What is Lattice Climbers?

Lattice Climbers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to EMPOWERING and EQUIPPING students with the real world skills necessary to succeed in life and career. We incentivize student participation by offering volunteer hours. While training, students absorb valuable lessons in adulting, professionalism, and financial literacy. Then through our Lattice Climbers Ambassador program, students can earn additional hours through recruiting others and hosting LC Workshops using our educational materials.

Learn more about how to become a Lattice Climbers Ambassador here.

Why does it work?

We have distilled our lessons into two-minute bite-size videos. These videos contain no filler and fluff that would encourage a lack of attention. The lessons only contain the golden nuggets that students need within modules like professionalism, financial wellness, and adulting. Students learn by watching, and then learn by teaching others. All the while, they earn volunteer hours.

Success Story: We had a student join Lattice Climbers with an inappropriate email address. After completing Lattice Climbers, which includes a lesson on the need for an appropriate email address, the student completed an exit survey. The student used an email address that consisted of the student’s first name, last name, and a number.

Success Story: A student was about to embark on a first job interview. The student was nervous about what to wear, what questions would be asked, and how to respond. An LC Ambassador informed the student about Lattice Climbers, the student completed the curriculum, performed well at the job interview, and received the job.

Why did we create it?

We were formed with the purpose of helping young adults bridge the gap between formal education and the real world skills needed to succeed in every day life. Ours founders, Ali Kelly and Guang Ming Whitley, spent two years developing and creating a curriculum of two-minute videos. It provides young adults with bite-size bits of information that will help them with adulting, professionalism, financial literacy and more. We also offer age and stage based videos covering everything from post-high school paths to the college application process to college alternatives, and more.

This mission is personal to both Ali and Guang Ming. Ali has supervised dozens of entry-level employees and coached many young adults into successful adulthoods. Guang Ming is the daughter of an immigrant and a first generation college student. When she was applying to college, she did not have any trusted resources to help her. Guang Ming has also worked with young adults for decades through her volunteer work. She has seen firsthand the difficulties of students without the social and cultural capital necessary to maneuver in professional spaces. Our video series is all the golden nuggets of advice that Ali and Guang Ming believe every young adult should know.

Students EARN volunteer hours by training, recruiting others, and hosting LC Workshops using our materials. At the same time, they LEARN by watching our videos, by doing our worksheets, and by sharing what they have learned, ultimately teaching and leading other students.

GM&Ali7 1 — Ali (Vice Chair) and Guang Ming (Chair) are the co-founders of Lattice Climbers.

Guang Ming Whitley (Chair) and Alison Kelly (Vice Chair) have leveraged our lived experiences and decades of work with young adults to create a holistic curriculum that acknowledges the intersection of personal and professional lives. We believe that helping young adults build a strong foundation will give them the confidence they need to successfully navigate life.