Macon Magazine

10 2 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E . C O M J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 9 W hile the weeks of summer vacation can be an education wasteland for many children, an innovative literacy program entering its third year in Macon is changing those statistics for young readers. e Children's Defense Fund Freedom School is designed to enhance children's motivation to read and make them feel good about learning. I have had the great privilege of working as both an art instructor and assistant project director at Freedom School, and have seen first-hand the miracles that happen here. Rooted in the Mississippi Freedom Summer project of 1964, the Freedom School program is a six-week summer literacy and cultural enrichment program first developed in 1995 and designed to serve children and youth in grades K-12. By partnering with schools, faith- and community-based organizations, municipalities, colleges and universities, and juvenile detention facilities, Freedom School is offered to children and their families at no charge. In 2018, Freedom Schools in 87 cities in 28 states served 11,830 students. In Georgia, there are two Freedom Schools – one sponsored by Emmaus House in Atlanta (2019 will be its fifth year) and the other sponsored by Appleton Episcopal Ministries in Macon (2019 will be its third year). Both of these sponsors are ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. Appleton Episcopal Ministries Missioner Julie Groce saw the positive results of Atlanta's Freedom School, and approached Macon-Bibb School's Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Tanzy Kilcrease about bringing the Freedom School model to Macon to serve 50 students. "Here in Macon-Bibb, several elementary schools post third grade reading scores that are among the lowest in the state of Georgia," Groce said. "Freedom School addresses that shortcoming." Kilcrease requested that Appleton focus its efforts on serving rising first through third graders at Ingram-Pye, Riley and Southfield schools. Groce met with principals and reading coaches, and received positive interest in the program. To deliver Freedom School in Macon to 50 children at no charge, as the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) mandates, Appleton has assembled a network of funders and services to cover more than $90,000 in costs, or about $1,800 per student. at money covers the costs of buying the curriculum, books and staff training; hiring servant leader interns to deliver the reading program; covering transportation and travel costs to out-of-state CDF training sessions; paying teachers to develop and deliver afternoon enrichment activities; serving two meals and a snack to each child each day; hiring a school Freedom School: Empowering excellence in youth BY LISA PRITCHARD MAYFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA PRITCHARD MAYFIELD AND JULIE & PHILLIP GROCE

• Cover