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Brenda H. Tapia CDF Freedom Schools

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Offices and Services

Davidson students serve as servant leader interns for Brenda H. Tapia CDF Freedom Schools.

The Freedom Schools program was developed by the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) and provides summer enrichment experiences for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The program fosters a love of reading, increased self-esteem, and positive attitudes towards learning.

Classes are held at the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson, and students receive two meals and a snack each day. Each year, six Davidson students receive training to serve as servant leader interns for the program, which is grounded in a model curriculum that includes five essential components:

  • High quality academic enrichment
  • Parent and family involvement
  • Civic engagement and social action
  • Intergenerational leadership development
  • Nutrition, health and mental health.

Through participation in the program, children learn the following:

  • Appreciation and knowledge of one's culture engender self-worth and the ability to live in community with others.
  • Learning communities offer a sense of safety, love, caring, and personal power needed for transformative education.
  • As citizens, children and adults have the power to make a difference in their communities.

Summer 2026 Details

Brenda H. Tapia CDF Freedom Schools is a six-week summer program. The program will tentatively run from Monday, June 15 - Friday, July 24* daily from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We are off on Thursday, June 18, and Friday, June 19 for Juneteenth, and Friday, July 3 for Independence Day. Scholars are expected to attend programming every week. Summer attendance will impact future invites back to the program. *Dates are subject to change.

We will accept 50 scholars (20:  Kinder - 2nd graders, 20: 3rd - 5th graders, and 10: 6th - 8th graders).

Learn more about Freedom School on the Children's Defense Fund website.

Application Process

Thank you for your interest in our program. In mid-winter, we will begin sharing the enrollment form for summer 2026 with returning families. We will open up the form for new families in March 2026. 

Thank you for considering our program for your scholar!