Throughout history, education has been hailed as the great equalizer—a pathway to opportunity and upward mobility. It is believed that when barriers to quality learning are removed, and people are equipped to succeed, education becomes a powerful ladder, enabling anyone with the ambition and determination to rise above their circumstances and reach for a brighter future.

This belief is the cornerstone of the Impact the World Foundation, a visionary nonprofit co-founded by Mike Wing and Victoria Junkins. The Foundation was created to dismantle systemic inequities and empower individuals across the globe through education, advocacy, and innovation. Rooted in human dignity and bold solutions, Impact the World operates with a mission to address not only the symptoms of injustice but also the structures that perpetuate them.

A core branch of the Foundation’s work is Impact Education, where groundbreaking educational initiatives have emerged. Designed to reimagine traditional teaching models, these programs are rooted in a pioneering methodology known as contextualized learning, which integrates activity-based, inquiry-based, and project-based learning into an engaging curriculum for students and teachers alike.

One initiative is called the International Space, Science, and Oceanographic Centers (ISSOC), an immersive experience for 5th and 6th grade students. The initiative operates over the course of five action-packed days, with participants immersed in a 24/7 learning environment where science, math, and technology are no longer abstract subjects but hands-on, meaningful, relevant and exciting realities. ISSOC transforms complex STEM concepts into intriguing, real-world applications, igniting within the kids a curiosity to learn more about the broader world. Participants can try their hand at activities as diverse as navigating simulated space missions, exploring ocean ecosystems, and diving into technological challenges. The result is that they come out of the five days with a more thorough knowledge of the link between what they learned and the real world.

Another initiative consists of a network of 400 K-12 Impact Charter Schools located in underserved metropolitan communities. These schools are delivering a top notch education to populations often left behind by traditional systems. They implement the same learning model as the five day immersion program to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to innovative learning systems.

These visionary programs are directed by Mike Wing, a dynamic leader whose career spans law, business, education, and public service. Wing, a former Senior Partner at O’Connor and Hannan, has led many global companies, including the Swedish holding company ICH and the United States Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. It was at the latter where Wing first came up with the renowned “Fifth Grade Program,” which inspired young learners through immersive STEM experiences, a precursor to today’s ISSOC model.

A White House Fellow under both Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Wing has also distinguished himself as an educator and coach. Wing has accumulated an astonishing number of degrees including a Doctoral in Education and five Masters Degrees in Teaching, Curriculum Development, Administration, STEM and Special Ed. Furthermore, his accolades include Teacher of the Year, Professor of the Year, Superlative Teacher, and Coach of the Year. A passionate baseball coach, he has worked at international, collegiate, and high school levels. Personal development of young talent has been his life’s mission.

With their wealth of experience and singular commitment to education reform, Wing and Junkins are spearheading a movement that not only teaches children critical knowledge but also shows them how to apply it in real life. These are the dual keys necessary to provide America’s young leaners the skills they will need to keep the US a leader on the world stage. His innovative curriculum bridges the gap between learning and living, ensuring that education becomes not just a destination, but a journey.