First and Goal, Inc. is a youth development organization dedicated to empowering students through mentoring, leadership development, social-emotional learning, and character education programs. For nearly 20 years, we have partnered with schools, school districts, community organizations, and youth-serving agencies to support the academic, emotional, and leadership growth of students.

Our Student Mentoring and Leadership Development Program is designed to help students build confidence, strengthen leadership skills, improve decision-making, and develop the tools needed for long-term success in school and life. Through engaging group mentoring sessions, leadership workshops, and student development activities, we work to create positive outcomes for youth while supporting campus culture and student engagement initiatives.

The program focuses on helping students:

• Develop leadership and communication skills
• Improve self-confidence and self-awareness
• Strengthen goal-setting and decision-making abilities
• Increase student motivation and academic engagement
• Build positive peer relationships and conflict resolution skills
• Promote character development and social-emotional growth
• Encourage college, career, and future-readiness awareness
• Create positive change within their schools and communities

First and Goal, Inc. provides mentoring and leadership development services for:

• Elementary Schools
• Middle Schools
• High Schools
• Alternative Education Programs
• College and Career Readiness Programs
• After-School and Community-Based Programs
• Youth Conferences and Student Leadership Initiatives

Our interactive mentoring and leadership sessions are designed to support schools and community partners in addressing the social, emotional, behavioral, and leadership needs of students. The program helps encourage positive student behavior, improve campus engagement, strengthen leadership capacity, and support students who may be considered at-risk.

Through meaningful relationships, leadership training, and student empowerment, we help young people recognize their potential and become leaders within their schools, families, and communities.

Schools, districts, and community organizations interested in partnering with First and Goal, Inc. for student mentoring programs, leadership workshops, youth empowerment sessions, college and career readiness initiatives, or campus engagement programming may contact us for more information.

The First and Goal, Inc. Journey Beyond Dreams Initiative is a comprehensive college and career readiness program designed to support recent high school graduates and their families as they transition from high school into college, careers, and adulthood. Developed through First and Goal, Inc., this high-impact initiative provides students with practical tools, real-world guidance, leadership development, and postsecondary success strategies that prepare them for long-term academic, personal, and professional achievement.

More than a traditional workshop series, Journey Beyond Dreams is a student transition readiness experience that combines college preparedness, workforce readiness, social-emotional learning (SEL), family engagement, and student success support services into one intentional program model. Through interactive workshops, mentoring, parent engagement sessions, and life-skills training, students gain the confidence and knowledge needed to successfully navigate the transition into higher education and beyond.

The program is specifically designed to support:

• College & Career Readiness Initiatives
• Postsecondary Transition Programs
• Student Success & Retention Efforts
• Family & Community Engagement
• Leadership Development Programming
• Workforce Readiness & Soft Skills Training
• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
• First-Generation College Student Support
• Youth Empowerment & Mentorship
• Graduation & Postsecondary Success Planning

Journey Beyond Dreams helps students and families better understand:

• What to expect during the transition to college
• How to access campus support services and student resources
• Financial literacy and budgeting strategies
• Internship and career preparation
• Resume building and professional development
• Time management and self-advocacy skills
• Mental and emotional wellness during transition
• Healthy communication and relationship building
• Parent support strategies for college-bound students

This program is ideal for:

• School districts
• High schools
• College readiness departments
• Counseling departments
• TRIO and GEAR UP programs
• Community organizations
• Youth-serving nonprofits
• Workforce development initiatives
• Family engagement programs

The Journey Beyond Dreams Initiative is committed to empowering students and families through engaging, culturally relevant, and impactful programming that prepares young people to thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and professionally beyond graduation.

Program Mission

To equip students and families with the tools, knowledge, leadership skills, and support systems necessary for successful college transitions, career readiness, and lifelong achievement.

Program Vision

Building tomorrow’s leaders today by empowering students to confidently transition beyond graduation and pursue purpose, success, leadership, and opportunity.

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The Care and Share Mentoring Program is a group-mentoring component of First and Goal, Inc., which supports and enhances the current intervention/prevention strategies utilized in school districts. The Care and Share mentoring program provides comprehensive services and resources for youth that assist in altering negative behaviors and develops character, life, and leadership skills. The program is designed to motivate students to set and achieve goals and expose them to the resources and tools needed to be effective and productive members of society. It also provides an invaluable first-hand individual and group mentoring experience, which increases the students’ confidence in themselves and their abilities to succeed in life. 

This program emphasizes character and leadership development in a group setting while effectively reducing academic failure, juvenile delinquency, gang activity, and other factors that may lead to at-risk behavior. The program encourages student growth in the areas of goal setting, leadership, positive self-image, academic achievement, conflict resolution, and self-confidence. The sessions are designed to provide students with the necessary tools and resources needed to be effective leaders in their schools and communities.

The sessions are modeled after four components:


1. Group Mentoring – Exploration into social and academic issues, facilitate question and answer sessions, reflect on youth commentary, implement role-playing, and apply life applications. 

2. Academic Improvement – Setting educational and career goals, conducting program evaluation, motivating students to prepare for college, and providing resources for college entrances.  

3. Self-Image – Defining personal values, setting goals, redefining self-worth, assessing individual strengths and weaknesses, and exposing and maximizing natural talents.

4. Character Education and Social Skills Development – Focusing on Leadership, team building, conflict resolution, violence prevention, community service, and evaluation of social strengths and weaknesses.  

The goal of the Care and Share Mentoring Program is to provide a program that will aid in deterring youth from juvenile delinquent acts and behaviors. The program also provides youth with opportunities that will enrich, empower, and equip them with the necessary resources and tools needed to be active and productive members of society. 

Program Objectives:


• Provide positive mentoring relationships;
• Build character in program participants; 
• Promote positive self-image;
• Develop strong leadership skills;
• Increase critical thinking; 
• Decrease the number of students engaging in risky behaviors such as substance and alcohol abuse, truancy, gang involvement, youth violence, and other risky behaviors;
• Increase the number of youth who exhibit increased social competencies;
• Increase the number of youth who report increased feelings of self-esteem and self-worth;
• Increase the number of students who show a positive change in the quality of their relationship;
• Increase interests in academic excellence;
• Develop student interests in career exploration;
• Increase the number of youth exhibiting an improvement in school involvement, attendance, and grades;
• Increase the number of high school graduation rates of program participants; and 
• Increase interests in higher education 

“Our mentors are committed to supporting students with their time and dedication.”

– Tyrone Smith: Co-Founder of First and Goal, Inc.

Additional information:

Through our Read to Succeed Reading Program mentors provide:

• An hour per month during the school year to a designated class
  arranged by the school;
• A commitment to developing a meaningful connection with the local elementary school and class that they support; and
• A love of reading and demonstrating the power it has to impact a student’s life

 The Read to Succeed Reading Program supports and prepares mentors by providing:

• Program resources and yearly training;
• Ongoing logistical and scheduling support;
• Books and topic recommendations; and 
• Support from a Read to Succeed Reading Program trainer.

Leadership is an influence, and influence without the proper leadership skills can be destructive. Many youths would like to lead but lack the training and knowledge of how to accomplish this task. Exposing youth to opportunities to develop and nurture their leadership skills is a necessity for reinforcing positive peer influence.

Peers have one of the most significant influences over one another. We believe that to successfully combat the rising number of problems and issues facing today’s youth, the youth themselves need to be intricately involved in the process of creating the solutions. L.E.A.D
(Leadership Empowerment to Achieve Dreams) group sessions teach leadership skills and strategies to assist youth in leading successful initiatives and creating positive changes within themselves as well as their schools and communities.

Goals and Objectives

The goal of the L.E.A.D (Leadership Empowerment to Achieve Dreams) Youth Leadership Conference is to develop, train, and motivate youth to adequately and effectively use their influence to create positive changes within themselves as well as their schools and communities.

The objectives for students participating in the L.E.A.D. Youth Leadership Conference are as follows:

• To identify and define the characteristics of a leader;
• To improve their leadership abilities;
• To target critical strategies for creating positive change;
• To identify and maximize their opportunities to make positive changes in their schools and communities;
• To make better choices and decisions;
• To build confidence in their ability to make their own choices;
• To empower students to strive for excellence and to value their
  self-worth and importance;
• To learn the various aspects of leadership;
• To determine the importance of teamwork and working together to achieve a common goal; and 
• To understand the importance of working with their abilities and
  strengths as well as those of others to achieve a common goal

Leadership conferences and workshops include:

• A professionally trained staff
• Highly energized and interactive training sessions and workshops
• Small and large group sessions
• Team building initiatives
• Large group activities
• Student follow-up through an evaluation component 

Through the Dream-Filled and Drug-Free Program, our goal is to make schools and communities safe by reducing substance abuse while encouraging and equipping youth to maximize their talents. We advocate a healthy lifestyle for all youth to achieve their dreams.

We teach youth to make responsible choices, and they are encouraged to display positive peer pressure and seek positive role models. We create an awareness of the dangers of drugs through education. Our team discusses topics such as communication, student relations, unity, perseverance, friendship, and healthy habits to encourage and enrich students with positive behavior or habits. The program is taught through motivational seminars, lively, action-packed general assemblies, and small or large group presentations.

To provide a Dream-Filled and Drug-Free atmosphere in schools, First and Goal implements curriculum and strategies that support our belief that all people have the right to a life free from substance abuse and its effects. Substance abuse prevention includes drug education, law enforcement, and treatment. Substance abuse negatively affects the safety and quality of life, building a barrier to self-development and a successful life. With this understanding, First and Goal seek to provide an educational environment and a positive social climate in all schools through innovative partnerships and community involvement.

Program Objectives

• To challenge and direct youth to lead meaningful lives;
• To help youth make responsible choices; 
• To encourage positive peer pressure and youth role models;
• To create an awareness of the dangers of drugs through education;
• To discuss positive topics such as communication, student relations; and 
• To discuss unity, perseverance, friendship, and healthy habits

Program Methods

• Motivational seminars
• Lively, action-packed general assemblies in schools, churches or community groups
• Small group discussions and large assembly presentations
• Referral and follow-up opportunities (assessing progress and further needs)

Program Beliefs

The Dream-Filled and Drug-Free Program is guided by the following beliefs:

• We can make a difference through innovative partnerships;
• Substance abuse hurts families and communities;
• Everyone has the right to a life free from substance abuse and its effects;
• Children are vulnerable and are entitled to our protection;
• Substance abuse negatively affects the safety and quality of life of our communities;
• Substance abuse prevention is crime prevention;
• A balanced approach to prevention includes education, enforcement, and treatment; and
• Substance abuse is a barrier to self-development and a successful life

Captivating, exhilarating, and motivating, are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind when describing the clear and direct message delivered by “TEAM-First and Goal.” TEAM-First and Goal is committed to teaching today’s youth, the power that lies within their possibilities. Life is a journey, and if we allow life to happen, we may miss our opportunities to become successful. For this reason, our youth need to learn the value of setting goals, preparing for their futures, and becoming dedicated to reaching their dreams.

The impact of the message brought by “TEAM-First and Goal” leaves the lasting effect on the minds and hearts of everyone they encounter. Society has influenced today’s youth to believe that success is unobtainable unless you have extraordinary talents. It is our goal to motivate our youth to believe in their abilities and to have the dedication and drive to make their vision of success come to life.

By learning the values of preparation, dedication, and self-worth, there truly is no limit to what our youth can contribute to their world. It is our goal to help our youth find the right path to making their dreams a reality. The sky is truly the limit for those who have hope and believe that nothing is impossible.

TEAM-First and Goal has been privileged to impact the lives of more than 100,000 youth at school assemblies, sports camps, churches, and other youth events across the United States and Europe. During each encounter, TEAM-First and Goal emphasize the importance of education, goal setting, leadership, and conflict resolution, all within a fusion of a dynamic presentation.

TEAM-First and Goal remind its audiences that, “It’s not whether you win or lose but how you play the game.” We use this popular saying to address young participants during competitive events, which emphasizes character building. However, the “Game of Life” does not take place on a field or court. The “Game of Life” exists as a constant battle between positive and negative attitudes. With this theme in mind and the understanding that one must have a successful game plan to achieve goals, our slogan, “A Game Plan for Life,” was born. There is a desperate need for our future leaders to learn the fundamental principles and values that will prepare them for life’s challenges. Helping students set and achieve their goals is the commitment of First and Goal, Inc.

During each encounter, TEAM First and Goal emphasizes the importance of:

• Reaching for Your Dreams – “In Order to Achieve, One Must Believe”
• Maximizing Your Opportunities – “Taking Action Today”
• Knowing Your Purpose – “Developing A Game Plan for Life”
• Building Your Legacy – “It’s Not Where You Start, It’s Where You Finish”