News | Shoulder To Shoulder | Prepare Urban Fatherless Young Men For Life

Are you a State Employee? Member of an AFL-CIO affiliated labor union? Do you work for a company like SAFE Credit Union or VSP?

If so, did you know that you can support Shoulder to Shoulder through the United Way Workplace Giving Program?

That’s right, Shoulder To Shoulder (STS) has recently been accepted as a United Way Certified Nonprofit Partner. This means that employees of qualifying organizations can now support STS through payroll deductions. It’s a simple, no hassle way to give to STS in any amount.

All you have to do is contact your employer’s HR Department to see if your organization is a part of the United Way Workplace Giving Program.

You can also request that a representative of STS come and speak or set up a display at your workplace. United Way Giving Program employers are more than willing to have our reps come! They simply need to receive a request from you.

The United Way Workplace Giving Program. It’s a simple way to make a powerful difference for urban fatherless young men. STS is proud to have been selected for this program. Please contact your employer today to see if you qualify, or call Donna Ramos at 916-285-5422 for more info.

Shoulder To Shoulder United Way #24410

United Way Accepts Shoulder To Shoulder as a Non-Profit Partner

STS is proud to announce its acceptance as a Nonprofit Partner with United Way of Greater Sacramento. STS submitted to a rigorous application and review process and is now part of the select group of non-profits that have been endorsed by The United Way. We are proud to have been able to earn this designation, and we are especially happy about the new pathways this offers for friends and supporters of STS to play a part in what we do. Allow us to explain.

Have you ever wanted to become a financial supporter of Shoulder to Shoulder, but just haven’t been able to find a convenient way to give? Well now there’s an answer to that challenge: the United Way Workplace Giving Program.

This program makes it is possible for you to give to STS in any amount you choose through payroll deduction right at your workplace. Most larger employers in our region are part of this program, including The State of California, AFL-CIO Union Affiliates, and companies like SAFE Credit Union and VSP. All you have to do is contact your organization’s HR Department to see if your employer or organization is a part of the United Way Workplace Giving Program. They’ll help you set up your monthly donation via payroll. It’s that simple.

But there’s even more. You can also request that a representative of STS come and speak or set up a display at your workplace. United Way Giving Program employers are more than willing to have our reps come! They simply need to receive a request from you.

A recent study discovered that Sacramento residents are less likely to give and actually donate fewer dollars than the national average. In fact, only 62% of households in the Greater Sacramento Region give to charities. One of the big reasons for this is that people who sincerely want to give just don’t know a simple way to give that is convenient, reliable and goes to support charities that help people right in their own backyard. The United Way Workplace Giving Program changes all that. With your help, we believe more people than ever will begin giving to support charities like STS to change lives right here in our own city.

The United Way Workplace Giving Program. It’s a simple way to make a powerful difference for fatherless young men. STS is proud to have been selected for this program. Please contact your employer today to see if you qualify, or call our office at 916-285-5422 for more info.

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.

Cardboard Boats Set Sail in Del Paso Heights

Fatherless Youth Compete in Annual Community Event

(Sacramento, California, July 29, 2011):

Shoulder To Shoulder will host its 4th Annual Del Paso Heights Cardboard Boat Regatta on Saturday, August 6 at Rio Linda High School Pool, culminating the agency’s 5-week Level Up summer program. Boats will be designed and built by boys ages 11-16 who will team up and compete in the race. The team with the last boat floating wins. The Regatta will also feature a BBQ, swimming and awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of the young men and volunteers participating in the Level Up program. The event is free and open to the public. Level Up is an alternative to a summer spent on the streets and includes a variety of recreational and academic activities, plus service projects and field trips. College students from California and Arizona serve as group leaders and mentors. In Del Paso Heights, approximately 70% of youth live in a fatherless home. Fatherless youth are more likely to parent before age 20, abuse drugs and join a gang rather than finish high school, attend college and join the workforce. “The program lets the boys know their options and choices,” states LaToya Griffin, mother of one of the participating youth. “Before this program, they didn’t think they had any.” During the school year, Shoulder To Shoulder operates Freedom Hall, a youth development program for fatherless young men at Martin Luther King Jr. Technology Academy and Grant High School. The program provides mentoring, tutoring, character development, life skills training, and engages youth in community service. Student Isaiah Mathews says “They showed me how I was going down the wrong path and that I needed to get it together. Now I come down and help other boys like some of the mentors helped me. I want to give back.” Shoulder To Shoulder’s Founder Bill Coibion states, “Del Paso Heights has some of the highest rates of crime, poverty, child abuse, and drop-outs in Sacramento County. We are setting a positive example for these young men, to help them become leaders in their community and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.” Shoulder To Shoulder’s goal is to break the cycle of fatherlessness in Del Paso Heights.

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.

Pastor Henry Wells Interviews Bill Coibion on KFIA

Bill Coibion is interviewed by Henry Wells during the Pastor to Pastor Radio Program on KFIA. Bill shares the charge he is leading to revert the devastating results of a fatherless generation in our very community. He describes Freedom Hall, Level Up and other programs designed to solve specific problems that have resulted from the deficiency caused by the absence of a father or male figure in the home. Listen as he shares the need, the opportunity to make a difference and what you can do about it.

01 Pastor To Pastor – Interview Bill Coibion – Henry Wells

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.

Freedom Hall Award Night – May 26th

On May 26nd, Freedom Hall will be holding its Student Award and Volunteer Appreciation night from 6 to 8 p.m. Team and Individual awards handed out for outstanding character, GPA increase and more. We will also be recognizing our volunteers who serve our young men involved with Freedom Hall. A light snack will be provided for the event. We hope that you will join us as we celebrate the dedication of our volunteers and the accomplishments of our Young Men.

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.

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