockheed Martin Technology Center. The Tech Center is located within the South Orlando YMCA and is designed to bolster a creative and interactive learning environment. This environment fosters success in the classroom by providing homework help and improving exam performance.
First Tee of Central Florida is a youth development organization, impacting the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values, and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.
First Tee of Central Florida supports Links 2 Learning by combining education and sports. Progressive golf lessons allow each student to participate whether they’re beginning, intermediate, or advanced. Y Golf goes beyond the game to encompass education; students have access to homework help, a STEM program, and will gain exposure to academic options after high school.
Our Commitment to Child Safety
Your child’s safety is our priority. Find out more about our commitment to keeping kids safe.
Youth Sports
Children improve their technical skills while learning about healthy attitudes and sportsmanship!