Mission

PLAN4SUCCESS builds pathways that prepare youth for college, careers, entrepreneurship, and community leadership by connecting them to opportunities at the intersection of leadership development, mental wellness, resource sharing, and civic engagement.

We don’t reinvent the wheel—we connect youth to the road that leads to opportunity, equipping young people with the confidence, relationships, and skills needed to thrive academically, emotionally, and professionally.

Vision

A future where every young person—regardless of zip code or circumstance—has access to the leadership experiences, networks, and opportunities needed to thrive.

We envision a self-sustaining ecosystem of students, families, mentors, and alumni who use education, wellness, and leadership to strengthen communities and create pathways for the next generation.

Full list of Core Values

Core Values for Civic Trust

Access – Open Doors
We remove barriers to education, wellness, and opportunity so every young person can participate fully and confidently.
Belonging – Make People Feel Seen
We create spaces where everyone is respected, valued, and included—so students and families know they matter.
Integrity – Do What We Say
We earn trust through transparency, honesty, and consistent follow-through in all relationships and decisions.
Kind Communication – Lead with Empathy
We listen first, speak with compassion, and choose words that heal, uplift, and unite.
Respect – Honor Every Story
We acknowledge the lived experiences of others and treat each person’s perspective as essential to collective success.
Growth – Evolve Together
We embrace curiosity, reflection, and feedback as tools for continuous learning and improvement.
Leadership – Model the Change
We empower youth to lead with courage, humility, and accountability—building credibility through service and example.
Wellness – Care for Self and Community
We prioritize mental and emotional health, knowing balance and healing strengthen civic trust and long-term impact.
Community – Rise Together
We strengthen partnerships across schools, families, and neighborhoods to build shared responsibility and connection.
Purpose – Stay Mission-Aligned
We ground every action in our commitment to help youth graduate, lead, and give back—building trust through purpose-driven work.

Who We Serve:

We serve youth ages 14–24 and their families living in under-resourced communities across Chicago’s South and West Sides. This includes high school students preparing for college, college students navigating academic and emotional challenges, and parents seeking to better support their children’s growth. The majority of participants identify as Black or Brown, often first-generation college students facing systemic barriers to opportunity. Our programs create an intergenerational ecosystem where youth, parents, and mentors work together to achieve academic, emotional, and professional success.

What Need Are We Addressing?

We are addressing the systemic inequities that limit access to quality education, mental wellness resources, and career pathways for young people of color in Chicago. Decades of underinvestment in South and West Side neighborhoods have resulted in low academic proficiency, high youth disconnection, and persistent poverty. Many students struggle to transition from high school to college and from college to career due to a lack of mentorship, trauma-informed support, and exposure to viable professions. Families also need structured guidance to help their children thrive. Our focus is on closing these gaps through mentorship, leadership training, academic navigation, and career readiness that empower youth and stabilize families.

Why I’m Doing This:

I am doing this because I have seen firsthand how access, mentorship, and belief can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. Too many students with talent and ambition lose confidence or direction because systems weren’t built to support their full humanity—especially students of color. I believe in building a pipeline to purpose that gives every student the skills, network, and resilience to rise above barriers. This work is personal and necessary. It is about rewriting the narrative for youth and families who have been historically excluded and ensuring that opportunity is not a privilege but a pathway open to all.

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Basic needs

Health

Guides We Love

Find Nearby

Basic needs

Health

Guides We Love