Bill Coibion and Sam Harris, MLK jr, Technology Academy, Principal - share the vision and mission.
Vision:
Freedom Hall expects to see at-risk, fatherless young men prepared for life, becoming leaders in their community and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
Mission:
Freedom Hall will tutor, encourage, train and mentor these young men through a family environment of safety, acceptance and assurance that we’re not going to abandon them. Starting in 7th grade, young men, along with their mentors, will form a virtual family, which will remain intact through high school graduation and beyond. Freedom Hall intends to provide some direct funding, develop access to funds and provide guidance to support those young men who their desire to further their education.
At Martin Luther King Jr. Technology Academy (MLK) in the Del Paso Heights area of Sacramento, California, more than 70% of the students are fatherless and are being raised by their mothers, grand parents or foster parents. At MLK students are on the free lunch program indicating that their families are on welfare.
The student population at MLK is very diverse with 33% Asian, 31% Hispanic, 22% African American, and 7% Caucasian. Other demographics for MLK students include:
- Estimate annual family income of $13,000.
- 60% English is a Second Language at home.
- 60% of incoming 7th graders are two or more years behind in basic education.
- 50% of the young men won't graduation from High School.
"money is NOT the solution; it takes a life-on-life relationship" ~ Bill Coibion
Young men growing up without a father are:
- 9 times more likely to drop out of school.
- 20 times more likely to end up in prison.
- 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances.
- 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders.
- 32 times more likely to run away from home.
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"I've seen a huge positive change in the young men at Freedom Hall" ~ MLK Coach Bill Starks
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