(Summer Day Camp-Universal Studios Field Trip)

 Officer Mustafa F. Mahdi
(678) 933-9677

E-mail:  mfmahdi@yahoo.com
             
MISSION

The mission of The Rising Son, Inc. Young Men's Development Center is to reduce fatherless families by providing programs, services and activities designed to prepare young men for the challenges of authentic manhood and responsible fatherhood.

HISTORY

Our organization was founded in 1995 after I attended The Million Man March in Washington D.C. and read the compelling book by Dr. Naim Akbar, "Visions for Black Men".  Those who attended the march made a pledge to return to their communities and make a difference.

Growing up without my father, working in public housing, public schools and serving as a Corrections Officer and volunteer Chaplain have made me uniquely aware of the obstacles and challenges many fatherless boys face. 

The Rising Son, Inc. Young Men's Development Center is a non-profit organization, established to provide home schooling for boys, mentors, academic support and guidance for boys ages 6-16. We serve boys from single and two parent households.  Our program emphasizes self discipline, character development and academic excellence.

DISTURBING STATISTICS 
ON FATHERLESS CHILDREN:

Effects of Fatherlessness (US Data)

 1) BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS/ RUNAWAYS/ HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS/CHEMICAL ABUSERS/ SUICIDES

• 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes (Source: Center for Disease Control)

• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census)

• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes (Source: National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools.)

• 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes (Source: Rainbows for all God's Children.)

• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census)

2) JUVENILE DELINQUENCY/ CRIME/ GANGS

• 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes (Source: Criminal Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26, 1978)

• 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Special Report, Sept 1988)

• 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home (Source: Fulton Co. Georgia jail populations, Texas Dept. of Corrections 1992)

• California has the nation's highest juvenile incarceration rate and the nation's highest juvenile unemployment rate. Vincent Schiraldi, Executive Director, Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, "What Hallinan's Victory Means," San Francisco Chronicle (12/28/95).

Children from fatherless families are also:

• 5 times more likely to commit suicide.

• 32 times more likely to run away.

• 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders.

• 14 times more likely to commit rape

• 9 times more likely to drop out of high school.

• 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances.

• 9 times more likely to end up in a state-operated institution.

• 20 times more likely to end up in prison.

"If the boys are not properly initiated into manhood (by the men) they will burn down the village for warmth"

(African Proverb)

THE SOLUTION

In homes where a strong, loving father is present, children are less vulnerable to peer pressure and better prepared to make positive life choices.  Responsible fathers provide for, protect and strengthen the economic stablity of the famiy.  A stable loving home is an environment where healthy children grow.

For those families where a father is not present, our program provides Mentors to guide young men sucessfully on their "Journey to Manhood".  Teaching our sons to be men before they become husbands and husbands before they become fathers will break the devastating cycle of fatherless families.

In an effort to promote stable families and prevent unplanned teen pregnancies, The Rising Son, Inc. also promotes abstinence and encourages young men to postpone sexual activity until marriage. 

Prior to marriage, young men must first prepare themselves for manhood with a quality education and a marketable skill. 

Our program provides year-round home schooling for boys, academic support, tutoring, educational field trips to college campuses & vocational and employment assistance.   We also offer "Positive Parenting" classes for teen fathers because "a man cannot teach what he does not know"

The Rising Son, Inc. Young Men's Development Center is dedicated to upholding the pledges of The Million Man March...

..."No one can do everything, but everyone can do something...

...each one, teach one...each one, reach one!"


(For more information, scroll up and click the blue "Programs" button, to the upper left)