MAAFA Redemption Project Celebrates Fifth Cohort Graduation
Big congratulations to the recent graduates of the MAAFA Redemption Project’s fifth cohort! The young men, along with family and friends, gathered to celebrate the milestone in April.
The MAAFA Redemption Project is a faith-based residential institute for emerging adult men of color (ages 18-30) located in West Garfield Park, a neighborhood with one of the lowest life expectancies in Chicago.
“Facing a once-in-a lifetime pandemic and record gun violence, these young men persevered,” said Marshall Hatch, Jr., Co-Founder and Executive Director of the MAAFA Redemption Project. “Every day they pursued higher versions of themselves and helped to cultivate a sacred space in one of Chicago’s most challenged neighborhoods. During the graduation ceremony these young men proudly walked across our pulpit-stage realizing that they were not graduating ‘out’ of a program, but ‘graduating in’ to an ongoing ministry of God’s redeeming grace, love, and peace.”
The MAAFA Redemption Project offers dormitory-style residential support, workforce training, character and spiritual-development, and a host of wrap-around social services for its participants. Its mission is to significantly improve the quality of life for the young men and their families.
Thanks to the faithful support of our donors, We Raise, in partnership with the MIGMIR Fund, awarded MAAFA a $300,000 grant in 2020 to champion their transformative work. The grant is enabling MAAFA to rehab a three-unit building to house 10 more men, and also hire more staff for coaching and mentorship programs.