Skip to main content

Grantee Spotlight: Youth

Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative grows, nurtures literacy and self-esteem

The moment one steps into a Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative site, they can feel the positive energy flowing.

From the thoughtfully curated book lists to the ways staff interact with all of the scholars to the careful attention paid to the community members who are engaged in the programming – all of it intertwines to form their unique and characteristic style of nurturing Flint youth.

“There’s just a focus and an intentionality and a creativity that just exudes from every part of what we do,” said Ryan Beuthin, operations director and parent. “We call it the ‘Freedom School Way,’ but it’s just something we work on every day in every part of what we do.”

Since 2015, the Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative has provided culturally relevant literacy-focused programming outside of school hours for youth in grades K-12. In that time, the program has grown considerably and evolved from a six-week summer program based exclusively at one site (Bethel United Methodist Church) to a year-round operation now housed across three locations (Bethel, Hope United Methodist Church, and Calvary United Methodist Church).

Even with the expansion, the Flint Freedom Schools program has consistently had a waiting list, an indication that it’s highly valued by families. Through its innovative curriculum, the program works to promote equitable learning opportunities, foster positive self-esteem and end racial disparities in educational outcomes.

The Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative is much more than a program provider – their intention is to be a community hub of mutually beneficial learning, capacity building and relationship building.

“Everyone has superpowers but really what makes us special is this rare commitment to authentic collaboration and listening. We’re not a silo; we’re collaborative and here to fill the gaps,” said Executive Director Ashnee Dunning. “It’s also about people – how we treat our team members, our families, our scholars, and our partners.”

The summer program is based on the national CDF Freedom Schools® model of providing summer and afterschool enrichment through research-based and multicultural programming. Dunning is an experienced national trainer for Freedom Schools and her team has grown the local Collaborative with new elements that are unique to Flint, drawing from feedback from parents, staff, participants, and partners.

One of those elements is the Talent Development Initiative (TDI), an intentional focus on intergenerational mentorship and talent development that has sharpened under Dunning’s leadership. It’s not uncommon for scholars to become interns and for interns to become learning facilitators who go on to be site coordinators, site assistants, project directors, and beyond.

“Everyone has superpowers but really what makes us special is this rare commitment to authentic collaboration and listening. We’re not a silo; we’re collaborative and here to fill the gaps.”

— ASHNEE DUNNING

Program Director Marquetta Hall is a shining example of that focus. After being recruited while studying at University of Michigan-Flint, she matriculated through a variety of positions and is now part of the leadership team. She recalls having the drive early on to become a classroom teacher but it wasn’t until she joined the Freedom Schools team that she learned on the job how to cultivate a safe and engaging experience in which students could thrive and learn.

“They saw the promise in me. They created the avenue for me and I was being mentored and coached with love through the process,” she said. “Now I’m training people in order to replace me… We give the talent 200% knowing they’re going to give the kids 100%.”

In addition to the Talent Development Initiative, another new element is Family Informed Year-Round Support. Staff realized the intensive six-week summer program wasn’t enough to satisfy their goals. In order to bolster parent and family engagement throughout the school year, they now hold biweekly or monthly check-ins. Staff update parents on what they’re working on and ask for input on things like field trips. Parents are invited to bring their connections and resources to the table. If families need resources such as a tutor or referral, staff make those connections.

“We ask the community what they want and we actually listen,” Dunning said.

The Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative keeps a strong pulse on what partnerships and collaborations will best support the success of scholars in the classroom and the community. And in doing so, staff willingly share their lessons learned and practices to support other partners in strengthening their program design infrastructure.

As for the Flint Freedom Schools program, a typical week is action-packed and invigorating. In the first week of school in June, for example, students worked with Bangtown Studio on the Go music production program and a local program exploring science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. They also did art with an established artist and visited the Charles H. Wright Museum for an interactive tour that highlighted Black history.

The national CDF program model supports K-12 students and their families holistically through five essential components: high-quality academic and character-building enrichment; parent and family involvement; civic engagement and social action; intergenerational servant leadership development; and nutrition, health and mental health.

By providing scholars with “rich, culturally relevant pedagogy and high quality books that deepen scholars’ understanding of themselves and all they have in common with others in a multiracial, multicultural democratic society, CDF Freedom Schools programs further empowers scholars to believe in their ability and responsibility to make a difference while instilling in them a love of reading to help them avoid summer learning loss,” reads the website for the national program.

Since 2019, the Ruth Mott Foundation has provided $275,000 for the Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative, including the most recent multi-year grant that will help support the program into 2025.

Dunning highlights two key elements that have enabled the Collaborative to grow: data and vision. In the data arena, they track reading proficiency, self-esteem and scholastic improvement, and civic engagement. The organization takes a multi-stakeholder approach to learning and evaluation and collects additional data and insights from families, team members, vendors and partners.

Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative has consistently reported higher reading and literacy outcomes compared to national figures across all Freedom school sites, with most participants reporting that they maintained or improved their reading proficiency without experiencing summer reading loss. Other outcomes achieved include more parent/caregiver involvement as well as more youth showing improved global self-worth, scholastic competence, and behavioral conduct (as measured by a survey).

The Flint Freedom Schools’ successful track record of strong outcomes, its intentional emphasis on racial equity, and effective family engagement are strong draws for local families. Many students return year after year.

“The amazing staff has helped prepare (my son) for the work ahead,” one Flint Freedom Schools father said in a video testimonial posted on the Flint Freedom Schools website. “We will definitely be back.”

For more on the Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative, visit their website or follow their Facebook page.

A searchable list of all of our north Flint grantmaking can be found at https://www.ruthmottfoundation.org/grants/.