Join the Campaign

As you know the vision of Shoulder To Shoulder is to equip urban fatherless young men for life, enabling them to become well-balanced, mature men in their family and community, breaking the cycle of fatherlessness. We have launched a multi-year campaign to “Break the Cycle of Fatherlessness” in Del Paso Heights.

According to Gallup Poll in 2004, 72% of Americans believe that fatherlessness is our biggest social problem. Today 38% of youth live in a home without their biological father. In addition, over 20% live with a father who is not engaged in their lives.

The absence of a father leaves young men struggling with questions about where to find their identity, filled with anger, bitterness and hostility towards their fathers, as well as being ill prepared for life.

In Del Paso Heights, approximately 70% of the youth live in a single parent home. At home, mothers or grandmothers guide them. In school, they are primarily being taught by female teachers.

Where there is significant fatherlessness there is significant poverty, which generally leads to lower educational achievement, increased drop-out rates, becoming involved in gangs and subsequently incarcerated while perpetuating the cycle of fatherlessness.

Our campaign begins with churches associating with Shoulder To Shoulder, through the creation of a Freedom Club on one of the eleven elementary school campuses.  Area churches are guided to provide “character development” and “enhance reading comprehension” of young boys and girls from kindergarten through 5th Grade graduation.

Did you know that beginning in 4th Grade, a reading evaluation is completed for each student?  A young man, testing at a 1.7 reading comprehension level, will likely drop out of school in 8th Grade.

Next, Shoulder To Shoulder seeks mentors from area churches that are willing, able and available to mentor fatherless urban young men for a period of one year.  It is our hope they will be moved by God to remain longer and continue to breathe life into their mentee’s life.

STS seeks support from the community to help support its efforts in Del Paso Heights. STS seeks to partner with area churches centered on prayer, providing mentors and financial support.  STS looks to area foundations and businesses to develop partnering arrangements to provide long-term financial support.

Please send me more information on how I can make a difference in the life of a fatherless urban young man.