Updates & Media

Inaugural Open House at Freedom Hall

We held an Open House at Freedom Hall Thursday, July 16th and had over 100 individuals from the community come and learn about what’s 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 was awesome and live jazz band a hit. Guests were able to meet our staff, some volunteers, and hear bits about how Freedom Hall has impacted fatherless young men and their moms.

Freedom Hall Completes Second Year

Freedom Hall, a mentoring program, completed its second year of work among at-risk fatherless young men in Del Paso Heights on the campus of Martin Luther King, Jr., Technology Academy (MLK). Moms reported character changes in their sons at home and academic improvement.

The Summer Group Goes Level Up

Level Up, our summer program, just finished out at Freedom Hall where staff and volunteers are provided 30 at-risk fatherless young men a learning environment that is real, relevant, and fun. 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.

Second Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta

Each summer Level Up culminates in a competition for its young participants called the Annual Del Paso Heights Cardboard Boat Regatta, in which teams of boys construct boats out of duct tape and cardboard to design the most floatable boat. The boats are designed to hold two boys from a team and they complete laps in the Olympic size pool until they can no longer float. After last year’s competition, the boys were all vying for 1st place and the honor of holding the bragging rights for having the best boatmaking ability for the year. Our boys completed an astounding 71 laps of the width of the pool, and we are looking into whether or not we may have hit a record. The competition turned out to be an exciting one as both the Press and Public attended to cheer on our boys. Good Day Sacramento came out to cover the event. Besides awarding the winning team  of the amazing Regatta itself, Shoulder to Shoulder honored our young Level Up participants with awards and recognition for individual and team accomplishments, in the presence of family, friends, STS staff, volunteers, donors, and partners. Channel 13 showed up and recorded the event and it aired on the evening news at 5:00 and 10:00 Sat PM. Here is a link to their video Watch the video.

About Freedom Hall Take a look at how mentoring positively affects the young men at Freedom Hall.

Watch More Videos!

MLK Principal Samuel Harris Interview - Freedom Hall

Single Mom Robbin Brockley Interview - Freedom Hall

Dr. Ramona Bishop Interview - Freedom Hall

President of Twin Rivers School Board Michelle Rivas Interview - Freedom Hall

Single Mother Latoya Griffin Interview - Freedom Hall

Student Interviews - Freedom Hall

Single Mother Angela Murchison Interview - Freedom Hall

Good Day Sacramento - Cardboard Boat Regatta - Part 1

Good Day Sacramento - Cardboard Boat Regatta - Part 2

Listen to Audio Interviews
Debra Greene from News-talk 1530 KFBK interviewed our fatherless young men at Level Up, as well as Shoulder to Shoulder staff, and volunteers.
Interview 1 | Interview 1

“The Shoulder To Shoulder Program is a model of effective mentoring that we hope to emulate at other schools within our District.”

— Frank S. Porter Superintendent, Twin Rivers United School District