Our Freedom Summer in D.C.

Engaging families as active participants in their children’s education has always been part of the foundation of the CDF Freedom Schools^® model—and this year, during our 25th anniversary of the program, that became more critical than ever. Across the country, many of the families we work with are having trouble getting their basic needs met, and we knew it was important to support our families this year in more ways than one.

Check out some highlights from our Washington, D.C. area CDF Freedom Schools this summer:

Hope: While our CDF Freedom Schools families are experiencing increased stress, economic strain, severe health risks, and serious barriers to education—which have been both exposed and exacerbated by this pandemic—we did our best to be a ray of light. We gave families high-quality children’s books to build home libraries, laptops that will be vital as area schools extend virtual learning into the fall (thanks to a generous donation from Freddie Mac), and parent well-being boxes that included social and emotional support resources and grocery store gift cards.

Education: D.C.-area CDF Freedom Schools scholars were treated to six weeks of daily education and enrichment that spanned online and offline activities—including live virtual book clubs, exciting science experiments, virtual field trips, and more!

Action: As our country reeled following the murder of George Floyd and activists across the country renewed calls for racial justice, we created an opportunity for our D.C. CDF Freedom Schools families to join us for a socially distant Juneteenth gathering at Black Lives Matter Plaza.