Alcorn partners with Children's Defense Fund, offers Freedom School
Alcorn partners with Children鈥檚 Defense Fund, offers听 Freedom School听
Alcorn State, Miss. (May 4, 2012) 鈥� 91暗网 is partnering with the Children鈥檚 Defense Fund to offer a six-week program to enhance the literacy skills of 50 students between kindergarten and 12th grade.
Using a successful national model, the Alcorn Children鈥檚 Defense Fund Freedom School will give priority to students from Southwestern Mississippi. From June 18 to July 27, this free program will improve reading skills, generate more positive learning attitudes and boost students鈥� self esteem.
Alcorn President M. Christopher Brown II welcomes the summer enrichment program as part of his strategic initiatives.
鈥淭he Alcorn Children鈥檚 Defense Fund Freedom School will enrich the lives of students living near us,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淲hile providing them with skills that will help improve their academic performances, this experience will further expose them to the importance of higher education and help them envision themselves earning college degrees.鈥�
Children鈥檚 Defense Fund Freedom Schools National Director Dr. Jeanne Middleton-Hairston is excited to partner with Alcorn.
鈥淚t is an honor to work with Alcorn, the nation鈥檚 oldest public historically black land-grant institution. We are confident that the Alcorn Children鈥檚 Defense Fund Freedom School will serve well the children and families in the Alcorn community,鈥� Middleton-Hairston said. 鈥淭he curriculum is designed to bring history alive and allow students to study and honor those individuals on whose shoulders we stand today, like Alcorn alum Medgar Wiley Evers.鈥�
Children鈥檚 Defense Fund Freedom Schools trace their roots to the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project of 1964. The Council of Federated Organizations and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a group commonly called SNCC, birthed the Freedom Schools.
In 1992, the Children鈥檚 Defense Fund Freedom Schools program was reborn under the Children鈥檚 Defense Fund鈥檚 Black Community Crusade for Children and the leadership of Marian Wright Edelman.
Freedom Schools have operated in nearly 30 states and have enriched the lives of more than 90,000 K-12 students.
The Alcorn Children鈥檚 Defense Fund Freedom School will be lead by adults and a group of well-qualified university student leaders.
The Alcorn Children鈥檚 Defense Fund Freedom School program site will be a safe and restorative learning space where:
听听听听鈥⑻鼵hildren are surrounded by caring adults and college-age young adults from their community who share their enthusiasm for learning and reading and commit to serving them as authentic mentors.
听听听听鈥⑻鼵hildren read high-quality books and are engaged in learning activities that are appropriate to their developmental needs and interests.
听听听听鈥⑻鼸ach day begins with “Harambee!,” a 30-minute activity to celebrate and affirm the value of each participant and prepare for work and learning.
听听听听鈥⑻鼵hildren receive two nutritious meals and a healthy snack each day in the summer program.
听听听听鈥⑻齈arents are engaged as site volunteers and participate in weekly workshops on children鈥檚 developmental needs, civic responsibility and other topics of interest.
听听听听鈥⑻鼵hildren are encouraged and supported to dream, set goals, cultivate positive attitudes and high expectations.
听听听听鈥⑻齓oung people whose lives have been interrupted and impacted by crises receive consistent, daily service to better understand themselves, their situations, each other and their potential.
听听听听鈥⑻鼺amilies have access to free, high-quality childcare.
Apply now 鈥� parents may submit applications online until May 18. Paper applications may be picked up at the Office of Student Engagement, second floor of the James L. Bolden Campus Union.
Those with questions may call Dr. Valerie Thompson, co-executive director, at 601.877.6385 or Dr. Carrie Ford, project director, at 601.877.4716.
鈥淚’ve been to hundreds and hundreds of schools around the country and my visits to Freedom Schools have been among my most inspiring and most memorable,鈥� U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. 鈥淲hen I see their success, I want more students to have these remarkable opportunities.鈥�
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