Fuel Hope for South Central LA Kids

Dear friends,

Summer is a critical time for the young people of Pueblos Del Rios Housing Projects in South Central Los Angeles.

Decades of disinvestment has left our community with limited access to higher education, food deserts, and traumatic cycles of violence. These obstacles make it nearly impossible to run an effective community program.

Despite the challenges, a group of high school and college-aged youth have been organizing to bring literacy, food, science, mathematics, art and healing to their fellow youth. Armed with education and non-violent direct actions, freedom school empowers scholars to make a difference in ourselves, our community, our country, and our world through hope, love and action.

Kind hearts like yours allow low-income communities to have access some may not be able to afford. Your support is truly appreciated.

Combined with patience, creative ways of reading a book, and resources, ever summer young people are provided with: - free breakfast, snack, and lunch - culturally conscious Lesson Plans designed to fall in love with reading - parent engagement - enrichment field trips - library card -Daily recreational, art, and sport activities -College Mentors - Freedom School Classroom: A themed class that serves as a motivational, beautiful, one of a kind, inspirational space for our scholars to learn.

Our Model this Summer 2024:

Freedom School Scholars: grades K-8th serve as the day-to-day recipients of program offerings

Freedom Leadership Academy Youth Educators: Ages 14-24 are hired, trained, and mentored to facilitate lesson plans designed to mitigate summer reading and math loss for Freedom School Scholars

Scholar in Residence of the Freedom Institute: University of California, Santa Cruz undergraduate student conducts research to guide our summer funding, trainings, and sustainability

Temachtiani (Master Teacher): Rooted in traditional indigenous knowledge, the Master Teacher is a Master of Arts in Education Graduate Student and Teacher finalizing their credentials in Mathematics, Social Sciences & Bilingual Education that will serve as the volunteer Director of Operations of day-to-day activities to ensure a high-quality education.

Our Elder in Lead: Ms. Carolynn Martin, Executive Director at The LA Wellness Station serves as our Elder in Lead, guiding us through a summer of growth, learning, and community wellbeing.