We don't just teach kids. We build them.
true education learning academy
THE NEED IS REALWHAT WE HAVE BUILT
The gap is not about ability. It is about access, belonging, and being taught who you are. TELA exists because the system was not built for our children — so we built something better.
1 in 3
Black and Latino students in LAUSD read below grade level. Cultural disconnection in curriculum is a documented barrier to engagement and retention.
40%
Of BIPOC students in Los Angeles attend schools without a single culturally responsive academic program. TELA was built to close that gap.
Aug 2018
TELA opened its doors — the first day of school for students who needed to learn not just academics, but who they are and where they come from.
Los Angeles Is Failing BIPOC Youth
5 summers
Camps for Los Angeles B.I.P.O.C Youth
K-12 Registered School
Recognized by the California Department of Education
established in 2018
A track record donors and partners can stand on
More Than a Classroom
Advancing Access and Equity Through Culturally Responsive Learning
TELA is a registered K-12 school in Los Angeles, recognized by the California Department of Education under LAUSD. We opened August 14, 2018 with one focus: building BIPOC youth from the inside out.
Identity is not an afterthought here. It is the foundation.
What We Build:
Empowerment — students who function as a community, not just classmates
Communication — learning to talk through real situations with honesty and respect
Boldness — getting comfortable using your voice
Development — growing into community life with intention
Emotional Intelligence — learning to identify, channel, and manage emotions so you lead with wisdom instead of impulse
program director
Where are you from and what pulled you toward working with young people?
What did you see happening in Los Angeles that made TELA necessary?
What is your educational or professional background?
What does a student look like when they first arrive versus after they have been in the program?
What do you want donors and partners to know about why you do this work?
Fund What Is Working
TELA is credentialed, established, and already producing results through academic support, mentorship, and culturally responsive programming that builds critical thinking, cultural pride, and community responsibility. What we need is the resources to reach more youth. Your investment funds:
Program delivery — curriculum, materials, and tools students need to grow
Staffing — qualified, culturally competent educators and mentors
Expansion — more Los Angeles youth deserve access to what TELA offers
t.E.L.A Summer camp
open to the los angeles county community every year
We are inviting local businesses and corporate partners to support through in-kind and monetary donations.