In July 2014 LEAP for Education, Inc. incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and changed the name from Salem CyberSpace to LEAP for Education. On May 31, 2015 separated from NSCAP.

On the heels of the positive outcomes from our Salem College Success Program, the Department of Higher Education provided funding to expand the program to Peabody and Gloucester. The program in Gloucester was closed in 2016.

LEAP partnered with the Salem Public School district to provide after-school and summer programming, called Expanding Horizons, to middle school youth with a federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grant.

With a growing number of high school students approaching college age, LEAP responded to the need for college access services for first-generation-to-college students by starting the College Success Program.

Responding to the growing numbers of immigrant youth in Salem, EL Street was conceived as an immersive way to improve student’s oral skills and to expand vocabulary through service learning.

Responding to the demand of the community and a meteoric rise in youth participation, Salem CyberSpace became a community academic learning center dedicated to expanding academic and career opportunities for low-income, youth ages 11 – 18. STEM was (and continues to be) an important component of LEAP’s academic enrichment programs.

As an adult education center, Salem CyberSpace created innovative curricula to help its students bridge the “Digital Divide” and taught Microsoft Office, Quickbooks, and Adobe Creative Suite. Morning computer training programs provided needed office skills for many low-income and unemployed adults. During the recession years of 2008 -2012, Salem CyberSpace trained over 500 adults. In order to focus on youth, it discontinued the adult literacy program in 2013.

LEAP for Education opened up in 2002 under the name Salem CyberSpace as part of NSCAP (North Shore Community Actions Program). NSCAP “hired” Linda Saris (as a volunteer) to set up a drop-in, free, Internet cafe in a low-income neighborhood. It soon became clear that the community needed more than just computers and Internet to make a difference in closing the “Digital Divide.”