1995 – Angel Light Academy was founded to serve those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. After serving over 600,000 children through Project Prevention, an abuse prevention program, founder Julia Wilmot want to give hope to those who had experienced some form of trauma.

ALA began serving those with PTSD by teaching them to use their innate leadership traits and to use a simple, effective problem-solving model. Creating simple, doable action plans helped those with PTSD take control of their lives, make positive change, and build hope for the future.

1998 & 1999 – The first Youth Leadership Conference was held in 1998 in Arizona. Due to demand from volunteers and parents, the conference was moved to the Coachella Valley in 1999. The first conference, held in Indio, California served 30 children.

Today – Each year ALA’s conference serves more than 200 children. Demand for this high-quality program grows each year as schools and districts request programming and training.

Ongoing– Many children from the conference join the year-round Junior Leadership program. Junior Leaders meet every six weeks with well-trained volunteer facilitators for in-depth training in leadership skills including character traits, problem solving, communication, teambuilding, and service. They also conduct a Music and Memory program to assist those with Alzheimer’s and other memory diseases.