Episode 31: Horton's Kids - Reunion at Horton's Hub
In this We’re Good Podcast episode host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee takes us inside Horton’s Kids’ podcast studio in Southeast DC—and you can hear the difference immediately. There’s warmth in the room, laughter in the hallways, and a kind of steady purpose that feels less like an interview and more like a homecoming. Horton’s Kids was the very first guest on the We’re Good Podcast, and a year later, the team returns to see what’s grown—and what the community faces on a daily basis.
Executive Director Erica Ahdoot reminds us why Horton’s Kids exists: a 37-year, neighborhood-rooted nonprofit in Southeast Washington, DC committed to young people and families for the long haul—built around educational attainment, family stability, and safety and belonging. This isn’t a short-term program. It’s a promise—13 years at minimum—and often a lifetime connection, as alumni return as staff, mentors, and leaders.
A year later and now Chief of Staff, Rahaman “Kil” Kilpatrick shares what that commitment looks like on the ground, and his stories land with real emotion. As he says, “seeds were planted at that first We’re Good episode.” He reflects on the documentary about his journey, Kil and the Kids—including the loss of a young person he loved and the fork-in-the-road moments kids face after violence. Then he names the “third option” Horton’s Kids creates: a place to belong, a mic to speak into, and a teen-led show—HC Confessions—where young people can tell the truth instead of carrying it alone.
The episode also gets practical about what families need right now. Erica describes the organization’s push for financial resilience in today’s uncertain environment—anticipating increased need and tighter resources—through a Financial Resilience Fund that provides direct emergency cash support for real-life gaps (transportation, medical needs, school expenses, and more), plus partnerships that help move aid quickly. And you’ll hear about the Community Caregiver Collective, a growing parent community powered by the Nurturing Parenting program, where caregivers meet regularly, build support networks, and strengthen skills for raising kids in a post-COVID, tech-saturated world.
From hot meals and tutoring to college and career “GPS” guidance, this episode shows how a community anchor adapts when the world gets harder—and why listening might change the way you define leadership.
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Connect with Guest
Horton’s Kids website
Kil and the Kids by Ethan Baker in collaboration with Horton’s Kids
