The CDF Freedom Schools® program is an educational and cultural enrichment program. Our program provides summer options for children where there are none and strengthens parent and community involvement in the year-round achievement of children. We serve children ages 5 to 18 for six weeks and integrate reading, conflict resolution, and social action in an activity-based curriculum to promote social, cultural, and historical awareness.
Founded in 1995 by the Children's Defense Fund's Black Community Crusade for Children® (BCCC) initiative and today coordinated nationally by the Children's Defense Fund in partnership with well-established and effective local and regional child-serving organizations, the CDF Freedom Schools program is a direct service initiative. CDF's Leave No Child Behind® mission is 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.
Community volunteers play a key role in the Connexion CDF Freedom Schools program as classroom assistants helping our servant leader interns deliver the Integrated Reading Curriculum and provide care and nurture for the children.
Responsibilities
- Support a servant leader intern leading a class of 10 students from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM.
- Help ensure a safe environment for students and staff.
- We prefer volunteers who can commit to a regular schedule of at least one day a week but are open to volunteers who can commit in different ways.
Qualifications
- Must have graduated from high school.
- Solid commitment to children's advocacy and enthusiasm for the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools program
- Strong appreciation and understanding of individual cultural history and the willingness to be open and respectful of all cultures
- Conversational fleuncy in Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole highly desired.
- Exhibit positive attitude; model a mature and professional demeanor
- Authorization for background check for criminal and child protective findings
