Lela Scott is a passionate youth development leader who currently serves as Board President of Forest Avenue Outreach. Professionally, she is the Program Director at iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates), a statewide program focused on preparing underserved students for successful careers. In this role, Lela leads strategic planning, program implementation, and team coaching across Iowa, ensuring that thousands of students receive the academic, career, and emotional support they need to thrive.

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With over a decade of experience in education, nonprofit leadership, and program operations, Lela has become a respected voice in youth workforce development. She brings deep knowledge of trauma-informed education, mentoring models, and multi-sector partnership building.

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Lela holds a B.A. in Psychology from Creighton University and combines her academic background with hands-on leadership to improve student outcomes. Her work has helped scale iJAG’s impact across urban and rural school districts and has been recognized for aligning young people with real-world skills, job opportunities, and mentorship.

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At Forest Avenue Outreach, Lela guides the board with insight, heart, and vision, ensuring the organization continues to uplift and empower the next generation of skilled workers and community leaders.

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