The Fierce Urgency of Now: Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy

• In Event: Pro Bono Education Research Service Projects (ERSPs): AERA's ERSP Initiative

Abstract

This project will serve the needs of North Florida Freedom Schools (NFFS) as it implements its summer camps, which provide opportunities for K–8 black students to empower themselves through a culturally relevant reading curriculum and social action project to make a difference in their communities. The project has two goals: (1) build the capacity of NFFS to serve its scholars through program evaluation, and (2) explore black students’ strengths while they interact with a culturally relevant literacy curriculum and develop as social activists. The research will be conducted at NFFS summer camps primarily using qualitative methods, including interviews with students, parents, volunteers, and teachers, as well as observations and document analysis. In the same way that deficit literature seems to breed more of the same, success literature will yield more successes. Thus, the outcomes of this project will include turning the microscope on successes and empowering students, while also providing opportunities for them to shine and further develop their skills. It will help NFFS achieve sustainability by collecting and documenting program evaluation data—including results of reading assessments and surveys—into a report to be shared with donors to and used to secure major grants.

Authors

• Alysia D. Roehrig, Florida State University

• Kristal Moore Clemons, Florida State University

• Michael Peter Mesa, Florida State University

• CheYeon Ha, Florida State University

• Shawna Durtschi, Florida State University

• Chesea Funari, Florida State University

• Keely Norris, Florida State University