meet   Nicole Hernandez, Program Associate, CDF–MN Locations Program Contacts and Session Information Academia Cesar Chavez Serving Scholars K - 6th grade 1800 Ames Ave. St. Paul, MN 55119 Contact: Jennifer Villella 651-778-2940 ext. 1120 Kwanzaa Community Church Serving scholars: K - 12th grade 3700 Bryant Avenue N Minneapolis, MN 55411 Contact: Anthony Williams 612-236-7043 New Creation Church Serving scholars: K - 6th grade 1922 25th Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN  55411 Contact: Paul Slack 612-200-8474 Park Avenue Youth & Family Services Serving Scholars: K - 8th grade 3400 Park Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55407 Contact: Michele Higgins 612-825-6864 ext 518   Pillsbury United Communities - Oak Park Serving Scholars: K - 6th grade 1701 Oak Park Ave N Minneapolis, MN 55411 Contact: 612-377-7000 St. Paul Area Council of Churches Serving Scholars: K - 6th grade Capitol Hill Magnet School 560 Concordia Ave St. Paul, MN 55103 Contact: 651-646-8805 Sojourner Truth Academy Serving scholars: K - 6th grade 3820 Emerson Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN Contact: Heidi Wise 612-588-3599 Stadium View 510 Park Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55415 Contact: 612-245-5206   CDF National Freedom School Contacts

The CDF Freedom Schools® program provides summer and after-school enrichment that helps children fall in love with reading, increases their self-esteem, and generates more positive attitudes toward learning.

Children are taught using a model curriculum that supports children and families around five essential components:

• 
  High-quality academic enrichment
• Parent and family involvement
• Civic engagement and social action
• Intergenerational leadership development
• Nutrition, health and mental health

In partnership with faith institutions, schools, colleges and universities, and community based organizations, the CDF Freedom Schools® program boosts student motivation to read, generates more positive attitudes toward learning, and connects the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities.

The CDF Freedom Schools® model incorporates the totality of the Children's Defense Fund's mission by fostering environments that support children and young adults to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves and in their families, schools, communities, nation, and world.  College age young adults are trained as servant leader interns to deliver the integrated reading curriculum (IRC) and adults are trained as site coordinators and project directors to provide supervision and administrative oversight.

CDF Freedom Schools® program sites are safe and restorative learning spaces where:

• children are surrounded by caring adults and college age young adults from their community (at a classroom ratio of 1:10) who share their enthusiasm for learning and reading, and commit to serving them as authentic mentors
• children read high quality books and are engaged in learning activities that are appropriate to their developmental needs and interests
• each day begins with "Harambee!," a 30-minute activity to celebrate and affirm the value of each participant and prepare for work and learning ahead
• children receive two nutritious meals and a healthy snack each day in the summer model and nutritious snacks during the after-school program;
• parents are engaged as site volunteers and participate in weekly workshops on children?s developmental needs, civic responsibility, and other topics of interest
• children are encouraged and supported to dream, set goals for themselves, and cultivate positive attitudes and high expectations;
• young 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
• families have access to free and high quality childcare

In the summer of 2011, CDF Freedom Schools sponsor partners served more than 9,800 children at 151 program sites in 87 cities and 27 states. Since 1995, over 90,000 K-12 children have had a CDF Freedom Schools experience and more than 12,300 college students and young adult staff have been trained to deliver this empowering model.