Founder (August 1945 – July 2014)

Knowledge Freedom Life (KFL) was founded by Manley Khaleel in 2005 after he retired from a distinguished 31-year career with the Health Resources and Services Administration of the United States Public Health Service. During his tenure as Branch Chief of the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Manley played a crucial role in identifying medically underserved communities and local resources to develop federally qualified health centers across New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. His unwavering commitment to ensuring that marginalized communities have equitable access to high-quality, compassionate health care led to the creation of more than 50 community health centers. His efforts brought significant resources to underserved communities, including primary care physicians, healthcare jobs, and essential health and social services for some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations.

His humble beginnings and upbringing shaped Manley’s values and commitment to service. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he moved to New York to join his parents in the early 1960s. As a young immigrant navigating a complex and often hostile system, Manley experienced firsthand the civil unrest of the time and the disparities caused by racial discrimination.

Beyond his achievements at the Department of Health and Human Services, Manley remained a dedicated advocate for working families, focusing on building community capital. In 1993 he founded “FedKids,” an affordable early childhood development center for federal employees. He also played a pivotal role in unionizing federal employees and served as a union representative, advocating for labor rights.

Throughout his adult life, Manley led various civic engagements in Harlem and the Bronx through his active membership and leadership in the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Prince Hall Freemasonry. These initiatives included coordinating the annual health fair and blood drive for the Kappa Omicron Chapter of Omega Psi Phi.

Manley lived by the core principles of integrity, humility, perseverance, uplift, and scholarship. He believed that it is our God-given right and responsibility to seek knowledge, which he considered the most essential element that enables self-determination. With knowledge and freedom comes the obligation to maintain a healthy life and live purposefully. This philosophy is reflected in the foundation of KFL, built upon the pillars of Knowledge, Freedom, and Life.

In 2005, KFL obtained 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. With this designation, KFL continues to carry forward Manley’s legacy by fulfilling its mission to enhance marginalized individuals’ health, economic well-being, and academic performance. This is achieved through strategic partnerships with both public and private organizations and institutions.