The Freedom Center for Social Justice (FCSJ) is a long-time vision of Bishop-Elect Tonyia M. Rawls, Founding Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte.
It was established in response to the vast inequities she saw in the areas of social, educational, economic, and criminal justice. FCSJ's mission is to enhance quality of life by increasing the number of healthy options and opportunities available for people of low wealth, communities of color and youth. This will be done through programming, advocacy and support services. Our main areas of focus are Health/Wellness (includes mental, physical, social and financial health), Life Skills, Cultural Activity and Education.
Our initial program is a tutoring and career development program for at-risk high school students in East Charlotte, NC.
Nearly 1300 8th graders failed their math and reading state assessment tests in 2006 and of that number, only 250 were left behind. The others were advanced to the 9th grade. Another article by Peter Smolowitz stated that, "The number of students who left (dropped out of) CMS during the 2005-2006 academic year surged 55 percent from 1,100 to 1,700. That jump represents a third of the statewide increase". The majority of these students are classified as at-risk due to racial, socioeconomic, ethnic and other factors that tie much more closely to areas of "difference" than they do to capacity to learn.
The primary purpose of the Freedom Center's tutoring and career development program is to increase the number of at-risk high school students who graduate in college-ready form from Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. The other primary goal is to decrease the number of these same students who engage in high risk behaviors that hinder their ability to have productive post-graduation lives. With this pilot program we intend to promote academic and mental health by providing quality, culturally sensitive, academic, career and behavioral
health services.
Programs are designed to include tutoring; college and trade school tours; peer support; lectures by accomplished professionals; mental health and social support sessions that will be facilitated by trained professionals using evidence-based behavioral and wellness approaches.
The Freedom Center for Social Justice is there to help ensure that our youth, one of the community's greatest resources, gets to grow and flourish.
Bishop-Elect Rawls stated that, "if our children are to make it, we the community must begin to think creatively about what we can do to help one child or 1,000. Each of us can make a difference and must seek to do it and/or support others who are willing."
If you would like to make a donation to the Freedom Center for Social Justice please click here!
