Who We Are
“Superheroes exist within all of us! Knowledge is the ultimate form of power and our skill-sets are our superpowers. We are all born with the capacity to take the path toward greatness and become a superhero or veer off track towards villainy.” ~Nalisa Saati, Executive Director of SLA
Superhero Leadership Academy (SLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whose mission is to teach low-income youth professional leadership skills.
Our vision is to empower at-risk youth to become real-life "SUPERHEROES."
OUR HOW…
SLA’s focus is three-fold: (1) College Readiness, (2) Career Readiness, and (3) Crime Prevention, as we empower students to become active “Superhero Leaders” in their own communities.
By creating access to positive social emotional learning opportunities, which improve personal confidence in collaboration, communication, critical-thinking, and creativity among at-risk youth, we spearhead and leverage strategic partnerships with Superhero Community Partners (SCP), across Miami-Dade County. Our model unites education and economic interests among the Government, NPOs, For Profit Companies, and Educational Institutions sectors, via field trips, guest speakers, and participation in the Careers of Technical Education (CTE) Summer Youth Internship Program. Our Superhero Movement (i.e.Extracurricular Leadership Club) is being led by a county-wide assortment of principals, teachers, education support employees, students, parents, and other business and community citizens who are representative of the ethnic, racial, linguistic, disabled, and economic community served by the participating schools.
OUR WHY…
We do this to reduce the risk of youth involvement in crime or violence by providing them the support and opportunities needed to redirect and prepare them to succeed in academics, careers, and life. Uniting our students with Superhero Community Partners (SCP), academic, athletic, and activist Superheroes who then, inspire them to become leaders.
Leadership
Board of Directors
Leading our mission to empower our children, they set an example each day for our youth heroes to believe in themselves and change our world for the better!
Glen Benjamin
Community Accounts | LAN Infotech, LLC
Dr. Natalia Echeverri
OB-GYN Specialists of South Miami | OBGYN, M.D. FACOG
Julius Jackson
Social Investment Holdings & People Helping Each Other, (PHEO) | President/CEO
Jonathan Karlin
Neo Insurance Solutions | President/CEO
Cindy Lerner
Mayor | City of Pinecrest
Kionne L. McGhee
Florida House of Representatives | Representative 117th District
Jean Tong-Noon
Thread of Life Int'l, Inc. & Community Relations Board | President/CEO & Director
Katherine Fernandez Rundle
Miami-Dade County | State Attorney
Nalisa Saati
Superhero Leadership Academy (SLA) | Executive Director
Meet The Team
Nalisa S. Saati
Founder & Executive Director, SLA
Nalisa is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan and vision of the organization. Under her leadership, SLA team members work to meet set goals and objectives. She ensures that SLA's corporate culture revolves around community service, accountability and results. She invests heavily in the training, mentoring and capacity building at SLA.
Michael Morejon
Chief Financial Officer, SLA
Michael is responsible for aligning financial reserves in line with the mission and vision of the organization and for identifying concrete ways to engage in increasing financial reserves and cost-savings, such that SLA develops into a stable, sustainable organization with longevity. Under his leadership, SLA sets it financial strategy and vision. He oversees all financial matters relating to SLA's operations.
Andrea K. Andzenge PhD.
Director of Programs, Research, & Evaluation, SLA
Dr. Andrea is responsible for the operational success of SLA. She manages new and existing programs, oversees the team of research and evaluation specialists, the growing staff. Under her leadership, SLA team conducts cutting edge research, capacity building initiatives and data analysis to ensure SLA stays up to date on the most important ways to deliver the right service and needs to our communities of service.
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