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The Innovative Academy of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Our story

The Innovative Academy of Liberal Arts & Sciences (IALAS) is a non-profit organization that opens the doors of opportunity for students and families that have been historically neglected. IALAS provides 2-generation STEAM (science, technology, entrepreneurship, arts, and mental health) and economic empowerment education initiative to address the ongoing disparity between Ward 7 and its surrounding wards.

2Generation Model

Two-generation (2Gen) approaches build family well-being by intentionally and simultaneously working with children and the adults in their lives together. The approach recognizes that families come in all different shapes and sizes and that families define themselves.


Whole-family approaches focus equally and  intentionally on services and opportunities for the child and the adults  in their lives. They articulate and track outcomes for both children  and adults simultaneously.

  • Child-parent approaches focus first or primarily on  the child but are moving toward a two-generation approach and include  services and opportunities for the parent.
  • Parent-child approaches focus first or primarily on  the parent but are moving toward a two-generation approach and include  services and opportunities for children.

Additionally, there are 5 Key Components of the Two-Generation Approach: 1) Postsecondary Education and  Employment Pathways; 2) Childhood Education and Development; 3)  Economic Assets; 4) Health and Well-Being; and 5) Social Capital.


IALAS utilizing the expertise of the Ascend Institutes expertise on utilizing a 2Generation approach while making it applicable to middle school aged children and their parents.

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Meet the IALAS Team

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ASHLEY MCMICHAEL (CEO, FOUNDER)

ASHLEY MCMICHAEL (CEO, FOUNDER)

ASHLEY MCMICHAEL (CEO, FOUNDER)

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Khadijah Williams

ASHLEY MCMICHAEL (CEO, FOUNDER)

ASHLEY MCMICHAEL (CEO, FOUNDER)


The Innovative Academy of Liberal Arts & Sciences

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