WHO IS MICHEAL WILLIAMS?
Mr. Williams was raised in Southern Dallas where he attended Carter High School. While attending and receiving an education at Carter High School, he played on the Carter High basketball team. This led to a basketball scholarship at Baylor University. From there, his talent, love, and passion for the game along with his drive and determination secured a spot for him in the 1988 NBA draft. Mr. Williams was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1988 and continued to play in the NBA for several years. He still holds the NBA record for most consecutive free throws (97). During his years in the NBA, he started giving back to the community and started a foundation that assisted children in their educational endeavors. After his NBA career, Mr. Williams moved back to Dallas and started his own business. While running his company, he continued to have the desire to give back to the community and decided it was time to bring light to his vision, so he started the Mike Williams Assist 4 Life Foundation. Mr. Williams’s primary goal is to assist children with their education. Mike Williams Assist 4 Life Foundation focuses on high needs schools and subsequently on high needs students. MWA4LF forms partnerships and secures talented, and dedicated individuals to ensure the success of the organization and the success of the Kids it serves. THEORY OF CHANGE
How to Solve the Problem
· Focus on strategies for reducing chronic absenteeism in schools in Southern Dallas.
· Assist schools to create a more positive school culture and focusing on students to improve their attendance, so they have more time for learning and raise their chances for success in school as well as in life.
· Partner with schools because making a difference in a child’s attendance doesn’t necessarily require extra work, it involves strategically infusing attendance and the power of positive relationships into simple interactions with students and families.
· To be successful in life, students must show up. Then once they show up they must perform/achieve.
· A large part of our plan is concentrated on increasing the number of students who have relevant skills (the construction industry is an ideal setting for this program). These skills include technical and vocations skills for employment, securing decent jobs and encouraging entrepreneurship.
· The Mike Williams Assist 4 Life Foundation works to close the opportunity gap by focusing on empowering students in Southern Dallas communities to achieve educational and life success. We will equip students with the skills, characteristics, confidence, knowledge, and opportunities needed to succeed in life.
· The foundation will leverage the power of the community to partner with schools in the Southern Dallas communities to mobilize students to be lifelong leaders who will make schools better for themselves, their peers, and younger students.