Newsletters | Shoulder To Shoulder

Semaj’s Story

Students at Martin Luther King Jr. Technology Academy are learning valuable lessons at Freedom Hall, a mentoring program for urban fatherless young men, directed by Shoulder To Shoulder (STS). It is opening new doors for fatherless youth like Semaj, one of the program’s top students.

When Semaj came to Freedom Hall as a seventh-grader, he stood out as a young man with tremendous potential and a hunger to improve. It took a lot of patience and love for him to realize his potential.

Before coming to Freedom Hall, Semaj had not worked as hard as he could to be the best student he could be because of the many difficult challenges and overwhelming stress in his personal life, due in part to his father who was missing in his life.

But with the caring guidance of dedicated mentors at Freedom Hall, Semaj became more focused and self-confident. He was able to move from a D student to a B student in eighth grade.

Semaj and his mother are strong believers in Freedom Hall. When they moved outside the Twin Rivers Unified School District boundaries, Semaj was determined to stay with Freedom Hall. His mother agreed, and Semaj rode the city bus and light rail one hour to and from school each day.

Semaj’s mom mentioned to us that Semaj was ready to be baptized. After counseling about what baptism meant, a staff member performed Semaj’s baptism in his pool with his family along with 60 friends, a few young men from Freedom Hall and STS staff on hand.

We are proud of Semaj and all the other urban fatherless young men God has brought to Freedom Hall. We look forward to our journey with our urban fatherless young men through their high school graduation. Please see www.teamsts.org for more information about Freedom Hall.

Imagine Father’s Day Without a Father

Excerpts from Eloise Anderson, former Director of California Department of Social Services

I can’t remember ever not being fascinated with fathers. As a child I thought fathers where the most important thing in the world. I noticed, even as a child, the difference in how those of my friends who had fathers and those that did not behaved. As I got older it became even more interesting noticing how mothers behaved when they had husbands versus those without husbands. Cohabitation was not the norm but a few women had men living with them and their children behaved more like those with no fathers at all. New Census data show only 48% of the population is married—the lowest since records were kept for married couples—compared to 78% in the 1950s. Female head of households jumped nearly 20%.

As Father’s Day approaches, remember the plight of the fatherless boys in Del Paso Heights who face each day, each challenge in their life without their father, without a dad. These young men are more likely to live a life plagued of violence, substance abuse and mental illness than live a life filled with good health, love, God, and prosperity.

But you can change that course.

Your donation to Shoulder To Shoulder, in honor of your father, favorite dad or other important man in your life, can change the life of a young boy and break the cycle of fatherlessness. With your donation, we can reach more fatherless boys in Del Paso Heights. Donate now.

Excerpts from Eloise Anderson, former Director of California Department of Social Services

Download the full article here.

Giving Back: STS Boys Serve Ronald McDonald House

On March 12, TeamSTS Youth Advocate Dan Barber, Volunteers Allan Hearl and Mike DeWein, and six young men of Freedom Hall visited Ronald McDonald House for a morning service project. I am realizing more and more the value of our servant leadership trips. Work projects such as our experience at Ronald McDonald House provide opportunities to allow our young men to step out of their comfort zone and serve others who are less fortunate. Our most recent project was an outdoor work project at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH). Once a month, RMH invites volunteers to have an “outdoor work party” and help beautify their grounds. Each of our young men really stepped up to the plate and worked hard, trimming bushes, scraping moss, raking leaves, and pulling weeds. I had the opportunity to have an awesome conversation with one of our young men, Jorge, while he and I were pulling weeds.

I said to him, “You know Jorge… I think I am learning a valuable lesson today.” He asked me what I was talking about and I said, “I think just about any job or responsibility no matter how boring or repetitious can be pretty enjoyable or even fun if done with the good company.” Jorge kind of brushed off my remarks like he heard them but didn’t really give them much thought. So I asked him, “Jorge, do you think pulling weeds is fun?” “Heck no, Mr. Barber Shop”, he replied. So I asked him, “so why do you think you are having fun today?” He paused for a moment then replied, “I don’t know.” A little later on in the morning Jorge and I were Hunting Lions (aka dandelions) and he yells to one of our other young men, “Hey Melvin, you should come pull weeds with us it’s fun; anything can be fun if you do it with the right company.” I thought to myself…’yep, this is why we do what we do!’

Stop the Violence

Recent headlines are a grim reminder of Sacramento’s longtime problem of youth violence. In a city that has seen more than its share of teenage shootings and killings, you’ve got to wonder if and when it will end. Even though Sacramento experienced fewer crimes in 2010, serious violent crimes went up—criminal homicides and felony assaults—which include non-fatal shootings and stabbings. In 2009, Sacramento had 33 homicides involving 10 to 24 year olds, many of who have been raised fatherless.

For fatherless boys in Del Paso Heights, the future is bleak. It is more likely that they will parent before age 20, abuse drugs and join a gang than go to college, have a career and own a home. When a father is absent in a boy’s life, positive examples and mentors, like those at Shoulder To Shoulder, assume great importance.

Boys like Andrew are feeling God’s love through the mentors at Freedom Hall. Andrew participated in the program while attending Martin Luther King Jr. Technology Academy; he is now a 10th grader at Natomas High School. He says “The mentors teach us how to be a man. We have no other male figures to look up to.” Andrew likes sports, particularly basketball, and is thinking about becoming a doctor someday. Like the other boys at Freedom Hall, Andrew says he wants to attend college because he has been encouraged by his mentor. Andrew has gained a positive outlook because he has someone who believes in him. But he worries about other boys who don’t come to Freedom Hall. What will happen to them?

With more mentors, volunteers and financial support, together we can end the cycle of fatherlessness in Del Paso Heights.

STS Recognized for Making A Difference

With great pride we report that on January 16, 2011, STS Founder and President Bill Coibion received a 2011 Difference Maker Award presented at Sacramento’s 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration for his work with children and youth. This award is given to individuals who demonstrate excellence in both faith and service in the greater Sacramento area. This prestigious peer award is recognition of both courage and sacrificial leadership. Past recipients have included Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Superior Court Judge Troy Nunley.

Level Up Coming in June and July 2011

Spring 2011 Shoulder To Shoulder is preparing for our summer camp Level Up.

Level Up is designed to provide a real, relevant and fun competitive learning environment that is team-based. It functions as a continuation of our after school program and provides an alternative to a summer spent on the streets. LU operates on the campus of Martin Luther King Jr. Technology Academy in the Del Paso Heights community of Sacramento.

2009 Level Up was a success. We anticipate a great turnout for 2011 as well.

Because We Care Project is here!

Shoulder To Shoulder (STS) is preparing its 4th Annual Beautification project, Because We Care, will be held Saturday, October 23^rd from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Please print, fill-out and bring to the event the Liability Release below.

STS BWC Liability Release

Freedom Hall Holds Open House Throughout The Year

Open Houses during 2010 at Freedom Hall were held Thursday April 22nd, August 19th, and November 11th. STS expects that individuals from the community will come and learn about what is going on at Freedom Hall. They were able to meet our fatherless young men involved in the mentorship program at Freedom Hall, along with their single moms. The food will be awesome as well as the live music and festive environment. Guests will be able to meet STS staff, volunteers, the Board of Directors, members of our Advisory Board, leaders in the Twin Rivers Unified School District and hear about how Freedom Hall has impacted fatherless young men and their moms.

Freedom Hall Completes Its Third Year

Freedom Hall, an after-school mentoring program, in its third year of mentoring urban fatherless young men in North Sacramento, operates three days a week working in a team-based environment to develop character growth, improve academic performance, and enhance life skills through long term mentoring from 6th grade through high school graduation. STS exposes urban fatherless young men to area businesses and points of interest they have never had the chance to experience. Academic challenges are held three times during the school year, and the winning teams of young men get to go on fun trips such as: fishing in Lake Tahoe, hiking in the Sierras, camping (where they have experienced snow for the first time!), visit a marine college campus and toured their ocean ship. After enrolling their sons in Freedom Hall, moms have reported positive character changes in their sons’ behavior at home and academic improvement at school at school.

The Summer Group Goes Level Up

Staff and volunteers provided 30 at-risk fatherless young men a learning environment that is real, relevant, and fun with Level Up, our summer program at Freedom Hall. An intense 50 hours per week, Level Up continued math and reading support, incorporated art and team building activities, and culminated with a week at Camp Del Oro in Nevada City. Debra Greene from News-talk 1530 KFBK interviewed our fatherless young men at Level Up, as well as Shoulder to Shoulder staff, and volunteers.

“Debra Greene from News-talk 1530 KFBK interviewed our fatherless young men at Level Up, as well as Shoulder to Shoulder staff, and volunteers.”

Young men enjoying a week at Camp Del Oro in Nevada City

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