Earvin ''Magic'' Johnson has launched a new, alternative school in Chicago aimed at helping at-risk students, including dropouts, graduate from high school.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Magic Johnson Bridescape Academy opened its doors on Wednesday with the help of Chicago born-and-bred rap star Common. The "Friends of Magic" theme event was also attended by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn.
According to the newspaper, an emotional Johnson wiped away tears as he intently listened to one student after another talk about how they feel the school offers them a second opportunity to get their life on track.
"I enrolled at MJBA because I needed the bridge to cross the gap between traditional schooling and a diploma," 18-year-old Haman Cross told the Sun-Times. "I feel like I've been given a second chance."
Later Johnson took the stage, where he told students "God is good," in encouraging them to never give up on their dreams. "I've been in my life. All you want to do is help these incredible young people achieve their goals in life."
"Friends of Magic" will offer tutoring, mentoring and jobs, a formula advocated by local groups such as the Black Star Project, which this spring spearheaded a mass black male graduation ceremony to combat dropout rates with mentoring and jobs.
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