Today was a very special day for our community as we officially broke ground on our permanent home at THEARC. Our new school building will be located at 1865 Mississippi Avenue, SE right in the middle of THEARC campus. Read our full press release here.

This is possible because a whole community of people believe in believe in WSG, our students, and our collective potential for the future. They believe in our present and they believe in our dreams.

Dreams are an important part of being able to envision the future. Today, we announced the public phase of our $15 million campaign to complete this project and expand our work. This campaign is called Building Dreams. Yes, because we are quite literally building our dream building. But more figuratively, we hope this facility and campus will be building blocks for the many future dreams of our students in the years ahead. 

At our groundbreaking celebration today, I was reminded of both the exceptional collaboration that has made WSG what it is over the past 27 years and the impact of our work.

Chris Smith, Chairman and CEO of WC Smith, shared some of his early memories of meeting Sister Mary Bourdon, RJM (WSG’s co-founder) and forging a partnership to create WSG’s first home at THEARC. Rahsaan Bernard, President and CEO of Building Bridges Across the River, the organization that manages THEARC, reflected on the many ways that our students benefit from the 14 non-profit partners who call this campus home.

But I was most moved by Yolanda Long’s remarks. Yolanda is an alumna of WSG (Class of 2004) and currently serves on our Board of Trustees. She is the epitome of how a WSG student can grow when they are supported in their dreams. Reflecting on her experience as a student at WSG, she said, “Make no mistake that this building is just what the school needs and deserves. But it has ALWAYS been the adults doing the hard work within those walls that have made the difference.”

When I think about this building, I think about all the special, joyful moments of learning that will happen inside its walls, and the lives of faith-filled purpose, leadership, and service that will continue long after students complete 8th grade.

I hope you will take a look at our campaign website to hear the dreams that our students, staff, families, and leadership have for our new facility and all that we will accomplish there!