Horizons Welcomes New Director

3/1/2010

The Harley School announces Luis A. Perez as the new executive director of the Horizons Program. He begins March 1.

Perez comes to Harley from Roberts Wesleyan College, where he has been an assistant professor of social work and director of MSW field education in the Division of Social Work. Perez has spent the past 23 years as a community activist advocating and developing programs for the under represented groups. He earned his master’s degree in social work from Roberts Wesleyan College and a bachelor of science degree in social work from Nazareth College.

Currently he sits on the board of directors for Camp Good Days and Special Times, Saving Grace Ministries, and the New York State Social Work Education Association.

Horizons at Harley is a summer Student Enrichment Program that provides low-income Rochester children with a unique combination of academic, social, cultural, wellness, and recreational learning experiences that support their success in school and in life. One hundred twenty five children in grades K-8 attend Horizons each summer for six weeks at The Harley School. This summer marks the sixteenth year of operation in Rochester.

“This highly successful national program reconnects me with one of my passions of assisting urban students succeed academically,” says Perez.

Students gain an average of four months in reading skills over the six-week summer session, and 90 percent of Horizons program graduates go on to graduate from High School on time and enroll in higher education. Horizons graduates are leaders, athletes, and volunteers in high school. Nearly 80 percent of students return each year and attend for an average of five years.