Executive Director of Freedom Schools VI Lisa Hassell-Forde (far right), along with Wean Farrell (center), senior policy advisor to Lt. Governor Osbert Potter, receive a $1,000 check from Lauren Thomas (left), director of marketing for SevenSeas Water on July 12, 2016 at the Ulla F. Muller Elementary School on St. Thomas.
The Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Virgin Islands Summer Program 2016 was launched at five territory public schools, namely Julius E. Sprauve School on St. John; Lockhart Elementary and Muller Elementary on St. Thomas; and Claude O. Markoe Elementary and Juanita Gardine Elementary on St. Croix. A total of 125 students are participating in the six-week pilot project, which serves students ages five to eight. Freedom Schools students are receiving a healthy breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, reading material and hands-on cultural education. It offers students an exciting approach to learning and reading.
Addelita Cancryn Principal Dr. Lisa Hassell-Forde is spearheading the project as executive director. She is overseeing a team conisisting of project directors, site coordinators and servant leaders. Freedom Schools is designed to improve literacy rates of elementary students through an integrated reading curriculum.
In May 2015, Lieutenant Governor Potter met Ms. Marion Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools organization. The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is a national non-profit organization tasked with increasing literacy rates among minority children. As a result of the meeting, Lieutenant Governor Potter sent members of his senior staff--Janelle Sarauw and Wean Farrell--to attend the 2015 national training, where they saw the benefit of CDF Freedom Schools being introduced in the Virgin Islands.
If you wish to give a donation to Freedom Schools VI, contact Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands at (340) 774-6031 or click here.
For more about the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools, check out this fun video!
