Kid Power, Inc. inspires youth leadership by promoting academic advancement, physical and emotional wellness, and positive civic engagement in underserved communities throughout the District of Columbia.

Kid Power is the only nonprofit expanded learning program offering a three-pronged approach to helping underserved DC students grow and become engaged leaders in their communities. Each year, Kid Power helps hundreds of youth succeed academically, empowers them to become engaged leaders and responsible citizens, and fosters healthy living through community gardens. Kid Power students work every day to build a stronger, healthier, and more resilient District.

 

It was the vision of our Co-Founders Max Skolnik and Caroline Sholl that young people could become agents of positive change in their own communities that led to the launch of Kid Power in March 2002.

The Kid Power Timeline

• 2003: Initial programming begins in October with an inaugural class of 12 students at Miner Elementary School.
• 2008 and 2011: Kid Power acquires two nonprofits that work with youth East of the Anacostia River; Linking Communities for Educational Success and Facilitating Leadership in Youth, respectively.
• After seven years of bringing major program accomplishments and creating a strong foundation, Program Director Andria Tobin succeeds Founder Max Skolnik as Executive Director.
• 2013: The Office State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) awards Kid Power a multi-year 21st Century Learning Center grant to serve an additional 150 youth from Washington, DC.
• 2014: The organization makes a strategic decision to deepen its impact at schools by increasing youth served at each site and moves more resources to areas of greatest need, specifically in Wards 7 and 8. 
• 2015: Kid Powers opens a second office location at 400 E St SW inside the Hyatt Place Hotel. This space is offered to Kid Power rent-free through a partnership funded by the E St. Development Group.
• 2016: Kid Power launches its largest program site to date at J.O. Wilson Elementary School, serving 150 students daily.
• 2019: Kid Power enters into an agreement to formally acquire Mentors Inc., a 32 year-old nonprofit organization providing mentoring support to approximately 60 middle and high school students in grades 8-12 with the goal of increasing graduation rates for students in DC’s vulnerable communities.