The Impact: When the Village Shows Up

True impact is more than numbers, but at Leader Breeders, the numbers tell a powerful story. Around 30 students are currently engaged in one-on-one mentorship, meeting weekly with college mentors who help guide their academic, personal, and emotional growth. Those same college mentors also have mentors of their own, creating a multi-layered system of accountability and care that stretches from middle schoolers to organizational leaders.

For Makya Vaughn, that structure changed everything. He joined Leader Breeders in eighth grade and found not just a mentor, but a brother figure. “Coach Tiny assigned me a mentor, and that’s my brodie,” he said. “He taught me how to be myself and to take school seriously. Student comes first, athlete after".

Now a 10th grader, Makya reflects on how mentorship helped him find focus. “I’ve learned how to balance everything — school, life, goals,” he said. “It’s helped me grow as a person.”

Coach Laura, who oversees the mentorship program, explains that this cycle of guidance is intentional. “It’s about reliability and consistency,” she said. “We want kids to see that support doesn’t end after one season or one grade level. It continues through every stage — because even mentors need mentors.”

Through this structure, Leader Breeders has built more than a program — it has built a pipeline of leadership. College mentors gain experience guiding others while receiving their own professional and emotional support from program leaders. Younger students grow into leaders themselves, becoming role models for the next generation.

In Baltimore, where so many young people face instability and isolation, this kind of continuity matters. It helps them envision a future that feels possible — one built on trust, commitment, and care.

When you give to Leader Breeders, you’re not just donating to a youth program. You’re investing in a mentorship model that multiplies its impact at every level. One mentor. One student. One relationship at a time — that’s how the village grows stronger.

Join the Power. Fuel the Next 5.