West Side High School Secures Significant Endowment from the Leonidas Foundation to Launch Innovative World Class Entrepreneurship Program for Newark Students

The L.E.O. Program to Provide High-Level Mentorship, Entrepreneurship Opportunities, Leadership Training, Business Curriculum, and Networking Activities that Expose Newark Students to Plan and Build a Career

Original post located here.

[Newark, New Jersey - October 23, 2024] Newark's elected, community, and education leaders will join together with West Side Principal Akbar Cook; Councilman Dupree Kelly; Legendary Hip Hop Rapper Anthony “Treach”  Criss; Multiple Grammy Award-Winning Producer and President of 1801 Records, Karriem “K-Mack” Mack, Tiffany Mack and Cicely Criss of Bold Beginnings and The Leonidas Foundation on Monday, October 28th, at West Side High School for a ribbon-cutting event to publicly launch the LE.O. Program, establishing a new world-class work-study program for its students that will provide tools, support, and hands-on work experiences and exposure to secure academic, financial, and professional support. 

"West Side is dedicated to fighting for Newark students and ensuring every child is provided with the equity - and that starts with creating unique, innovative, and valuable programs that ensure our kids are rightly provided with the opportunity they deserve," stated West Side Principal Akbar Cook. "Parents in Newark will not find a more robust work-study opportunity in Montclair, Summit, or any area of the state.  West Side is building valuable programs that can serve as a bridge to attending college, building a career, or discovering a passion.  We are grateful to The Leonidas Foundation for providing West Side the funds to add to our ever-growing slate of initiatives for our students and specifically bringing the work-class L.E.O. Program to Newark.  We deeply appreciate Councilman Dupree Kelley and the District Office for helping us build another valuable strategic partnership.  Together, we are making West Side an important and valuable focal point for education in our City."

"The Leonidas Foundation was created to promote public service and foster mentorship and equity in students," stated Rhonda Clarke, Executive Director of Leonidas Foundation.  "The access, networking, and mentorship the L.E.O. Program provides students is unprecedented - it can change lives.  We are thrilled to bring this initiative to the City of Newark.  Our investment comes specifically from the relationship we have forged with the leadership at West Side and our commitment to ensure that all students, regardless of race, location, or economic status, are provided with opportunity. Our commitment to Newark is deep and will not only stretch years into the future but will have a tremendous impact on all students attending West Side."

The L.E.O. Program, which was created to honor the memory and legacy of Leonidas "Leo" Vagias, offers highly motivated students who have the desire to make a difference the unparalleled means by which to enhance their business knowledge and life skills, providing students the opportunity to learn how to develop their own product or service; build mentorships with top entrepreneurs and business experts from across the United States, and the opportunity to participate in various seminars, trips, and internships and compete in a Shark Tank-style competition to earn scholarship funds.  The establishment of this new West Side initiative was made possible by the Leonidas Foundation, which developed the program and its pedagogy and provided a significant endowment to ensure the initiative is maintained for at least the next five years.  To learn more about the L.E.O. Program, click HERE.

On Monday, October 28th, the Newark community will hold a formal ribbon cutting at West Side High School's newly designed Student Business Center to formally launch the program.  In addition, Leonidas Foundation and L.E.O. Program Teaching Advisor, West Side's Mr. Jamal Smith, will announce and "pin" the West Side High School scholars participating in the inaugural cohort.

WHO:
West Side High School, Leonidas Foundation,
Newark Elected Officials, and Celebrity Guests

WHAT:
Launch and Formal Announcement of the
"L.E.O. Program"

WHEN:
Monday, October 28th at 10 am 

WHERE:
West Side High School
Student Business Center
403 South Orange Ave, Newark
 ​