Rooted in the Mississippi Freedom Summer project of 1964, the CDF Freedom Schools® program has historically and continues to be apart of the Black Community Crusade for Children®. The CDF Freedom Schools program is a six-week summer literacy and cultural enrichment program designed to serve children and youth, referred to as scholars, in grades K–12 in communities where quality academic enrichment programming is limited, too expensive, or non-existent. By partnering with schools, faith and community-based organizations, municipalities, colleges and universities, and juvenile detention facilities, we are able to offer this program in these communities at no-cost.

The CDF Freedom Schools program motivates scholars to read and makes them feel good about learning. At the same time, the program connects families to resources in their communities. CDF Freedom Schools scholars engage in a research-based, multicultural Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC) that supports them and their families through five essential components:

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

Scholars also receive two nutritious meals and a snack daily, as well as a book each week to build their home libraries.

We believe in an intergenerational leadership model. That’s why our program is staffed primarily by college students and recent college graduates, with a 10:1 child to adult ratio. As a result, many scholars make significant gains in reading achievement and don’t experience any summer learning loss.

Through the CDF Freedom Schools model, we empower the scholars, staff, and parents to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, country and world with hope, education and action.