Youth Success Stories

Emotional intelligence shapes how children see themselves, connect with others, and respond to challenges both in and beyond the classroom. At its core, emotional intelligence relies on five key components. Self-awareness allows a child to pause and notice their feelings - like a third grader understanding that nerves before a spelling bee can actually sharpen their focus. Self-regulation follows: a teen chooses to take several slow breaths before speaking up during a heated

Families across Virginia and the DMV face an ongoing reality: finding safe, enriching places for children once the school day ends. Between busy work schedules, complex neighborhood dynamics, or lingering effects of community stressors, caregivers want more than passive supervision - they seek environments that nurture security, connection, and growth. Too often, youth without such support weather days feeling isolated or distracted, their potential shaped as much by the abse