In today's inner city communities, such as South Los Angeles, high school drop out rates have never been higher; the prison population of blacks and browns is exploding, teen pregnancy and the AIDS are epidemics, and unemployment and homeless are the highest in 20 years. Classrooms are overcrowded with students suffering from poverty, pre-natal drug exposure, low self-esteem, depression, and incarcerated parents. Innocent children cannot focus at school because they have to walk through numerous gang turfs and crime infested streets just to get to school.
In an effort to promote education, reduce gang violence, and strengthen families in South Los Angeles, retired school teacher Millicent “Mama” Hill started Mama Hill’s Help Incorporated out of her home in 2000. Mama Hill’s Help is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides an after-school program to assist children between the ages of 5 and 18.
Mama Hill’s Help is nationally renowned and the recipient of numerous educational and public service awards. Hill’s exceptional work with children has been recognized by several members of the Los Angeles community including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilwoman Janice Hahn, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and others. Mama Hill’s Help Inc. was awarded a $3,000 monthly special needs grant in 2002 from Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, but the grant was canceled in 2007, after city budget cutbacks. Mama Hill’s Help Inc. has been featured on the John Walsh Show (NBC-TV), FOX 11 News, KTLA Morning News, and other news media.
Mama Hill’s Help is known by everyone in the community as a “safe haven”. Many former gang members often stop by Mama Hill’s to speak to the children about the dangers of gangs and drugs. Mama Hill’s Help provides a safe and drug free place where every month neighborhood kids come to get help in tutoring, job skills training, violence and molestation prevention, gang intervention and prevention, anger management courses, conflict resolution, music appreciation, life skills, pregnancy prevention and abstinence, piano lessons, school exit exams, and college preparation.
Throughout its eight years of operation, Mama Hill’s Help has achieved an amazing rate of success. Mama Hill’s youth are thriving, as each receives a health dose of love and encouragement along with the tutoring, mentoring and counseling services the program provides.
- 50% of Mama Hill’s Help students have increased parental and caretaker involvement in their achievement and academic careers.
- 75% of all graduates from Mama Hill’s Help are gainfully employed.
- 80% of Mama Hill’s Help students read above grade level
- 90% of Mama Hill’s Help students have increased their social skills.
- 95% of the youth who have graduated from Mama Hill’s Help, also graduated from high school. Many are now pursuing degrees at colleges across the nation.
- 100% of the June 2006 graduates from Mama Hill’s Help, graduated from high school, in spite of nine students being identified as “at-risk” or special needs.
- 100% of Mama Hill’s Help students have been promoted to the next grade.
