REACHING FOR GREATNESS

foundational leadership & identity

Reaching for greatness is a foundational program that teaches social-emotional learning (SEL), confidence & self-awareness, financial literacy foundations (assets vs. liabilities), leadership & communication, and career exploration.

OUR PROGRAMS

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PRIMARY FOCUS

entrepreneurship &
economic agency

who it serves

Grades 4-8

Elementary and middle school students, primarily Black, Brown, and multi-racial youth across partner schools in South King County.

Participants are largely academically stable but system-impacted, with many reporting peers affected by trauma, school disengagement, or community violence—making early leadership and identity development critical.

MTSS Tier 1, SEL Core Instruction, Whole Child Framework

NEXT PIPELINE PROGRAM

key outcomes

Post-program surveys and facilitator assessments show strong early-stage impact:

70–82% of students reported learning skills helpful for any career
60–67% of students indicated they learned valuable life and leadership lessons
48–50% of students demonstrated the ability to explain the difference between an asset and a liability
Majority of participants reported gaining new ideas about possible careers and future goals

These outcomes demonstrate meaningful progress in career awareness, economic literacy, and self-efficacy at a critical developmental stage.

skills built

Reaching for Greatness is a foundational pipeline program that prepares younger youth for future civic, workforce, and leadership pathways

Key skill areas include:
Social-emotional learning (SEL) and self-awareness
Identity development and confidence building
Leadership and communication skills
Financial literacy (assets vs. liabilities)
Entrepreneurship and problem-solving
Career exploration and future planning

qualitative outcomes

Youth reflections and facilitator observations revealed:

Increased confidence speaking about future goals
Stronger peer relationships and trust with facilitators
Deeper engagement when lessons were relationship-based and culturally responsive
Students requesting more involvement in field trips, events, and leadership opportunities

Despite challenges such as inconsistent attendance due to discipline or school schedules, youth consistently demonstrated connection to content and staff, a key indicator of belonging and program effectiveness

wellness

Although most RFG students reported not being in immediate crisis, B2L Wellness plays a preventative and stabilizing role by:

Monitoring early warning indicators (attendance, behavior, disengagement)
Supporting youth navigating peer-related trauma or school stress
Providing social-emotional check-ins and family communication when needed
Creating safe, affirming spaces that reinforce trust and consistency

This preventative wellness integration reduces future escalation and prepares youth for deeper engagement in later B2L pathways.

connections to systems change

Reaching for Greatness intervenes before traditional systems label or exclude youth.
By embedding leadership, economic literacy, and wellness supports in elementary and middle school:

Youth enter high school with stronger identity, confidence, and self-advocacy skills
Schools gain a community-based partner aligned with MTSS and restorative frameworks
Systems benefit from reduced disengagement and stronger long-term pipeline outcomes

RFG is the front door to Build 2 Lead’s broader leadership and workforce ecosystem—ensuring youth are not playing catch-up later in life.

how our programs work together

This is not a set of programs—it is a pipeline for leadership, healing, and generational transformation.

All programs are supported by B2L Wellness, ensuring prevention, intervention, and stabilization across the full pipeline.

OUR PROGRAMS

step 1

UNIVERSAL IDENTIFICATION

Intake, screening, early warning indicators

UNIVERSAL IDENTIFICATION

step 2

TARGETED INTERVENTION

Check-ins, referrals, case management

TARGETED INTERVENTION

step 3

ONGOING MONITORING &

STABILIZATION

45-day cycles, progress tracking, tier movement

ONGOING MONITORING &

STABILIZATION

how all programs work together

This is not a menu of services—it is a coordinated system for leadership, healing, and generational change.

All programs are supported by B2L Wellness, ensuring prevention, intervention, and stabilization across the full pipeline.

join the village

SIGN UP FOR OPPORTUNITIES

We are looking for engaged community members to join our open opportunities to help create positive change! Join a committee, serve on the board, volunteer, attend an event, or donate to Build 2 Lead.

OPPORTUNITIES

get involved.

Participate. Donate. Volunteer.