Freedom School Turns Summer Break Into A Reading Habit

Send us Fan MailSummer break can quietly undo months of progress, especially when kids lose daily reading practice. We sit down with Dr. Fraronda Green, executive director of the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School at Savannah Grove Baptist Church, to talk about a summer literacy program designed to fight summer reading loss while building pride, confidence, and community. Dr. Green connects the program’s purpose to the legacy of Freedom Summer, reminding us that literacy has always been about voice, access, and possibility. We get specific about what families want to know: what a typical day actually looks like. Dr. Green breaks down Harambe (“let’s pull together”), the high-energy morning gathering filled with chants, music, and movement that helps scholars start the day connected. From there, the program moves into integrated reading, where students work through structured curriculum with discussion, questions, and hands-on activities that make books feel alive. We also talk enrichment, from art and singing to photography, and why creative exposure supports academic growth, not distracts from it. A standout feature is mentorship. Servant leader interns, current college students, help lead reading and activities, creating a real intergenerational pipeline of encouragement. We also share key logistics: Freedom School runs June 15 through July 17, with limited spots remaining for rising 6th through 8th graders, plus how to apply through the church office and social media. If you care about youth development, reading motivation, and practical community-based education, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a parent, and leave us a review.Support the show