Our Programs
The Ujima Afterschool Enrichment Program
The Ujima Afterschool Program has been serving children and families in the community since 2003. The program was initially designed to support the children at Lewis Elementary School to enable them to reach and maintain grade-level reading and generally improve grades. Ujima has since expanded to include children from many schools private, charter, Catholic, public, and elementary to middle school.
The primary focus of the program is to help students complete homework, school projects and read at least 20 minutes a day which helps them reach their full academic potential. The children are picked by van from their school or the closest bus stop and dropped off at the program. Students are met by program staff and are served a light meal before getting started on homework.
Monday through Thursday are homework and reading days. Freedom Fridays are no homework days and the students engage in enrichment activities, such as dance, chess and drumming; and recreational activities. Services provided are:
- One on one and group tutoring
- Homework assistance
- Reading enrichment
- Nutritional meal
- Enrichment and recreational activities
The PSFLF Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools
The CDF Freedom School is an exciting, diverse, and dynamic summer reading program that teaches not the mechanics of reading but the love of reading and the excitement of learning.
The PSFLF CDF Freedom Schools started in 2013. The program, held in partnership with local congregations and community organizations, seeks to build strong, literate, and empowered children prepared to make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, nation and the world. By providing a high quality, culturally relevant curriculum rooted in the civil rights movement and enrichment activities for children who might otherwise not have access to books, the CDF Freedom Schools program helps curb summer learning loss and close achievement gaps. The program is led by college student role models who share their enthusiasm for learning.
Freedom Schools boosts student motivation to read, generates more positive attitudes toward learning, increases self-esteem and connects the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities. The instructional reading level of the children tested in our 2019 summer program demonstrated a 12 month increase on average. Most of the children (95.8%) maintained or gained in instructional reading level and did not experience summer learning loss.
The program is a servant leadership incubator for the college students and recent graduates who are interested in serving and making a difference. Training, coordinated by the CDF Freedom Schools national office, prepares the young adults to provide an enriching experience for the children they serve. The Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute promotes principles of servant leadership by fostering an understanding of the connection between effective programs and public policy, and the importance of community development, political advocacy, and coalition building. The strong ethic of service is evident across generations, as community leaders support these servant leaders while they teach and mentor the younger children.
Harambee Rites of Passage
The Harambee Experience is a Rites of Passage program for school aged boys in our community. Harambee is an African/Swahili word that means, “let’s pull together.” The objective of the program is to teach the boys skills to help them navigate through the issues they face on their journey to responsible manhood. The program is centered on Jesus Christ, the Principles of Kwanzaa, and Peter Spencer’s principles for building community. These principles will provide a foundation for the activities of enrichment and life skill development. Please email us for additional information as the program is dormant at this time.
SISTERS OF IMANI
The Sisters of Imani Girl’s Rites of Passage Program is a Christian based ministry that seeks to strengthen and enhance the spiritual, academic, cultural, and physical development of all girls, focusing on African American culture. Please email us for additional information as the program is dormant at this time.
HERITAGE HALLWAY MUSEUM
The Peter Spencer Heritage Hallway Museum is a permanent exhibit housed in the Historic Mother African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant (MAUFCMP) Church. The exhibit depicts the story of African Americans and highlights the integral role the Rev. Peter Spencer, MAUFCMP Church, and the August Quarterly played in religious freedom and the social development of Delaware and the nation. It consists of displays, artifacts, and an interactive tour experience.
Reading can rewrite the future. Do it now.
The program is a servant leadership incubator for the college students and recent graduates who are interested in serving and making a difference. Training, coordinated by the CDF Freedom Schools national office, prepares the young adults to provide an enriching experience for the children they serve. The Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute promotes principles of servant leadership by fostering an understanding of the connection between effective programs and public policy, and the importance of community development, political advocacy, and coalition building. The strong ethic of service is evident across generations, as community leaders support these servant leaders while they teach and mentor the younger children.
