Programs

PORT

Provides community-based Substance Use interventions for Justice Involved Youth.

Common Sense Parenting

Partners with parents to teach parenting skills/techniques in a nonjudgemental environment.

Stacked Deck

An effective program to prevent and reduce the risk of problem gambling among teens.

HandUp Solutions

Provides an integrated mix of services to build the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be a productive workforce member.

Freedom House of Mecklenburg, Inc. was founded in 1997 by Michael L. Bridges to teach disenfranchised men spiritual principles and life skills in a therapeutic transitional living setting. We provided individual therapy, group therapy, Narcotic Anonymous meetings and housing in Charlotte, NC up until 2010. In 2004, we began serving youth involved with substance use and the Department o f Juvenile Justice. Today, we provide substance use prevention/intervention, workforce preparedness, parent/family skill building & problem gambling/gaming prevention for youth in Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg Counties. In 2024, the name was changed to Freedom House For The Carolinas, Inc. to better describe our broader community presence.

Programs

PORT

Common Sense Parenting

Stacked Deck

HandUp Solutions

Board of directors

Marcus McKinney, Chairman

Valaree Grier, Treasurer

Dr. Staisha Hamilton, Secretary

Michael L. Bridges, Historian

Larry Eastrich

John Parham, MD

Donielle Smith, LCSW

Frangi Chavez

Tarik Cranke

Professional staff

Jonathan Black, CADC

Angela Morrison, LCAS, CSI

Jeff Wilson, MA

C. Derrick Harris, CPS, CADC

Carol McManus, MHRM

Lucretia Rice, M.Ed.

Miles Onafowora, CPA

Introducing Sweet Jesus Kettle Corn

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