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 on March 4, 2002.

Kid Power, Inc. is the only nonprofit in Washington, DC, offering an expanded learning program designed to address the opportunity gap for underserved youth. Using a three-pronged approach, Kid Power equips students to grow academically, emotionally, and socially, empowering them to become active, engaged leaders in their communities. Kid Power’s holistic, whole-child approach emphasizes academic progress and social-emotional development. This unique combination of support ensures that students advance in school and gain the personal skills needed to thrive and contribute positively to society.

Each year, Kid Power supports hundreds of young people in achieving academic success, inspiring them to become engaged leaders, responsible citizens, and advocates for healthy living. Guided by a commitment to youth voice, Kid Power emphasizes service-learning and student-led development opportunities resulting in academic proficiency, engagement in community action, and preparation for career and life.

A Timeline of Growth and Change

2002

• March 4: Max Skolnik and Caroline Sholl launch Kid Power, Inc. to support DC youth in academic success, leadership development, and healthy living.

2008 & 2011

• Kid Power acquires Linking Communities for Educational Success and Facilitating Leadership in Youth, extending our impact east of the Anacostia River.

2012

• Program Director Andria Tobin succeeds founder Max Skolnik as Executive Director, marking a new chapter in Kid Power’s growth.

2013

• Awarded its first multi-year 21st Century Learning Center grant from Office of State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), enabling Kid Power to reach an additional 150 youth.

2014

• Kid Power deepens its impact by increasing support by increasing the youth served at each site and moving more resources to areas of greatest need in Wards 7 and 8.
• Received its first AmeriCorps State grant to hire five full-time Service Members.  

2015-2016

• Opened a second office in SW DC, funded by E St. Development Group.
• Named a “Community Cornerstone” by Councilmember Anita Bonds (2015) and honored with the “Richard Greene Caring for Children Award” by Edgewood/Brookland Family Support Collaborative (2016).
• Construct a 400 sq. ft. state-of-the-art greenhouse at Barnard Elementary School, a 120 sq. ft. greenhouse and outdoor classroom space at Malcolm X Elementary School, and improved outdoor classroom space and free lending library at Stanton Elementary School to expand garden-learning opportunities and increase community engagement.

2017

• Celebrated 15 years of service with civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis.

2018-2019

• Awarded a three-year $408,000 21st Century Learning Center grant from OSSE.
• Named “One of the Best Small Charities in the Greater Washington Area” by the Catalogue for Philanthropy.
• Acquired Mentors, Inc., a 30-year-old nonprofit that supports mentoring for high school students in underserved communities to increase graduation rates.
• Washingtonian Magazine selected Kid Power for the 2019 Best of Washington Awards and named it one of “22 Washington-Area Charities Where a Donation of Any Size Has Impact.”

2020

• Kid Power’s Mentors, Inc. program was featured on NBC as part of Maryland Mentor’s 500 Campaign. 
• Executive Director Andria Tobin appeared on DCTV’s IMPACT Moments. 

2021

• Piloted an evidenced-based High Impact Tutoring program to address pandemic learning loss with funding from the Deputy Mayor of Education, expanding to serve 800 students with a $1.3 million grant from OSSE.
• Selected as the Washington Capitals “So Kids Can“ campaign beneficiary. 
• Selected by credit card company, Brex, for an advertising campaign featuring Executive Director Andria Tobin and Alumna Felicity Poussaint-Bekong with videos and billboards across DC, Miami, and Houston.

2022

• Celebrated 20th Anniversary with community events, including the Taste of the Garden fundraiser with Senator Chris Murphy.
• Mentor MD | DC identified Kid Power as one of nine DC-based mentoring programs to be part of a pilot season for the Washington Mystics Mentoring Initiative in 2022.

2023

• Accepted into Spur Local’s (formerly the Catalogue for Philanthropy) 2023 class of “highly trusted and critical nonprofits in the Greater Washington region.”