About
Lead The Way Learning Academy is a non-profit youth development and youth work readiness agency. We empower youth to take a meaningful place in the 21st Century workplace by providing youth development and youth work readiness programs & activities. We serve youth in grades K-12.
We provide a continuum of youth development services for children that will lead to their future educational and career success. Lead The Way Learning Academy services and activities are supported by evidence-based practices, utilizing research and well-recognized best practices.
Lead The Way has been providing youth development and youth work readiness services in Franklin County since 2004, starting as a youth workforce development and outreach program at the J. Ashburn Jr. Youth Center.
Lead The Way Learning Academy was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2014. We are a community-based youth development & youth workforce agency providing year-round programs of educational enrichment, workforce development, and related social services.

Mission
Our mission is to provide purpose, direction, motivation, and opportunities to young people. We accomplish our mission by providing innovative, evidence-based activities and services that will inspire a true sense of destiny to each person we serve.
Vision
To be the #1 resource for parents, students, administrators, employers, and community.
To be the #1 choice for parents, students, administrators, employers, and community.

Core Values
We are committed to excellence and integrity in all we do; we are devoted to relationships, reliability, and results.
At LTWLA, participant satisfaction (youth, parents, partners) is the measure of our success. It is the responsibility of each employee, within reason, to interact with the participants to achieve this goal.


Desired Outcomes
Youth are prepared for college
Youth are prepared for work
Youth understand resources available to them
Youth are exposed and aware of their options
Funding Source
Restricted Funding
-
Franklin County Jobs & Family Services (2014-present)
-
Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio (summer 2021)
Unrestricted Funding
-
None at this time




"Thank you so much to Lead the Way for making a great impact on my college career. I was heavily impacted by COVID-19, with the latter part of senior year being taken away from me. My college experience wouldn't be possible without them. They provided me with a brand new laptop, along with a backpack filled with supplies. They provided essentials to the fight against CoVID-19. I was provided with masks, hand sanitizer, and wipes. I am forever
grateful for Lead the Way Learning Academy."
- Blessing Robinson, Indiana State University ‘24