Our
Story
The 1+1=U program began out of the care and compassion of its first student, CJ Spillman, who at the time was a Central High School junior. CJ was a very athletic football player with great chances of going pro.
Everyone at Central recognized the potential in this young man, but few had faith he would excel at anything because of his attitude and lack of overall enthusiasm. 1+1=U began working with CJ after teachers and coaches had given up on his ability to perform and succeed in classes.
It was a chorus teacher who introduced CJ to our founder, Margaret, and she allowed him to be a student aid in her classroom.
Soon after, CJ became a positive influence for the students in Margaret’s special education class. 1+1=U engaged in several discussions with CJ about life, going to class and making sure he understood the consequences of his own actions. And not unlike many students working towards a goal, there were minor setbacks. CJ would sometimes leave school during the day, not realizing that college recruiters were coming to visit him. 1+1=U called and located CJ via his cell phone and asked that he immediately return to school. He always listened.
​
Trust opens the doors of encouragement. During his senior year of high school, CJ and his mom both decided that he needed to go to a military academy. 1+1=U drove him to Hargrave Military Academy to visit the campus and Central Football Coach Steve Serotte drove him to Fort Union Military Academy, both in the same week. CJ chose Fort Union, and not long after began making big impressions on the coaching staff. He quickly began to improve in academics, developed self discipline, set goals and began to respect himself and others. Though CJ was miles away from home, 1+1=U remained just a phone call away, ready to assist with anything he needed. Shortly after, CJ signed with Marshall University with support from his mom, sister and 1+1=U.
Play it forward, pay it back. After Marshall University, he participated in the NFL Combine and signed as a free agent with San Diego Chargers. CJ also spent time playing with the San Francisco 49ers where he appeared in Super Bowl XLVII, and the Dallas Cowboys. Now he is giving back to the program and his community by having a football camp kids who cannot afford to pay for camp.
Play it forward and pay it back became the new motto. 1+1=U never asked for any money but just that CJ reach back and pull another kid up like him. CJ also serves as a member of the 1+1=U 2023 Board of Directors.
Our Mission
One Plus One Equals U, Inc. (1+1=U, Inc.) serves to impact the lives of teens and young adults, by way of high school completion and post-secondary educational attainment. Through application and implementation of the, “whole child” curricula, 1+1=U, Inc. encourages participants to develop academic scholarship, community engagement in world leadership, self-discipline, integrity and responsibility. The organization impacts the lives of its students through mentorship, enriching experiences, and preparation for and admission to colleges, universities, technical/vocational schools, preparatory military academies, and / or boarding schools.
Our Approach
Our students are typically athletically privileged, at-risk, discipline involved, trauma induced, forgotten in the classroom, attention deprived, behaviorally challenged, and/or simply misunderstood. In an effort to sustainably meet their needs, our programming seeks to encourage self-enrichment, family enrichment, and academic enrichment in a holistic environment that promotes leadership and responsibility. We impress upon students the importance of being able to face both victories and lessons gracefully, teaching them how to cope with defeat, while still demonstrating ethical behavior, perseverance, resilience and self-discipline.
Creating One-to-One Relationships
allows us to form a personal bond and provide resources unique to each students needs
We strive to get and keep students & athletes off the streets, in school, AND in academic good standing while mentoring & preparing them for scholarly success through college & beyond. Whether it be tutoring to pass a class, another adult to "stay on them", or even assistance with living needs for families facing eviction.
By showing young men and women the power of setting goals and working hard to stay focused on achieving them, we help students carve their dreams out of their current reality.
Meet Our Founder
Our organization was unofficially founded in 2004 by Margaret Dunbar-Demaree at Central HS. Aside from her role as loving mother, daughter, sister, mentor, and servant of God, Margaret holds a B.S. from Eastern Kentucky University, and a M.A. from the University of Louisville, both in Special Education, and an administration certification from Western Kentucky University. In addition, she is a 45 year member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and an October 2022 individual Mayoral Proclamation recipient for participation in the DVULI Leadership Development Program for Urban Youth Workers.
Margaret taught in Bullitt County for 4 years, then Bullitt Lick Middle School and Bullitt East High School. Eventually, she was offered a position at the historically black Louisville Central High School, where she taught for 30 years and began the work that eventually became One Plus One Equals U, Inc.
Margaret has been featured in several publications for the work 1+1=U, Inc. is doing to help students in the community including the Courier Journal, Business First, VYPE Magazine and Today’s Women Magazine. Margaret has also appeared on WHAS 11,
“Connections with Renee Shaw" show, and interviewed on radio talk shows “Big Talk on Small Business,” B96.5, 101.3 FM, 1350 AM, WLOU, 1450 The Sports Buzz, and ArtxFM-ArtBEAT!
