LeBron James’ non-profit to offer housing for disadvantaged families
James’ I PROMISE Village will house families who are struggling with domestic violence, homelessness and more.
The Lebron James Family Foundation previewed images of a newly refurbished building in Akron, Ohio that has been turned into a housing community for disadvantaged families, reports News 5 Cleveland.
The I PROMISE Village serves as a “transitional housing community” for Akron families who are struggling with domestic violence, homelessness or other obstacles. The building is located just a few miles away from James’ I PROMISE School, which will allow students to be close enough to still attend the institution.
The apartment building is equipped with a laundry room, supply room, outdoor physical area, study room and garden, where families will learn how to harvest their own produce. Several nights a week, the Village will serve family meals.
There will also be an opportunity for the residents to learn about healthy cooking, financial literacy, sewing and home repair skills.
“Being able to offer this safe haven for our families is transformational in every sense of the word,” said Michele Campbell, Executive Director of the LeBron James Family Foundation. “This is about more than just getting kids to school. This is about keeping them alive. We’re seeing families struggling every day with very real and oftentimes unexpected issues that turn their worlds upside down. This will allow the family time and opportunities to grow while not worrying if they’ll have a roof over their heads.”
Aside from his charitable endeavors, James has been using his platform to bring awareness to issues affecting the Black community. On Thursday (July 23), James used his time at a post-scrimmage press conference to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was fatally shot in her home by Louisville police officers.
“First of all, I want to continue to shed light on justice for Breonna Taylor and to her family and everything that’s going on with that situation,” the Los Angeles Lakers superstar said.
“We want the cops arrested who committed that crime. In the state of Kentucky — what’s going on down there — I know a lot of people are feeling the same,” he continued. “Us as the NBA and [as] players — me as one of the leaders of this league — I want her family to know and I want the state of Kentucky to know that we feel for her and we want justice. That’s what it’s all about. What’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong.”
Check out photos of the I PROMISE Village below.