Freedmans Foundation

Public Service: In 2015, we personally counseled more than 65 families on such housing; 97 percent located helpful resources, and at least 85 percent still had housing as of March, 2016. Freedman's also offers small grants and housing assistance of its own, directly to those in need, and working in partnership with a number of government agencies and private charities. In 2016, we provided such direct assistance to more than 44 families. In combination with other partners and service providers, we assisted in providing more than 1200 nights of housing for an estimated 125 people who might otherwise have been without.

Research and Information: Freedman's mission is to help train our young staff as researchers and assistance-givers to families in need. In 2015 we located and trained two such staffers, and continued an intern and research fellowship program. -- Freedman's seeks to inform the public about economic growth and opportunity through publications and, especially, video presentations. In 2015 we produced more than 90 hours of raw footage which will be processed and posted online.

Public Awareness:Freedman's seeks to improve public understanding of economic opportunity and community development through original research. In 2015 it launched more than a dozen such research projects for articles, books, and videos with independent scholars. Among these are a study of inter-generational and longitudinal economic mobility; a study of banking and monetary policies and economic mobility; and a study of "wealth creation vs. job location," i.e., the effectiveness (if any) of starting a business or service as opposed to being "given" a "job." This research seeks, on the one hand, to help particular individuals and families create expanded opportunities for themselves, and, also, to benefit them indirectly by helping the public and policy-makers to better understand how opportunities are generated (or, on the other hand, discouraged.)