The Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools program stems all the way back to the original Freedom Schools in Mississippi in 1967. Today, Freedom Schools exist all over the country. I was offered the opportunity to become a Servant Leader Intern and serve with the East Cleveland Neighborhood Center team at the Mayfair Elementary Freedom Schools site. Without this program, I would not be the person I am today.
Freedom Schools radicalized my view on the American Education and Justice systems. It showed me that public schooling doesn't have to operate in a conveyor belt fashion. That it is intentionally set up to engage students from backgrounds that are already privileged while leaving those who are underserved to the side. My service through Freedom Schools taught me that it's essential to have materials relevant to the scholar's walk of life be relatable and fun in order to be truly engaging. We promoted guiding values to the scholars such as I can make a difference in myself, my family, my school, my community, country, and world with hope, education and action. However, those values weren't just for them, but for us as well as we move on with our leadership in life.
Freedom Schools showed me that in order to bring true, grassroots, and revolutionary change, we need to believe in the next generation and inspire our young leaders in our communities. Reading, learning, and making a difference can be fun if we approach it with that intentionally and remove our own egos from the equation. Before my time with Freedom Schools was finished, I was challenged to take Freedom Schools everywhere with me that I go. That it never leaves you. I've found that to be true as it informs my service every single day.