LUMIN Schools’ Opportunity Academy By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist ![]() In the face of adversity, it is important to find ways to persevere. Or as the saying goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Middle school students at Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative (LUMIN) Schools are following this proverbial phrase literally and figuratively as they participate in a recently launched career exploration program called the Opportunity Academy. Founded in 2002 as a nonprofit organization, LUMIN Schools serve 1,400 students across seven K4-eighth grade campuses in southeastern Wisconsin. The organization is committed to its mission of empowering and equipping children for brilliant futures through a Lutheran-centered education. LUMIN launched Opportunity Academy in 2020. Run by Director La’Ketta Caldwell, a champion of youth development and community connection, this program teaches middle school students valuable leadership skills that help set them up for success in high school and beyond.
“At its core, Opportunity Academy provides diverse learning opportunities tailored to various learning styles. Looking back, I realize my own learning style wasn’t always met in school, and that experience fuels my passion to ensure all students have the chance to thrive,” said Caldwell. Amid the pandemic, Caldwell began a virtual mentorship series called Lemons 2 Leadership. In this series, local leaders shared their unique career paths and highlighted the numerous opportunities and challenges that they encountered along the way. During this time students were also encouraged to write down the ways in which they’ve turned their own “lemons into lemonade.” These student experiences were published in a book called “Lemons 2 Lemonade for the Soul.” Presently, one project lies at the heart of Opportunity Academy’s framework: LUMIN’s weeklong lemonade fundraiser. Combining service and competition, middle school students at each of the seven campuses run a lemonade stand to raise funds for a nonprofit organization. The goal is to be the school that raises the most money. Last year, LUMIN schools raised a remarkable $15,000 for Children’s Hospital. To better understand the complexities of running a lemonade stand, LUMIN partners with local businesses to educate students on important topics like product development, marketing and sales. This year LUMIN is excited to collaborate with CG Schmidt, True Visions Design, Sims Strong Studios, Safe & Sound, CompassMKE, LPW Studios and Ellastic Designs. Following the fundraiser, LUMIN plans to host an Opportunity Day. This event celebrates the success of the fundraiser and displays the creativity, talent and generosity of the students through performances and speeches. In the years since the program’s launch, Caldwell has continually discovered innovative ways to engage students in career-related programing and leadership development. Seventh and eighth grade students can apply to be LUMIN Ambassadors. As ambassadors, students pledge to serve as a positive influence on those around them, participate in service projects and gain valuable leadership skills. Through partnerships with programs like Junior Achievement BizTown and Finance Park, LUMIN students are exposed to career pathways and financial literacy. Additionally, eighth-grade students can attend an Opportunity Expo where they speed network with local professionals from diverse industries. “It’s a privilege to take what our scholars are learning in the classroom and connect the dots to careers and their purpose,” said Caldwell. Comments are closed.
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