Magic Johnson & Friends Rally Behind Option School

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, September 25, 2013

An emotional Earvin “Magic” Johnson speaks about his desire to help at-risk youth in need of an education as entertainer Common (middle) and Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn look on.
An emotional Earvin “Magic” Johnson speaks about his desire to help at-risk youth in need of an education as entertainer Common (middle) and Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn look on.

At the North Lawndale Magic Johnson Bridgescape location at 3210 W. Roosevelt Rd., former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson joined by several of his notable friends including recording artist Common, and current Bridgescape students announced the formation of his non-profit organization “Friends of Magic” that would work to assist at-risk students and dropouts earn their high school diplomas.

According to the Friends of Magic website, their call to action is to provide students who have dropped out or those at-risk of dropping out with the resources they need to obtain a high school diploma.

“God is so good…all you want to do is help these incredible young people achieve their goals,” said a tearful Magic Johnson at the press conference. “What we need and what I’m talking about with Friends of Magic: if you can mentor our young people we will take that; if you own a business or can employ our young people we will take that; if you want to write a small check we will take that and give it to these young people. Anything that you can do, that’s what a ‘Friend of Magic’ is.”

Johnson has been active in the Chicagoland community for years as a businessman. Johnson stated that he has built 10 Starbucks in Chicago, owned three hotels, and “has put people to work” with plans to continue to do so in the future.

“I can’t think of two better people to lead this movement to address a major issue facing urban America than Mr. Johnson and the magic he brings to everything he touches and Chicago native hip-hop artist, actor and author Common whose also made a personal commitment to uplift urban youth through the Common Ground foundation,” said Friends of Magic Vice President of Strategic Alliances Natalie Williams who will be heading up Friends of Magic. “Friends of Magic is about leveraging the power of community engagement to support at risk students by connecting them to invaluable life experiences. We are the communities we serve; that believe, that realization is the foundation for Mr. Johnson’s work and it is the motivation behind Friends of Magic.”

Williams added that more than 7,000 students would drop out of school by the time the day was out and that right now in the United States nearly 25% of students in high school will not graduate.

Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn, who also attended the press conference, voiced his support for Friends of Magic and the Magic Johnson Bridgescape stating, “We don’t have a person to waste in America and definitely not in Illinois.”

The Bridgescape assists students up to the age of 21 years old obtain their high school diploma via online courses, one-on-one sessions with instructors, etc. The Magic Johnson Bridgescape location that is currently open is in North Lawndale on Chicago’s West side. Locations on the South Side are currently in the works. There is an official partnership between the Magic Johnson Bridgescape and Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

“Chicago Public Schools will never give up on any child; we recognize that students take different pathways to success,” said Jack Elsey, Chief of Innovation Incubation Officer at Chicago Public Schools (CPS). “CPS has made progress on reducing the district wide dropout rate: 10 years ago it was 50.1%, last year it was 35%. This year our freshman on track to graduation rate is the highest ever in Chicago; it was up to 74.8% from 72.6% in 2012 and 69% in 2011.”

“When you take time to give back it really says something; you’re really making that commitment to giving back to the circle of life and we know in Chicago we have to give back, we have to increase our circle of life by giving back,” said Common. “When we have a chance to get our children off the streets, let’s get them off the streets.”

For more information visit http://friendsofmagic.com/.

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