HYPE for Houston’s Youth
HYPE Freedom School, Inc. serves as the first and oldest sponsoring organization for the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools in Texas. The CDF Freedom Schools® program is the only six-week summer literacy and cultural enrichment program with a key focus on social justice. The CDF Freedom Schools model empowers scholars to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, country, and the world with hope, education, and action.
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.
Social Emotional Learning Growth in the CDF Freedom Schools Program
Children responded that CDF Freedom Schools helped them to
- Accurately assess their strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset”.
- Successfully regulate their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations
- Take the perspective of and empathize with others.
- Communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.
- Make constructive choices about personal behaviors and social interactions.