The CDF Freedom Schools ® concept is unique among summer enrichment programs because the mission is to create safe, nurturing educational environments that set high expectations for all children.
Literacy as a LifelineReading is at the heart of the Freedom School curriculum. During the summer session, many students fall in love with books for the first time.
Multigenerational Mentoring Freedom School scholars ages 5-15 are taught by college-age interns who want to improve the lives of children while enriching their own life experience. Each intern completes rigorous traning at the Children’s Defense Fund conference facility on the Alex Haley Farm in Clinton, Tennesse, and at the Universty of Tennessee in Knoxville. Interns from around the nation have the opportunity to study the Freedom School model together.
Highlighting Cultural Awareness Cultural history and heritage are emphasized through the use of an Integrated Reading Curriculum that introduces students to a rich collection of culturally diverse literature. Activities and field trips also explore avariety of cultures.
Parenting as Learning Partners Freedom Schools recognize parents as important partners in educating their children. Parents are expected to participate in school activities and attend weekly workshops to learn more about successful parenting, setting and achieving family goals, and becoming advocates for children’s education.
Servant Leadership
The concept of servant leadership provides the basis for preparing college students to lead children while nurturing them both academically and emotionally. Servant Leader Interns are expected to model behavior that serves as an example of fairness, integrity, and dependability. Each CDF Freedom School hires its own team of Servant Leader Interns who are up and coming leaders from the local community. All Servant Leader Interns must be between 19 and 30 years old, with 60 credit hours, and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. All servant leader interns receive a monetary stipend for their service and dedication.
All Servant Leader Interns are expected to demonstrate their committment to youth leadership development,social action, civic engagement,and youth empowerment. Our program cultivates two generations of leadership, demonstrating to all that young people can indeed make a difference in themselves, their communities, and their world through education, hope, leadership, and social action.
2010 Freedom School Session: June 21 - July 30, 2010
Enrollment in a Freedom School is on a first-come, first-served basis until maximum capacity is reached. Each site administrator handles their own enrollment. For more information on enrollment and waiting lists please call the Freedom School site directly or email inquiries to enrollment@kcfreedomschools.org.
Enrolling Ages 5-15
All KC CDF Freedom School sites have expanded to serve Level 4 scholars ages 13-15. Teens should be enrolled in each sites’ Junior Intern cohort using the online scholar application listed above. These Junior Interns will be provided with an age-appropriate FreedomSchool experience that cultivates a love of literacy and leadership through opportunities to serve younger children and the local community. Kansas City has successfully trained hundreds of Junior Interns over the past few years. Junior Interns participate in specialized training that prepares them to work with younger children while strengthening their awareness of personal capacities to serve others. This non-paid leadership experience for teens ages 13-15 entails:
Collaboration with other collegiate youth leaders to support the needs of children, families, and community members
Real world on-the-job training and preparation for teens who are still too young to work
Teens developing a stronger understanding of personal responsibility to practice and model healthy lifestyles and choices
Opportunities to design and lead implementation of social action projects & recognition for such
Letters documenting total hours of community service throughout summer experience (typically 240+ hours)
Opportunities for testimonials highlighting personal service and accomplishments on our webpage
