Youth Empowerment Partner Profile: How Wings for Kids Is Helping Kids Soar
Contributed photo.
At Wings for Kids, the mission is as simple as it is powerful: to equip kids with the skills they need to succeed in school, stay in school, and thrive in life. But behind that mission is a decades-long journey of inspiration, grit, and a firm belief in the power of emotional intelligence.
Founded in 1996 — before the term “social emotional learning” (SEL) was widely understood — WINGS began as a bold experiment in putting kids’ emotional and social development at the heart of their education.
A foundation once returned a proposal to WINGS with a note that read, ‘Who cares how children feel if they can’t read or write?’” This response reinforced a foundational truth at the core of WINGS’ mission: Kids can’t learn unless they feel safe, supported, and emotionally engaged.
That truth resonates deeply with CEO Julia Rugg, whose own life journey mirrors many of the lessons WINGS aims to teach.
“When I read WINGS’ Words to Live By for the first time, I saw my childhood, my relationships, and even my inner voice reflected back at me,” Rugg says. “I was born into poverty in Baltimore, and it wasn’t just changing zip codes that opened doors for me. It was learning how to manage emotions, take responsibility, and know my worth — what we now call social emotional skills.”
These skills aren’t just about feeling better; they’re about doing better academically, socially, and in life.
From its beginnings as a one-week summer camp for girls in Charleston, WINGS quickly evolved into a full-fledged afterschool program. The first WINGS Afterschool launched at Memminger Elementary School, a Title I school where 95% of students received free or reduced lunch. It became immediately clear that students needed more than academics. They needed mentors, positive relationships, and safe spaces to explore who they are.
Today, WINGS continues to deliver just that. The organization operates afterschool programs in South Carolina and Georgia and works with national partners to bring SEL into schools and communities nationwide. Everything WINGS does is grounded in five core SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills.
The results speak for themselves. WINGS kids consistently show improved school attendance, better behavior, stronger relationships, and higher academic achievement. Research and teachers alike report that WINGS kids are more skilled in managing their emotions and impulses.
And while SEL has gained wider acceptance over the years, Rugg says there’s still confusion about what it looks like in practice. “It’s not just a curriculum or a checklist,” she explains. “It’s more like parenting: nuanced, adaptive, and focused on relationships. At the end of the day, most adults want the same thing for kids: to be happy, connected, and successful in life. SEL is how we help get them there.”
WINGS is also committed to addressing inequity head-on.
“We focus on under-resourced communities not because those kids need SEL more, but because SEL has a greater impact in moving them up and forward,” Rugg says. “These are kids facing greater adversity and fewer resources. Our programs meet them where they are and give them what they need to thrive.”
Through professional development workshops, WINGS also empowers educators and youth workers with tools to model and teach emotional skills. This multiplier effect ensures SEL reaches beyond individual students to transform classrooms, schools, and communities.
At WINGS, emotional intelligence isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline.
With every lesson, every afterschool session, and every word of encouragement, they help kids discover not just who they are, but who they’re capable of becoming. And when kids learn to soar, entire communities rise with them.
EYSC is currently working with Wings for Kids to develop a pilot program to bring mental health resources and training to parents and other adults. Click here to learn more about their mission and programs.