Knowing that for most the odds are against that kind of success, he wants the children of Fresno — a historically under-resourced community — to have a wider range of role models and the knowledge that they can change their world. To make that possible, he retired from the NFL and turned his attention to starting a school based on those principles: Golden Charter Academy (GCA).
GCA is definitively hands-on. The K-8 school partners closely with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, where students attend daily classes, integrating real-world experiences into their learning. Golden explains that “a zoo is a small city. They can work with the chef, the marketing manager, the accountants, as well as the vets and zookeepers.” In parallel, the school focuses on local environmental challenges like poor air and water quality. He continues, “We teach them about the issues the community struggles with, and how they can make a difference. We show them what civic engagement is.”
A loan from BlueHub Loan Fund will enable the school to transition from renting space to constructing a purpose-built 26,000-square-foot building, sited directly across the street from the zoo. With 21 classrooms and other amenities, the school will accommodate more than 500 students. “Our goal is to put math, English and science into practice, so students understand why it’s important to learn — and to give the community a place that is a beacon of hope, a community resource where people can learn about financial literacy and résumé building,” says Golden.
“We see this school as a place where kids can actually have an impact.” Golden says, “Little hands can do big things. This is what education should look like.”
