Our Mission
To provide diverse growth experiences and challenging learning opportunities to inspire and assist youth in making good decisions, becoming effective leaders, and achieving their goals.
WILL encourages and provides the platform for individual leadership, self-esteem, and confidence growth to help WILL youth push beyond perceived limitations to increase their understanding and appreciation that each has the power and the ability to determine his/her life trajectory, to self-advocate, and to make decisions that lead to self-determination and self-sufficiency.
WILL develops critical life skills, which are under-emphasized or not taught in school, such as financial literacy; accountability for behavior; communication skills; the importance of saying “please” and “thank you;” and how to make healthy nutrition decisions, setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals, and create action plans to achieve them.
WILL helps youth become aware of the world around them and to be better stewards of the environment.
WILL youth learn to be receptive to, appreciate, and respect diversity and differences in others (e.g., race, gender, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation, and beliefs).
The following values influence the culture and public image of WILL as an effective holistic, positive youth development community-based organization serving DC youth and their families.
WILL is grounded in the concept of responsibility – that we are responsible for the natural consequences of our decisions and actions. We are transparent in our objectives and passionate about our mission.
WILL encourages good decision-making. We support the power and ability that each individual has to decide his/her life trajectory and to self-advocate, and we provide tools and skills to enable individuals to make decisions that lead to self-determination and self-sufficiency.
WILL believes and teaches the importance of taking care of ourselves, our community, and our natural world.
WILL fosters compassion. We are open, accept and respect differences in others, and encourage the ability and willingness to walk in someone else’s shoes.
WILL is an action-based organization. We learn by doing.
I have grown in every way possible by being a part of WILL; I would do it again 1,000 times. Every WILL program I learned something new. I will never get a chance to do something like WILL again. I think that everyone should do the WILL Program.
Curtis
WILL Graduate
Through WILL I learned that there is greatness in me, that I have a bright future, and that I can do anything I choose to do by working hard to achieve it.
Keyri
WILL Graduate
WILL greatly increased my level of self-confidence. Steve says that we all have greatness in us and because of my WILL experience I believe him.
Clinard
WILL Graduate
WILL is a once in a lifetime experience and is a life changing experience that gives you more than you could ever imagine.
Karen
WILL Graduate
If I were you, I would join the WILL Program. It is really a great experience; you learn about yourself and get to do things you never thought you would or could do. WILL should be required for all high school students.
Royerick
WILL Graduate
My WILL experience was inspirational. I participated in life changing activities that I would not have experienced without being in WILL. I gained a new appreciation for nature and the importance of taking care of the environment, and I learned that I am a compassionate person and a good leader.
Ivania
WILL Graduate
WILL is the best program; it expanded who I am and made me a stronger person. Every WILL activity was my favorite because each one gave me knowledge.
Adam
WILL Graduate
Of the many things I learned in WILL, a few that standout are: I can do anything if I put the time and effort in it, how to make SMART goals and action plans to achieve my goals, to take care of the environment by not wasting food and conserving water, and the importance of money management and credit, how to implement a budget, and to live with financial dignity.
Tyreek
WILL Graduate
WILL teaches us SMART Goals so we know how to set clear goals and to use action plans to achieve our goals. This is inspirational to me because learning SMART Goals has me excited about what I can and will do in the future.
Daymon
WILL Graduate