Leandro flourished in the Culinary Arts program.

After arriving in the United States from Cuba in 2022, Leandro faced significant obstacles, including a brain tumor that affected his cognitive development and financial hardship within his family after his father's injury left him unable to work. Despite these challenges, Leandro remained determined to build a better future for himself and support those around him.

Shortly after arriving in South Florida, Leandro enrolled in Easterseals South Florida's Culinary Arts program. While his family faced uncertainty regarding educational funding, Leandro and his parents tirelessly advocated for scholarship support. Their perseverance paid off when he received two scholarships that allowed him to continue his education and workforce training.

Over the next three years, Leandro flourished in the Culinary Arts program. His passion for learning, positive attitude, and strong work ethic helped him develop valuable skills while building confidence in his abilities. At just 17 years old, he participated in a 12-week entrepreneurship program through Miami Dade College and The Idea Center, where aspiring entrepreneurs received coaching and developed business concepts for potential startup funding.

Leandro's hard work and determination earned him a $7,000 award to launch "Leo's Coffee Cart," a mobile coffee business that he designed and built from the ground up. Through this experience, he gained firsthand knowledge of entrepreneurship, customer service, business operations, and financial responsibility while taking an important step toward financial independence. 

In 2025, Leandro enrolled in Easterseals South Florida's Workforce Development Program, supported by Coca-Cola funding. Through individualized job coaching, career exploration counseling, workplace readiness training, resume development, interview preparation, and ongoing career development support, he continued building the skills and confidence needed to pursue a variety of career opportunities.

As part of the program, Leandro earned his Food Handler Certificate and strengthened key workplace competencies, including communication, teamwork, professionalism, digital literacy, and financial literacy. These experiences helped him build the confidence and practical skills needed to navigate both employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Through career exploration activities, Leandro discovered that his interests extended beyond the culinary industry. On weekends, he operates his own car wash business, further developing his entrepreneurial mindset and customer service skills. He has also developed a growing interest in automotive mechanics and is actively learning about vehicle maintenance and repair while exploring future career opportunities in the field.

Additionally, he is considering pursuing part-time employment in food service to continue expanding his professional experience.

As Leandro's interests evolved, he recognized that success could take many different forms. Demonstrating remarkable maturity and business acumen, he made the decision to rent Leo's Coffee Cart to a fellow classmate, creating an opportunity for another aspiring entrepreneur while continuing to explore his own career goals.

Today, Leandro's story is a powerful example of resilience, determination, and the impact of workforce development opportunities. Through the support of Easterseals South Florida and Coca-Cola, he has developed valuable credentials, strengthened critical workforce skills, explored multiple career pathways, and built the confidence to pursue his ambitions. As he continues building his future, Leandro remains committed to learning, growing, and pursuing opportunities in entrepreneurship, food service, and automotive mechanics while