Sands Cares-Supported Young Women’s Leadership Academy Gears Up for Inaugural School Year

The Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) is preparing to open for its inaugural school year on August 15, the culmination of years in the making to bring an educational institution of this caliber to East Las Vegas. With funding from Sands Cares to help establish YWLA, the charter school focuses on providing high-quality, tuition-free, STEAM-based education for underserved young women.

In advance of the inaugural school session beginning for incoming sixth- and ninth-grade students, YWLA is hosting a meet-and-greet event on Friday, August 12, to introduce the school’s offerings to students, families and local residents. Scheduled for  6 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club in Las Vegas, the meet-and-greet provides an opportunity for the community to meet teachers and engage with representatives from Chase Bank, Puentes, Girl Scouts, Leaders in Training (LIT), Project 150 and Junior Achievement about resources each organization can offer to community residents and students.

“We are beginning the process of unveiling our two-fold goal to the community: to provide transformative, college-centric education for underserved young women, while offering connective support and resources to students and their families to address areas of need and improve lives,” said Whitney McIntosh, YWLA principal.

Sands has been on YWLA’s full journey from concept to its August opening, with company leaders involved in the initial stages of identifying a need and opportunity for the school in the region. Sands then provided seed contributions to enable facility development, purchases of furniture and other school equipment, as well as funding to enable technology access for all scholars. Sands chairman and CEO Rob Goldstein and EVP and global general counsel Zac Hudson are serving on YWLA’s governing board to help guide and shape the school’s development and critical growth years. In the future, Sands plans to introduce special programs such as internships and job shadowing for YWLA scholars.

Sands’ partnership with Young Women’s Leadership Academy complements Sands Cares’ broad spectrum of support for education, as part of the company’s commitment to building the workforce of the future and removing barriers for underrepresented communities. Educational initiatives supported through Sands Cares span investments in scholarships, mentorship and youth development organizations, schools for underserved populations, higher education institutions, and educational nonprofit and advocacy organizations.

YWLA has enrolled students for the sixth and ninth grades for the 2022-2023 school year and will expand by two additional grades every year until full buildout of a sixth through 12th grade program. The charter school still has a few spaces available for incoming sixth graders. To learn more or apply to become a YWLA scholar, visit www.ywlalasvegas.org.