Camden Youth Gain New Skills and Celebrate “Harambee” at Freedom School Summer Program

On a bright, sunny summer morning on the campus of Rutgers–Camden, a group of young Camden City students gathered to begin their day, as they always do, as scholars in the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom School summer program: by eating a nutritious breakfast within the Campus Center’s dining hall and then walking to the Gordon Theater to celebrate Harambee.

The word Harambee is from the African language Swahili and means "all pull together" or "unite." In Kenya, the concept of Harambee is deeply ingrained in the culture, signifying collaboration and collective effort. For the students participating in Rutgers–Camden's CDF Freedom School summer program, it means gathering to celebrate another exciting day, beginning with the Freedom School chant.

“Freedom School, how you feeling? Fantastic! Terrific! Great! All day long! Whooaaah!" Students and school leaders alike clap their hands and raise their arms in joy and friendship.

Finding opportunities to nurture and support the emotional health of the young scholars is just one part of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom School curriculum, which is part of the larger Rutgers–Camden Schools Partnership Program (RU IGNITE).

Funded by a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant through the New Jersey Department of Education, the partnership serves more than 200 students in grades 3 through 8 with supportive supplemental programming and academic enrichment that extends beyond the school day. Additional funding for the CDF Freedom School program is provided by the New Jersey Office of Faith Based Initiatives.

Created in 1995, CDF Freedom Schools draw inspiration from the Mississippi Freedom Summer project of 1964, which brought college students from around the country to Mississippi to secure justice and voting rights for Black citizens while providing Black children and youth rich educational experiences that were not offered to them in Mississippi’s public schools.

The current-day program uses a research-based, multicultural curriculum to improve literacy, self-esteem, and socio-emotional skills while fostering a love of learning for all students participating in the IGNITE program. The program empowers young people to become independent thinkers, problem solvers, and agents of change in their communities. This is the first year RU IGNITE has been able to provide this experience for the children of Camden.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this kind of programming to the children of Camden,” said Michele Garcon, director of education partnerships in Rutgers–Camden’s Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement. “It is important to create educational pathways to increase the number of students from Camden who apply, enroll, and successfully complete post-secondary education, and this program helps the participating scholars understand they can achieve their dreams.”

In addition to their morning motivational meeting, Freedom School scholars participate in a rotation of classes that help to combat the “academic summer slump.” Rutgers–Camden Freedom School scholars also have been welcoming university leadership to read aloud and share their own academic journeys during morning Harambee meetings, including Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis, Provost Sandra Richtermeyer, and Senior Vice Chancellor Nyeema Watson.

“It’s an honor to welcome the leadership of Rutgers–Camden to our daily Harambee,” said Tinishia Bass, senior program administrator and project director with Rutgers–Camden’s Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement. Bass is responsible for managing the CDF Freedom School and the RU IGNITE program.

“Having the leadership of the university connect with the scholars on their level helps them realize that they belong in this environment,” Bass said. “The university community is pulling together with them in the spirit of Harambee as they plan for their future and a lifelong journey of learning and discovery.”