Miami, FL · Coming Summer 2027

Lead yourself.
Lead your
community.

A summer camp for young people ages 11–16 that blends movement, journaling, and AI literacy to build the one skill that matters most: synthesis — the ability to connect what you know, how you feel, and what the world needs.

This summer we're hosting community info sessions and pilot workshops across Miami. Join the interest list to get first access — to events, enrollment, and everything coming in 2027.

Join the Interest List See the Program

Ages 11–16 Miami, FL Sliding Scale Tuition English & Spanish

Pilot Year
2026

30+

Camp days across two immersive sessions

15–20

Students per cohort — intentionally intimate

Facilitators per session for individualized support

Community events included with tuition

Why CLA Exists

Young people are drowning in information — and starving for connection.

Miami-Dade middle schoolers are navigating anxiety, digital overwhelm, and a growing sense of isolation — without a unified space that addresses it all. CLA was built to fill that gap.

Mirror mosaic heart — iridescent tile art in red and blue

1 in 3

Florida youth report persistent sadness or hopelessness

Florida Dept. of Children & Families, 2023

6+ hrs/day

More than 20% of Florida's 11–13-year-olds spend this long on their favorite app — linked to anxiety and sleep disruption

USF Life in Media Survey, 2025

< 50%

Of middle schoolers feel connected to a caring adult at school

CDC YRBS, 2021

Meet the Founder

Built by someone who lived it.

My name is Isabella, and I grew up in South Miami — immersed in nature, large family gatherings, and a deep sense of community. I was the kid with my hand up first. Every report card said the same thing: "Isa is smart, but she needs to give other people space to talk."

It wasn't until middle school that this confidence started to battle with something serious: chronic anxiety that showed up as inexplicable panic attacks. I wasn't alone — but it felt that way. As I grew up, I watched many of my friends struggle with anxiety and low self-esteem, and I saw how isolation made everything worse.

Community Leader Academy is the intervention I wish had existed. A place where young people learn to know themselves, trust each other, and take action in the world — before the weight of adolescence becomes too much to carry alone.

"We have our differences but we are all one."

— Isabella Martinez-Aleman, Founder

The Program · Coming Summer 2027

Two sessions. One arc.
Lifelong tools.

Students can join one or both sessions. Together, they form a complete journey — from inner clarity to outer impact. Enrollment opens Summer 2027.

Coming 2027 ✦

Session A · 2 Weeks · Inner World

Know yourself.

Summer 2027 · Dates TBD

For students who need to slow down, tune in, and find their voice. Priority enrollment for multilingual and immigrant youth navigating identity and belonging.

Guided journaling & somatic movement (dance, yoga, Muay Thai)
Cultural identity exploration & listening circles
Bilingual peer dialogue — English & Spanish
Students leave with a bilingual personal statement

Coming 2027 ✦

Session B · 4 Weeks · Change Makers

Change your world.

Summer 2027 · Dates TBD

For students who care about the world and want to do something about it. Community observation, AI-assisted project building, and a public presentation.

Neighborhood walks & community issue identification
AI literacy: tools, ethics, and hands-on use
Weekly arc: Observe → Identify → Produce → Release
Students present a media project at the Cultural Showcase

Tree canopy looking upward through spreading branches and bright green leaves

A real look inside

What a student actually does at CLA.

Here's a real walkthrough of Session B — so you can picture exactly what your child will experience over 4 weeks.

1 Week 1 — Observe

Notice something.

A student at the Miami Hispanic Cultural Center notices there's a lot of trash by the side of the road. They start to wonder — is it littering? Wind? Where does it go?

2 Week 2 — Identify

Understand it.

They research. They find out Florida barely recycles. They discover a local environmental org that tried a cleanup before. They realize there's no regular cleanup event.

3 Week 3 — Produce

Build something.

They make a flyer for a community cleanup. They shoot a short video explaining what they found. They ask their facilitator how to connect with people who have a bigger network.

4 Week 4 — Release

Share it.

A cleanup plan, 4–5 community partners, a presentation ready for the Cultural Showcase — "what I noticed, what I did, and here's what comes next."

Hand-painted flag reading Somos Uno Con Todo against a bright blue ocean sky

Included with Tuition

Community is the curriculum.

Four events throughout the summer bring families into the learning — because growth doesn't stop at the camp doors.

🎤

21st Century Career Day

Adults share their paths to self-fulfillment, financial stability, and their plan for navigating AI — in "AI-proof" careers, from electricians to sound healers.

🎨

Cultural Showcase

Students with media projects or artistic work present in front of an audience. A powerful public speaking milestone and a celebration for families.

🌿

Intro to Food Systems

Families enjoy a clean eating cooking demo and learn about sustainable kitchen practices and why soil protection matters.

✨

End of Week Bazaar

Students earn points through peer engagement and project work all week — then trade them in at our knick-knack extravaganza!

Join the Party →

Summer 2027 · Miami, FL

Be the first
family in.

Enrollment opens for Summer 2027. Join the interest list and we'll reach out with priority access to community events, pilot sessions, and enrollment — before it goes public.

We use a sliding scale tuition model so economic background never determines who gets to lead. Scholarship seats are available — note your needs on the form above and we'll follow up.

Already have questions? Learn more about us →

Questions parents ask us.

What ages is this designed for? +

Community Leader Academy serves students ages 11–16. Our cohorts are intentionally small (15–20 students) so every participant gets individualized attention. Depending on registration, we may separate age groups for workshop time while keeping the full cohort together for social and movement activities.

My child doesn't have a laptop. Is that a problem? +

No. We gather device access information during enrollment and work with the Miami-Dade Public Library system to ensure every student who needs a device has access to one. Please note it on your application and we will follow up.

Is there instruction in Spanish? +

Yes. Instruction is primarily in English, and our team communicates comfortably in Spanish. Session A (Inner World) includes bilingual peer dialogue — English and Spanish — as a core part of the curriculum, and students leave with a bilingual personal statement.

What does my child actually leave with? +

Every student receives a Community Leader Playbook — a personal journal used throughout the program. Session A students leave with a bilingual personal statement. Session B students complete a media project presented at the Cultural Showcase. All students leave with stronger critical thinking, emotional vocabulary, and interpersonal skills.

What if my child has a disability or finds movement difficult? +

We are committed to inclusion. Movement is part of our curriculum, but participation always depends on the student's own goals and comfort. We will work directly with your family to find an approach that works — please note any relevant information on your application.

Is there aftercare available? +

We are working on aftercare options for Session B (the 4-week program). Details are still being finalized. Please note your aftercare needs on your interest list signup and we will follow up with availability before enrollment opens.

Lead yourself. Lead your community.