Our Story
One For One believes in the fundamental idea that one person, one choice, one step, one chance, one job, one day, one opportunity…can change a life. Our organization is about meeting the needs of the youth that we serve—providing opportunities and connections that have the potential to transform lives, one person at a time.
One For One was originally established in 2007 as the Ferrer Foundation, which focused on children of incarcerated parents. The organization has evolved its mission over the years to best serve youth living in Chicago communities where violence is prevalent.
At the heart of One For One is Founder and Executive Director Meghan Olson.
Meghan Olson, the Chicago founder and executive director of One for One, has spent her career dedicated to supporting, nurturing and advocating for underserved children and families by addressing the root causes of violence. She takes an immersive approach to developing programming that puts the child at the center and works to remove barriers that impede their success.
“Violence isn’t isolated to one family member, it affects everyone. The heart of One for One’s approach is to take the time to listen and observe the kids’ needs, rather than assume that we have the right answers. Our students become partners and decision makers through hands-on learning experiences that impact their self-esteem and self-determination,” reflects Meghan. “One for One aligns people with heart and high expectations of the kid’s potential leadership.”
One for One brings youth and community partners together through a dynamic employment pipeline that helps children move their lives forward. The organization has a waiting list and enrolled students return year-after-year into their adulthood. Meghan remains a student at heart and learns from every participant in the program.
Meghan is also a community relationship builder who partners with leaders and organizations across the City to help families thrive. This work has included serving on the Community Renewal Society’s state advocacy task force to improve family access to incarcerated loved ones, the Women’s Committee led by Illinois Senator and Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford to provide community-based wellness programs for women and children, the Advisory Board for the Governor’s Office for Juvenile Justice and graduating from the Goldin Institute’s Chicago Peace Fellows Program. Meghan also graduated from Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses Program, a premier national small-business training and networking curriculum
One for One, formerly known as the Ferrer Foundation, was established in 2007 in honor of the late Father Miguel Ferrer who generously counseled the Olson family when Meghan’s father was falsely incarcerated in Puerto Rico in 2006. With her father’s successful release, Meghan established the organization with the initial vision of serving incarcerated families and has broadened the mission to address the needs of youth where violence is the most prevalent.
Prior to establishing One for One, Meghan worked in various capacities at the Chicago Public Schools Office of Early Childhood Education, including providing teen parents and youth with prenatal, nutritional and educational services through the Cradle to Classroom Program on Chicago’s Westside. Meghan holds a B.A. in Child Development and Family Studies from Arizona State University.
“Violence isn’t isolated to one family member, it affects everyone. The heart of One for One’s approach is to take the time to listen and observe the kids’ needs, rather than assume that we have the right answers. Our students become partners and decision makers through hands-on learning experiences that impact their self-esteem and self-determination. One for One aligns people with heart and high expectations of the kid’s potential leadership.”
