APDC Youth Leadership Academy™ (APDC YLA™) is an integrated, comprehensive program offered by the Asian Pacific Development Center for youth in Aurora, Colorado. APDC YLA™ provides services to foster future leaders in our community, with a mission “to help youth discover their potential to become strong leaders who embrace and balance their cultures and identities.” APDC YLA™ programming consists of three components: academic enrichment, leadership, career, and social skills development.

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We offer several programs throughout the Denver Metro and Aurora areas, which run throughout the school year. APDC YLA™ has been able to offer various programs in partnership with the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Tony Grampsas Youth Services, and Colorado Health Foundation grants. This March, APDC YLA™ was selected as first-time grantees of the Share Winter Foundation. These programs offer students a broad array of enriching non-school hour activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children. 

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APDC YLA™ has year-round applications, but students are encouraged to sign up at the beginning of the school year or semester.

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Please note: After-school homework help is only offered to students who are currently enrolled in YLA™ programming at Aurora Central High School and Hinkley High School. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate referrals or students outside of this scope at the current time. 

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MEET OUR APDC YLA™ PROGRAM DIRECTOR:

Mr. Habakkuk Ammishaddai - habakkuk@APDC.org

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Habakkuk Ammishaddai is an honor graduate of the Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he received his BA degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology with a Sociology minor. Habakkuk has amassed over 27 years of working with at-risk youth and teens in Illinois and Michigan and has also developed successful youth programs here in Colorado. Habakkuk is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army, in which he worked with nuclear missile weapon systems. Habakkuk has been recognized for his work within one of our local schools in the Aurora Public School system; presenting him with the 2018 Shaping the Future award. 

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In his spare time, Habakkuk enjoys writing. He is currently working on his second novel and a screenplay.