Freedom Schools: A national movement the Foundation helped bring and adapt locally

Education

In conjunction with the Children’s Defense Fund and local organizations, in 2004 the Foundation supported Freedom Schools models in Kansas City to provide summer and afterschool literacy, leadership, and enrichment programming. During a three-year period from 2005 to 2007, 3,274 scholars from ages five to 15 attended the six-week summer Kansas City CDF Freedom Schools program. Freedom Schools extended the Foundation’s longstanding focus on literacy, self-esteem, and youth empowerment, particularly for students of color.