We Warned Them: Freedom Village

Margaret Mayer
  • 5.0 (2)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

These are the accounts of students attending Freedom Village, the self-proclaimed premiere home for troubled teens. Shielded from the scrutiny of the public by its seclusion in a sparsely populated region nearby Rochester New York, it maintained its reputation and relationships with conservative fundamentalist religious organizations and operated as a state-sanctioned method of behavioral therapy. What is the long term aftermath for the thousands who passed through these doors? And what can these stories tell us about the multi-billion dollar troubled teen industry?

Episodes

  1. Where Are They Now?

    2023-11-07

    Where Are They Now?

    Margaret speaks with Jaz and Gabe, the founders of We Warned Them, who tell the story of how they stopped Freedom Village South Carolina from re-opening in 2019. However, Fletcher Brothers and the TTI network he sponsors are still operating without accountability. We explore how concerned citizens can identify residential care homes in their states, get involved with local governance, and prevent the Troubled Teen Industry from flourishing in their own backyards. Program Archive Map: https://www.unsilenced.org/program-archive/ Jeremy Brothers Affidavit: https://wewarnedthem.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JB-Felony1.pdf https://wewarnedthem.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/JB-Felony2.pdf Additional Resources: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cWet84VhYyrXV8N5fVMErXAUI9AUiq09/view?usp=drivesdk Show Notes: Director and Producer: Margaret Mayer  Editor and Producer: Stefan Cepko w/ the help of Maggie Gelen and Carlo Soriano  Music Credits for this episode: John Noir: https://www.instagram.com/johnnoir/ GucciSilica: https://soundcloud.com/guccisilica Ele47n : TimeZoneArt@outlook.com Music Credits for all episodes: K. Porcelain: https://kporcelain.bandcamp.com/ Elson: https://www.instagram.com/elsonmakes Gillian Fox Orwell: ⁠https://instagram.com/foxindigonyc⁠Maggie: https://www.instagram.com/m.art2626/ Thank you to everyone who has supported this project!

    47 min
  2. When Is It Over? The Aftermath

    2023-08-18

    When Is It Over? The Aftermath

    Shame, sexuality, flashbacks. What is the true legacy of the Freedom Village? To answer that question, Margaret talks with past interviewees and hears how their experiences of exploitation, and even conversion therapy have impacted their lives, often for years, decades, and even generations after leaving the Village. Maggie's knowledge as a clinical therapist helps us to uncover some of the more insidious psychological consequences of the treatments administered to the Village’s wards. Show Notes: Director and Producer: Margaret Mayer  Editor and Producer: Stefan Cepko w/ the help of Maggie Gelen Freedom Village Truth Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freedomvillagetruth/ Additional Resources: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cWet84VhYyrXV8N5fVMErXAUI9AUiq09/view?usp=sharing Music Credits: Elson: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/elsonmakes⁠ Gucci Silica: ⁠https://soundcloud.com/guccisilica⁠ Gillian Fox Orwell: https://instagram.com/foxindigonyc K. Porcelain: https://kporcelain.bandcamp.com/ Ele47n : TimeZoneArt@outlook.com

    54 min
  3. What is a Cult Anyway?

    2023-05-13

    What is a Cult Anyway?

    Margaret sits down with a woman who was born at Freedom Village and spent the first 24 years of her life under Fletcher Brothers' care. Her experiences, the perspective from two other long-term residents turned staff, and the advice of an investigative reporter raise the question, was Freedom Village a cult? Created By: Director and Producer: Margaret Mayer Editor and Producer: Stefan Cepko w/ the help of Maggie Gelen Carlo Soriano Music Credits: GucciSilica: https://soundcloud.com/guccisilica Elson: https://www.instagram.com/elsonmakes

    44 min
  4. Why Are We Here? The Hi$tory

    2023-04-28

    Why Are We Here? The Hi$tory

    Margaret investigates the origins of the Troubled Teen Industry from its roots in the Independent Baptist movement to Lester Roloff's legislative battles to build and run homes for troubled teens and foster kids, ultimately showing how closely tied the industry is tied to the architects of the Religious Right. After investigating the various streams of money into Freedom Village, the reality of Freedom Village's Adopt-A-Teen program and international connections to Ukrainian orphanages lead to haunting revelations. Created By: Director and Producer: Margaret Mayer Editor and Producer: Stefan Cepko w/ the help of Maggie Gelen Carlo Soriano Music Credits: K. Porcelain https://kporcelain.bandcamp.com/ GucciSilica https://soundcloud.com/guccisilica Ele47n : TimeZoneArt@outlook.com

    1h 9m
  5. How Do You Become Institutionalized?

    2023-04-14

    How Do You Become Institutionalized?

    Margaret, Maggie, and Boy Wonder travel upstate to interview young survivors of Freedom Village who report on its final years of operation. Patterns of abuse and coercive behavioral modification provide a platform to understand institutionalization. The survivors reveal their individual experiences with violence, racism, medical neglect, and suicidal feelings in the treatment center. Created By: Director and Producer: Margaret Mayer Editor and Producer: Stefan Cepko w/ the help of Maggie Gelen Carlo Soriano Music Credits: K. Porcelain https://kporcelain.bandcamp.com/ GucciSilica https://soundcloud.com/guccisilica Ele47n : TimeZoneArt@outlook.com

    54 min
  6. Who Decides Where Bad Kids Go?

    2023-04-07

    Who Decides Where Bad Kids Go?

    Kids are being sent to a compound in upstate New York. Some of them were forced by their parents, others were court-ordered, but all are indelibly marked by their time under the care of Pastor Fletcher Brothers. Host and creator Margaret details her entry into the world of Freedom Village USA and uncovers its connection to the larger Troubled Teen Industry. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://wewarnedthem.org/ Created By: Director and Producer: Margaret Mayer Editor and Producer: Stefan Cepko w/ the help of Maggie Gelen Carlo Soriano Music Credits: K. Porcelain https://kporcelain.bandcamp.com/ GucciSilica https://soundcloud.com/guccisilica Ele47n : TimeZoneArt@outlook.com

    42 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

These are the accounts of students attending Freedom Village, the self-proclaimed premiere home for troubled teens. Shielded from the scrutiny of the public by its seclusion in a sparsely populated region nearby Rochester New York, it maintained its reputation and relationships with conservative fundamentalist religious organizations and operated as a state-sanctioned method of behavioral therapy. What is the long term aftermath for the thousands who passed through these doors? And what can these stories tell us about the multi-billion dollar troubled teen industry?

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