Change your thinking. Change your WORLD.

Alive & Free believes that every young person has the potential to succeed. Bright futures are possible for all of our youth, but it is easy to get off-track. Sadly, violence – which spreads like a disease in our communities – locks up that potential and leaves young people incarcerated or worse–dead. Founded in 1987 as Omega Boys Club, by Dr. Joseph Marshall, Alive & Free has transformed the lives of more than 10,000 young people and produced more than 200 college graduates, all supported by the organization’s scholarship fund. At the heart of the Alive & Free Prescription is the notion that violence is a social disease with an explicit treatment process. Like a disease, it is transmitted by the germs of bad information, bad instruction, bad advice, and bad examples that to young people appear to be good. The “Alive & Free Prescription” works to change beliefs, attitudes, values and actions that promote violence and poor decision making. Alive & Free identifies and addresses the symptomatic thinking that puts young people at risk (Commandments of Violence), the actions that put young people at risk for violence (Risk Factors), the feelings and emotions that contribute to violent behavior (Emotional Residue of Anger, Fear, and Pain), and the Rules for Living that promote positive lifestyle choices. Young people who learn the Alive & Free prescription also have a new set of life skills to make choices that help them go to college, succeed in life, and give back to their communities. Alive & Free is offered at the Fairfield PAL Center every Monday at 7:15pm. A PAL membership is required to attend. Sessions are led by Mr. Andre Aikins. Formerly a math teacher and Assistant Principal at both Frick Middle and Madison Middle School in East Oakland, he has 20-plus years of experience with youth from all walks of life. He has received numerous awards that include the 2015 Man of Merit from The Delta Project, 2011 Community Service Award from the Sociology Department at Grambling State University, 2008 American Education Week Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Education at Grambling State University along with a Certificate of Appreciation from The McCullum Youth Court for the 2006-2007 school year, to name a few. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics Education and Minor in Sociology from Grambling State University and an Administrative and Teaching Credential from the State of California. The Fairfield PAL Program is open to Fairfield, Suisun, and Travis Students enrolled in grades seven through twelve. Memberships are $10 per year and can be purchased at the Fairfield Community Center (1000 Webster Street) Mon-Thursday between 11:30-5:30pm. The PAL Center is located at 2195 Union Ave in Fairfield. The Fairfield PAL program offers Fairfield, Suisun, and Travis teens a place to grow, learn, and build the skills they need today and in the future. The PAL Center offers teens a safe environment, supports working families and helps students achieve by giving them opportunities right now. The center is open Monday – Thursdays between 3pm and 9pm and Fridays from 3pm until 10:30pm. For more information about these PAL activities, please call 707-422-6288 or visit the program’s Facebook page at Fairfieldpal1.