Empowering Prince George’s Youth: The Impact of VineCorps

In Prince George’s County, Maryland—a suburban region just outside of Washington, D.C.—young people face challenges that rarely make headlines. Many teens and young adults are growing up in under-resourced neighborhoods, where opportunity gaps shape not only their day-to-day experiences, but their entire futures. Barriers like low household income, immigration hurdles, unstable housing, and lack of access to enriching activities and supportive adults mean that for too many, the notion of possibility feels like a privilege, not a right.

But behind every statistic is a real story—a young person who wants what all of us do: to be known, to belong, to have purpose, to thrive. For some, the challenge is keeping up with coursework without the support or quiet space to study. For others, it’s finding a safe place after school, somewhere away from temptations and risk. There are youth who have dreams of college or jobs that will support their families, but little guidance on how to get there. And then there are those who simply want a space to be themselves, breathe, and build relationships that last beyond a school year.

In this landscape, the barriers aren’t just about academics or employment—they’re about survival, well-being, and the audacious dream of a sustainable, supported path to adulthood.

The Solution: VineCorps

VineCorps exists to turn those dreams into reality, meeting youth where they are—and walking with them every brave, bold step of the way. Founded on the principles of connection, action, and relentless encouragement, VineCorps is a comprehensive youth development organization, building neighborhood “hubs” that function as lifelines across Prince George’s County.

What sets VineCorps apart isn’t just what they do, but how they do it. The approach is personal, adaptive, and deeply relational. Youth and their families aren’t “served” from a distance—they’re welcomed into authentic community, where respect, mutual commitment, and joy are prerequisites. For teens who have weathered disappointment and instability, VineCorps isn’t just another program. It’s a second home, a trusted team, and a launching pad.

Authentic, Intentional Community

VineCorps recognizes that every young person needs more than school or a safe place at home—they need what sociologists call a “third place,” where they can be wholly themselves, known, loved, and part of something larger. In these third spaces, teens and young adults find belonging and acceptance, yes—but they’re also challenged to grow, step out of comfort zones, and earn the trust their community extends.

These real-life hubs are not transactional: staff and volunteers get to know youth’s families, struggles, and aspirations. They celebrate small wins. They help youth navigate setbacks and discord, without shying away from tough conversations. Whether it’s a weeknight homework session, a Saturday service project, or a call late at night when a tough day has spiraled, the VineCorps team is there.

Comprehensive Educational Support

“Comprehensive” isn’t an exaggeration. On any given day, needs range from the immediate (finishing homework, finding a ride, a shoulder to lean on) to the complex (navigating immigration status, advocating for special education supports, charting a path to college or careers). VineCorps rises to meet them all—not by formula, but through creatively tailored solutions:

• Academic tutoring and mentoring.

• Skill-building workshops: from study habits to career exploration.

• Holistic well-being: accessible mental health care, guidance on health and life skills.

• Family support: connecting parents and guardians with resources they need.

• Intensive, individualized coaching: helping with everything from transportation to tuition.

The ultimate aim is not just “better grades”—it’s equipping youth to take ownership of their stories, to build resilience, and to know they can count on support every step of the way.

Tangible Leadership and Life Experiences

At VineCorps, young people don’t just receive—they lead. The organization creates opportunities for youth to design and run programs, plan and participate in service initiatives, and even mentor their younger peers. These are not “token” leadership roles: real responsibility is given, and with guidance, youth build skills and confidence.

Participation isn’t limited to the classroom. Through programs like the Summer Youth Enrichment Program (SYEP) and Summer Leadership Adventures (SLA), teens are placed in full-time summer jobs with local nonprofits, participate in real-world service projects (such as river cleanup and food pantry organization), and acquire critical 21st-century skills:

• Initiative and leadership

• Collaboration

• Creative problem-solving

• Critical thinking

• Intercultural fluency

• Empathy

• Communication

• Resilience

Each experience is designed to help youth see tangible proof of their own capabilities, and the value they bring to their community.

From the Classroom to College—and Beyond

For youth who dream of college, VineCorps is a steady resource from application to acceptance to graduation. For many, these efforts culminate in first-generation college attendance, proof that hard work, commitment, and the right support can open doors.

VineCorps stays connected with students as they move into higher education, providing ongoing coaching—academic, personal, and even financial. Once you’re a part of the VineCorps family, you’re always family.

But the organization knows not every future is academic. Equally supported are those moving into the world of work, preparing for careers, and seeking stability and advancement.

Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Overlooked Pain Points

For too long, programs serving under-resourced youth have been stymied by temporary solutions—grant money for a season, short-lived enrichment, and the relentless churn of staff and partners. Sustainability, not just service delivery, is the real battlefield.

VineCorps faces the pain points head-on:

• Sustainability: By actively engaging volunteers, families, local organizations, and civic partners, VineCorps builds an ecosystem of support—not a one-off intervention. The model is designed to be community-owned and community-sustained.

• Systemic barriers: Many youth contend with restrictive immigration status, histories of instability, or contact with the justice system. Programs are built to adapt, persist, and advocate for each young person—regardless of circumstance.

• Gaps in support: When schools or traditional services leave kids behind, VineCorps steps in. For youth who “fall through the cracks,” finding a path to healing, achievement, and hope is not just possible, it’s expected.

• Survival and well-being: Food insecurity, unsafe neighborhoods, emotional distress—these are addressed not as “extras,” but as core challenges to be solved as a team.

The results are tangible: teens who once doubted themselves become leaders, first-generation college students, employees, and mentors for the next cohort. When barriers arise, the community surrounds them—because sustainability isn’t just about funding, but about shared commitment and resilience.

Stories of Triumph and Transformation

It’s easy to be moved by statistics, but the impact of VineCorps is best told through the journeys of its youth and families.

• A River Clean-Up Becomes a Lesson in Leadership: Teens taking part in VineCorps’ summer jobs didn’t just “work”—they planned and led projects, coordinated with local groups, and learned that giving back is both privilege and responsibility. The result? Newfound confidence, real-world skills, and a lasting sense of investment in the places they call home.

• First-Generation College Bound: Each year, VineCorps staff and volunteers walk with graduating seniors as they apply to college—helping with essays, interviews, deadlines, and financial aid. Their celebrations at acceptance letters aren’t just for the students, but for entire families, many becoming the first to attend college in generations. VineCorps continues to support them far beyond acceptance, helping to ensure their success through graduation and beyond.

• Building Resilience After Setbacks: Time after time, youth who have faced displacement, family separation, or trauma find in VineCorps a team that won’t give up on them. Whether through mentoring, counseling referrals, or simply the gift of time and listening, youth learn that failure isn’t final—and that community catches them when life gets hard.

• Relentless Encouragement: For teens who struggled with confidence, grades, or relationships, the difference has often been the unwavering support of a VineCorps volunteer or staff member—a learning coach who checks in every week, a driver who always shows up, or a group of peers who celebrate every milestone. This relentless encouragement isn’t abstract—it’s built into every interaction, large and small.

Purpose-Built Tools for Real Needs

VineCorps’s secret is not some off-the-shelf curriculum, but the conscious design of programs and tools that work with, not against, the realities of mission-driven work and community need. Every solution is purpose-built:

• Tailored Support Plans: There’s no one-size-fits-all. Each youth receives a unique plan, whether it’s homework help or intensive mentoring.

• Volunteer Infrastructure: From learning coaches to drivers to event planners, VineCorps depends on community volunteers for both day-to-day operations and expansion into new initiatives.

• Leadership Pipelines: Youth transition from participants to leaders, mentors, and even future staff—ensuring programs stay grounded in real-life experience.

• Partnerships that Last: By working with schools, local government, and dozens of nonprofit partners, VineCorps braids together resources—including summer employment, scholarships, and leadership training—for maximum impact.

Transparent About the Stakes

Nothing about this work is hypothetical. The stakes are immediate and generational.

• Education: In Prince George’s County, 41% of youth facing homelessness had less than a high school education—a crucial predictor of lifelong hardship.

• Employment & Economic Mobility: Too many youth age out of support systems into precarious employment or none at all. The difference between a summer job with VineCorps and an idle summer can be the difference between building a career path or falling behind.

• Belonging: In communities where isolation and instability are common, the chance to belong—to know you matter—is the glue that holds progress together.

And yet, the work is always unfinished. Funding is never certain. Needs grow and change with the times, from the COVID-19 pandemic to evolving neighborhood dynamics. But by staying adaptable and transparent, VineCorps invites its community to share both the burdens and the hope.

The Power of the Movement

VineCorps doesn’t just ask youth to “overcome adversity”—it changes the equation entirely. By building a coalition of youth, families, volunteers, donors, and partners, it’s architecting a model for progress that can be replicated wherever young people need a hand up.

If you believe every young person deserves a champion, if you’re tired of temporary fixes and want to invest in something lasting, VineCorps is your movement.

Volunteer and Make a Difference

The truth is, none of this is possible without people willing to show up, give of themselves, and believe in the promise of youth. VineCorps depends on volunteers for everything they do—and the needs are both rewarding and vital:

Most needed are volunteers who can make a two-hour, once-a-week commitment:

• Learning Coach (weekday p.m./evenings)

• Academic Tutor (weekday p.m./evenings)

• Driver to/from programs (weekday evenings)

• Open Gym Supervisor (weekend p.m./evenings)

• Communications/Admin. Support (anytime)

• Help at special events

Every volunteer receives thorough training, ongoing support, and the gratitude of a community reshaped by your commitment. As one mentor recalled, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Nowhere is that truth clearer than among VineCorps youth, who notice and cherish every investment in them.

To learn more or sign up, email: volunteer@vinecorps.org.

Donate and Fuel the Vision

If time is scarce, your donation keeps the movement growing. Gifts aren’t just investments in a program—they’re investments in hundreds of young people, opening doors to college, jobs, adventure, and healing. No amount is too small, and every dollar goes to the frontlines where it matters most.

To donate, visit VineCorps’ donation page.

Join a Bigger Movement

Holdings is proud to stand alongside VineCorps—not just as a service provider, but as champions of their mission. We see our work as a humble way to contribute to as many causes as we can, leveraging purpose-built tools to help organizations like VineCorps grow and thrive. But the real credit belongs to the youth who show up every day, determined to turn challenge into opportunity and hope into action.

Change in Prince George’s County—and everywhere like it—depends on all of us, together. Whether you volunteer, donate, or simply share the story, you’re part of a movement to unlock potential, bridge divides, and write new futures for the young people who will shape tomorrow.