Press Releases

Clinton, Tenn. - Six hundred forty-eight young people graduated from the Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute today, prepared to serve more than 5,500 children at Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools around the country. It was the largest graduating class of college-aged servant leaders in the 13-year history of the program.

Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools are partnerships between CDF and local organizations to provide literacy-rich summer programs in underserved communities. This summer's servant leaders will staff 77 different Freedom Schools operating in 47 cities in 23 states.

"Of all the efforts at the Children's Defense Fund, none more directly touches children with positive educational experiences than our Freedom Schools model for summer and after-school enrichment," CDF Founder and CEO Marian Wright Edelman told the new graduates. "I am very proud of each of you for participating in the largest and the best Freedom Schools training ever. As college students, you can-and must-impart your own dedication to learning and a spirit of service so that more children will get on the path to higher education."

Modeled after the 1964 Freedom Schools-which were established as part of the voter registration and community mobilization effort during the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project-today's CDF Freedom Schools program aims to provide summer options for children where few exist.

This year's training included powerful films documenting some of the heroes and crucial moments in the Civil Rights Movement. The students saw Fundi: the Story of Ella Baker and learned about Ella Baker's significant role in the movement, and Mighty Times: The Children's March, which depicted the courage, passion and perseverance of the children and many others involved in the Children's March in Birmingham, Ala., in 1963.

Even more impressive than these documentaries were the live-and-in-person speakers.

Activists who were members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1964, such as Charles Cobb (who suggested the original idea of a freedom schools program in Mississippi), Hollis Watkins, and Mayor Unita Blackwell addressed the participants. Panels of distinguished authors, scholars, and activists probed the theme of this year's training, Nommo: Power of the Word, Exploring Liberation Through Literacy. The speakers included best selling author and 1997 National Teacher of the Year Sharon Draper, Yale Chaplain Dr. Frederick Streets, Buffalo State University Dean of Education Dr. Ronald Rochon, University of South Florida professor Dr. Deidre Cobb-Roberts, authors and publishers Anthony Browder and Dr. Felix Padilla, and Carolyn McKinstry, President of the Board of Directors of the Sixteenth Street Foundation, Inc.

Friday evening featured Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, often called "one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced," as the Call to Action speaker. Congressman Lewis shared with the audience of young leaders his story of struggle and determination, recalling his dedication to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls "The Beloved Community" in America. He encouraged the Servant Leader Interns and Freedom Schools staff to be ready to make "good trouble" on behalf of the fight for justice for children and the poor.

CDF Freedom Schools seek to serve low-income and minority children who otherwise do not have access to quality summer programs; however, Freedom Schools are open to all children aged 5 to 18 years. A nationally recognized Integrated Reading Curriculum introduces children to a superb collection of books that engage them in activities to promote critical and analytical thinking and conflict resolution skills, foster a love of reading, give children a sense of cultural and historical awareness, and inspire social action. CDF Freedom Schools also strengthen parental and community involvement in the year-round achievement of all children. Parents and community leaders benefit from workshops designed to promote social action and greater awareness of children's needs.

"The original Freedom Schools brought young adults from across the country to Mississippi to promote equality, self-discovery, learning, social justice and community activism to African American children," Mrs. Edelman explained. "America has made much progress since that summer of change, but many challenges remain. Too many poor and ethnic minority children are still in inferior public schools and suffer in many other ways.

"The Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools are a bridge to a brighter future where educational gaps narrow, families are strengthened, and the next generation of committed community activists is created to ensure that we truly leave no child behind."

At the graduation ceremony, Dr. Jeanne Middleton-Hairston, National Director of the CDF Freedom Schools program, shared inspirational and humbling words with this year's Servant Leaders Interns, local site staff, and guests: "As we prepare to serve in Freedom Schools 2005, we pause to honor the sacrifices made during 1964 and are further empowered to make a difference in the lives of current and successive generations of American children."

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To learn more about CDF Freedom Schools, go to:
http://www.freedomschools.org/

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The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick, into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown. CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. We have never taken government funds.