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The Pierre Toussaint Leadership & Learning Center, PTLLC, is committed to serving families from
the most poverty-stricken, treacherous neighborhoods of Little Haiti. We work closely with
local schools, community action agencies, and ministries at Notre Dame D'Haiti in order to identify
those who are in critical need. PTLLC offers programs to address the literacy needs of adult and
children. PTLLC offers an After -School program and is home to the Little Haiti's only Adult
Literacy Program, Music and Fine Arts Program, Etiquette Training, and Culinary Arts Program.
The After -School Program provides one-on-one homework assistance, academic and
biblical enrichment, technology exploration, recreation and physical activity, skill development
and safety and supervision after school. The tutoring program is imperative at PTLLC because
it stimulates students with challenging opportunities for growth and development outside the
classroom, using age -appropriate materials and highly -skilled service providers. This program is
designed for children and youth in grades K-12. Typically, prior to enrollment these students are
not meeting reading standards and they often have significant hardships which require special
attention. It is our vision to help each one of these students overcome adversity and excel
academically and spiritually.
There are many challenges facing children from the Little Haiti community. One factor being
the lack of supervision afterschool. Many students return from school to an empty home because
their single -parents work multiple jobs to provide the means to survive. A common problem
many students face is that their parents have a low level of education, language barrier and a
lack of knowledge and know how. The lack of support at home is the main cause why the
majority of students fail academically. These challenges are also reflected upon the neighboring
schools. Ninety percent of the schools have received failing grades. In addition to these
challenges, children are prohibited from playing outside in efforts to derail them from the joining
local gangs or becoming a victim of heinous crimes. According to the city of Miami crime
mapping statistics, there have been over 800 crimes committed within a 5-mile radius within the
past 120 days. Therefore, it is crucial to have programs like ours in place to help diminish the
number of children dropping out of school to become gang members or to engage themselves later
in delinquency and prostitution.
The enrollment in the After -School Program has increased by 100% over the past three years.
Our program has become increasingly popular throughout the community because of the success
rate of our students. Students no longer feel inadequate and are beginning to thrive academically.
Another program housed at the PTLLC, is the Adult -Literacy Program. This program
teaches students to read and write in their native language, Creole. The curriculum also offers
an ESOL program, allotting students the opportunity to learn English as a second language. There
are currently 325 students enrolled in the Adult Literacy Program.
The Music and Fine Arts Program is the only of its kind in Little Haiti. This program
teaches students the fundamentals of musical instruments and Haitian Folkdance. The Etiquette
Training Program instils the essential tools for building solid, productive relationships for social and
business situations.
The Culinary Arts Program hosts a series of lessons designed to introduce healthier lifestyle
choices beginning with nutrition and preparing healthier meals that appeal to Haitian culture.
The Pierre Toussaint Leadership & Learning Center is the resolve for the Little Haiti
community. Without the programs housed here, many families would have nowhere else to turn.
110 NE 62 Street I Miami, FL 33138 I (305) 751-6289