Success in Challenges, Inc.

What Success in Challenges, Inc. does

Success in Challenges, Inc. (SIC) is a Long Beach, California-based nonprofit founded in 2001 that delivers youth and family empowerment, educational advocacy, violence prevention, and community-healing programs to underserved residents of Central-East and North Long Beach. Its programmatic architecture rests on a four-pillar framework — Learn, Teach, Grow, and Give — alongside current initiatives including the Parent Empowerment & Leadership Network, the Strong Beach Collective (a six-week community-based healing activation), LINC Housing afterschool enrichment, and Youth Leadership programming in partnership with Khmer Girls in Action. Between 2005 and 2025, the organization operated California's first Freedom School, a 20-year flagship youth literacy and empowerment program that concluded in 2025.

The organization delivers services through a community-led model rather than a technology platform; no proprietary software, app, or AI system is described. Program delivery occurs at partner locations including LINC Housing complexes, Long Beach Unified School District sites (e.g., Perry Lindsey Middle School), and neighborhood venues. SIC's go-to-market is rooted in community surveys that inform program design, cross-sector partnerships with city government, housing authorities, and peer nonprofits, and volunteer-driven outreach through open houses, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and events.

SIC's revenue model is characteristic of a small community nonprofit: a managed-services style stream of grants and funded programs (City of Long Beach, ELN Collective, and other institutional funders) paired with donations and fundraising (BetterUnite platform, galas, and sponsor contributions from entities such as Port of Long Beach, TCC Family Health, Avanath, and A. Austin). No program fees are charged; participant support includes childcare and stipends. Customer segments served are persona-based (youth, parents/caregivers, and general community members) rather than enterprise buyers.

Name

Success in Challenges, Inc.

Legal name

Success In Challenges Inc

Website

https://successinchallenges.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Success in Challenges, Inc. is a Long Beach, California-based nonprofit founded in 2001 that empowers youth, parents, and families through community-driven educational advocacy, violence prevention, and leadership programs delivered via grants, donations, and cross-sector partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Youth and Family Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (6117), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Youth empowerment programs
• Family support services
• Community violence prevention
• Educational advocacy
• After-school enrichment

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Funded Programs: SIC receives grants from government entities (City of Long Beach, ELN Collective) and institutional funders to operate specific programs. Programs such as the Parent Empowerment & Leadership Network, Strong Beach Collective, and Youth Leadership initiatives are funded through grants.
2. Donations and Fundraising: SIC accepts donations through its website (via BetterUnite platform) and holds fundraising events such as galas. The organization also received the 2024 Key to The City recognition, indicating broad community support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Success In Challenges Inc is a Long Beach, California-based nonprofit organization that empowers youth, parents, and families through a four-pillar programmatic framework (Learn, Teach, Grow, Give). It delivers community-based programming including youth leadership development, parent empowerment and education advocacy, violence prevention and community healing, and after-school enrichment delivered through direct community delivery and partner organizations.

Product overview

Success In Challenges Inc operates as a nonprofit community organization offering a four-pillar programmatic framework (Learn, Teach, Grow, Give) designed to empower youth, parents, and families in Long Beach, California. The organization delivers current programs including the Parent Empowerment & Leadership Network, Strong Beach Collective violence prevention initiative, LINC Housing Afterschool & Enrichment Program, and Youth Leadership initiatives. SIC maintains multiple partner programs through collaborations with organizations including Khmer Girls in Action, CORE, and Youth Power. The organization also completed significant past programming, most notably operating the first Freedom School in California from 2005-2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Learn Program A program providing access to resources, workshops, and hands-on experiences to help individuals acquire new skills, build knowledge, and foster lifelong learning.
• Teach Program A mentorship and knowledge-sharing initiative following an 'each one, teach one' philosophy, creating spaces for individuals to pass on experiences and uplift others.
• Grow Program A personal and professional development program helping individuals develop resilience, broaden horizons, and reach new heights through tools, guidance, and encouragement.
• Give Program A volunteerism and community involvement initiative empowering individuals to give their time, talents, and resources, fostering a culture of generosity.
• Parent Empowerment & Leadership Network A community-led network of parents and caregivers trained and mobilized to advocate for children's education and housing community issues, targeting at least 25 participants per cohort.
• Strong Beach Collective A six-week community-based healing activation advancing violence prevention, social connection, and collective well-being among Central-East Long Beach residents.
• LINC Housing Afterschool & Enrichment Program Afterschool programming and enrichment activities for youth in the LINC Housing community, creating a safe, supportive space for young people to learn and grow.
• Youth Leadership & City Strategic Plan Initiative Partnership with Khmer Girls in Action supporting youth leaders in developing and implementing the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan and Youth Fund.
• North Long Beach Collaborative A collaborative initiative (2022-2026) alongside Puente LA and NPIEN expanding the leadership base in North Long Beach with a focus on promoting peace and social connectedness.
• One Long Beach Community Violence Intervention & Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Monthly collaborative meetings participating in city-wide efforts including the Long Beach budgeting process and the completion of the Long Beach Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Data Report.
• Freedom School The first Freedom School in California, operated from 2005-2025 (20 years), empowering scholars and inspiring Servant Leader Interns through a youth literacy and empowerment initiative.

Quantifiable outcome

• Engaged at least 25 parents and caregivers per cohort in the Parent Empowerment & Leadership Network, with improved confidence navigating school systems and greater representation in community meetings.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• LINC HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022SIC operates afterschool and enrichment programs for youth in the LINC Housing community, creating safe, supportive spaces for young people to learn, connect, and grow. SIC is also expanding services at LINC Housing to serve a broader base of youth and families with additional programming and resources.
• Khmer Girls in ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIC partners with Khmer Girls in Action alongside the City of Long Beach to support youth leaders in the development and implementation of the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan and Youth Fund. SIC team and youth members participate in weekly and monthly meetings focused on housing and youth civic participation.
• City of Long BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Long Beach funds the Strong Beach Collective (Community Healing & Violence Prevention) and partners on the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan. SIC provides core leadership to youth coalitions working toward collective implementation of city-wide strategic plans.
• Puente LAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIC serves as a Design Team member in the North Long Beach Collaborative (2022–2026) alongside Puente LA and NPIEN, expanding the leadership base in North Long Beach with a focus on promoting peace and social connectedness.
• National Pacific Islander Education Network (NPIEN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIC serves as a Design Team member in the North Long Beach Collaborative alongside Puente LA and NPIEN, establishing Neighborhood Teams to address key community priorities in North Long Beach.
• Youth PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with Youth Power, SIC supports the YEAH (Young Adults) program, connecting young adults in Long Beach with leadership opportunities and community resources.
• CORE (Fitness & Wellness)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIC collaborates with CORE to provide fitness and wellness programming for community members.
• Men of the CovenantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMen of the Covenant is a community-based men's partnership that works alongside SIC to support youth and strengthen community, operated in collaboration with community men.
• Long Beach Unified School DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIC delivered two successful rounds of after-school enrichment programming in partnership with Long Beach Unified School District, providing students with expanded learning opportunities beyond the school day.
• One Long Beach (CVIPI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIC participates in the One Long Beach Community Violence Intervention & Prevention Initiative (CVIPI), meeting monthly and contributing to city-wide efforts including the Long Beach budgeting process and the completion of the Long Beach Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Data Report.
• Children's Defense Fund CaliforniaminorOthersIn February 2026, Success In Challenges founder Leon Wood was honored by Children's Defense Fund California for more than two decades of dedicated service to Long Beach youth and families.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• LINC Housing: Affordable housing developer that hosts SIC's afterschool programming. Listed as a peer because it is the anchor partner for SIC's largest recurring program site and shapes where SIC delivers youth and family services.

Direct peers

• National Pacific Islander Education Network (NPIEN): Education equity organization serving Pacific Islander communities. Co-leads the North Long Beach Collaborative with SIC and shares a community-led, place-based model for family and youth advancement.
• Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach: Established Long Beach youth development nonprofit offering afterschool enrichment, leadership programs, and safe spaces for youth. Directly comparable as a community-based youth services provider in the same city.
• Khmer Girls in Action: Long Beach-based nonprofit advancing youth leadership and civic participation among Southeast Asian and communities of color. Directly comparable to SIC as a youth organizing peer and explicit partner on the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan.
• California Youth Connection: Statewide foster youth leadership and advocacy organization. Comparable to SIC in centering youth voice in policy and systems-change work, including participatory-budgeting and youth strategic planning.
• Long Beach Forward: Long Beach nonprofit working on community health, safety, and youth justice issues. Comparable to SIC in its focus on violence prevention, civic engagement, and family empowerment in the same geography.
• Puente LA: Community organizing nonprofit focused on equity in North Long Beach. Co-leads the North Long Beach Collaborative alongside SIC and shares the same youth/family empowerment mission and geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Greater Long Beach: Branch of the national YMCA serving Long Beach with youth development, afterschool, and family programming. Comparable as a youth and family services provider in the same geography, but with much larger infrastructure and brand.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles: Regional youth mentoring nonprofit operating across the LA area including Long Beach. Directly comparable to SIC's youth mentoring and positive youth development mission, but at significantly larger scale.
• Children's Defense Fund California: Statewide child advocacy and youth policy organization. Comparable as a recognition partner and aligns with SIC's mission of supporting youth and families, but operates at significantly broader scale and policy level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@successinchallengesinc.3783
• Facebookfacebook.com/successinchallenges
• Instagraminstagram.com/successinchallengeslb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/success-in-challenges-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Success in Challenges, Inc.