celebrating freedom summer 1964

Metanoia’s Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom School combats summer learning loss while fostering leadership, literacy, and social responsibility. Freedom School enhances motivation to read and makes scholars feel good about learning. For six weeks in June and July, more than 75 Metanoia CDF Freedom School scholars will be empowered to excel and make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, country, and the world!

Watch the video to see Metanoia’s CDF Freedom School in action! Around 200 CDF Freedom Schools are in communities nationwide and CDF Freedom Schools National Staff recognized Metanoia as the 2023 national Parent and Family Engagement Excellence Award recipient.

What scholars and families get

  • 210

    hours of high-quality support, mentorship, and instruction during the critical summer months

  • 300

    new books for scholars to build their personal libraries with themes and characters that reflect their experiences

  • 600

    nutritious meals (breakfast and lunch) over six-weeks

  • 6

    weekly family engagement opportunities and warm meals that foster connections with volunteers and staff

  • 30

    energetic morning Harambee assemblies with special guest Read Aloud readers from the community

  • 6

    positive field trips to various historical and educational sites which expose scholars to worlds beyond their own

the power of freedom school

I can make a difference in myself

Freedom School deepens scholars’ understanding of themselves and what they have in common with others in our multiracial, multicultural society

93% of Freedom school scholars

either gained or maintained their reading levels according to pre- and post-testing at Metanoia’s 2023 CDF Freedom School

More than 90% of parents

said they were more likely to be engaged in their child’s education after being involved in Metanoia’s CDF Freedom School