Be a Harambee Reader to Children this Summer

About six months ago I learned of a great nonprofit organization in Charlotte called Freedom School Partners. FSP helps children succeed in school and in life by offering educational enrichment programs, and it partners with numerous community organizations. Notably, it offers the Children Defense Fund's Freedom Schools summer programs to improve academic achievement, reduce dropout rates, and inspire the love of reading.

There's a way you can contribute by giving just a little bit of your time. Freedom School Partners is seeking members of the community to come read aloud at Harambee (Kiswahili for “Let’s Pull Together”). You'd help children in the summer programs start a day off right by being a Harambee Reader and sharing the gift of reading with them. All you have to do is volunteer 30 minutes of your time to read to a group of Freedom School scholars, ages five to 14 years old. The reading time is offered between Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:30-9 a.m., during the six-week program, June 18 to July 27. You only have to pick one time to come out--or more if you'd like. There are 25 locations around Charlotte to choose from, so you'll likely find one that's close to where you live or work.

FSP can provide you with a book or you can bring your own. You can also share a little about yourself, maybe talk about the work you do, tell them why reading is important and fun--anything to help motivate and inspire them.

The summer Freedom School locations are: Allenbrook Elementary, Ashley Park PreK-8 School, Avondale Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem Center at Winterfield Elementary, Billingsville Elementary, Bruns Academy, W.G. Byers School, Christ Lutheran Church, CN Jenkins Presbyterian Church, Druid Hills Academy, Eastover Elementary, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, The Grove, Highland Renaissance Academy, Johnson C. Smith University, Montclaire Elementary, Providence Day School, Quail Hollow Middle, Ranson Middle, Sedgefield Elementary, Seigle Point, Shalom Park, Statesville Elementary, Thomasboro Academy, and UNC Charlotte.

Click here to become a Harambee Reader. There you'll find a Google calendar where you can select a site and date to read. Then you'll need to email Kim Dickerson, Harambee coordinator, at kim@freedomschoolpartners.org with your selection to sign up.

I'm signing up and I hope you will too!