HYPE for Houston’s Youth
Since inception, HYPE Freedom School, Inc. has been inspired by the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools Program, which is modeled after the 1964 Freedom Schools that had a focus on voter registration and community mobilization efforts during the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project. In 2000, HYPE was selected by the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) to serve as a local sponsor for the CDF Freedom Schools, a six-week literacy-rich summer program. Although HYPE has since adapted its model to meet the diverse needs of the youth (scholars) it serves, HYPE continues to integrate best practices of the CDF Freedom Schools Program into its service-delivery. |
Each week during the summer program, children take home one book for his or her personal library, extending the learning and support to their homes. With consideration of the social and emotional barriers that interfere with academic achievement, HYPE utilizes strength-based, trauma- informed approaches to not only counter summer learning loss but to also build and strengthen character qualities that promote resilience and an opportunity to succeed.
Open enrollment into HYPE for scholars in grades K-12 begins at the end of the school-year. With college-student interns serving as instructors and mentors, scholars who enroll into HYPE have the additional benefit of regular contact with positive adult role models with whom they can form and sustain meaningful relationships.
Overall, HYPE adds life-enriching value to the lives of scholars that motivates them to learn, inspires a love of reading and builds self-awareness in a fun and culturally-rich environment.
Our program is more than just a summer experience; it’s a lifetime commitment to the movement of social justice.
What We Do
HYPE Freedom School provides comprehensive programs to address literacy gaps, support family resilience, and build leadership skills:
- Literacy & Leadership
Our culturally affirming and trauma-informed programming ensures scholars thrive academically and socially. - Mental Health & Resilience
Year-round mental health services and wellness checks provide families with the tools to navigate life’s challenges. - Family & Community Engagement
From Read-a-Thons to family workshops, we create spaces for families to connect, learn, and lead together.
Year-Round Programming Highlights:
- Read-a-Thons and Lit on the Lawn: Fostering a love for reading through fun, interactive events.
- Youth Mentorship: Empowering scholars through leadership development and service-learning projects.
- Support Networks: Connecting families to counseling, housing assistance, and more.
Key Data Points:
- “Scholars in our literacy programs demonstrate a 90% retention rate of reading comprehension over the summer—eliminating the typical 2-3 months of summer learning loss experienced by children in poverty.”
- “Our family engagement workshops have connected over 200 parents with critical resources such as housing assistance and mental health counseling in the past year.”