Stemming summer learning loss at Youngstown Freedom School

YOUNGSTOWN — While many of their classmates spent their summers watching television and playing video games, 52 scholars at Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School at Tabernacle Baptist Church aimed at reading.

“It’s about stopping the loss of learning in the summer months,” said Lois Thornton, project director. “That’s the focus.”

Students in second through sixth grades, called scholars, spent six weeks in the program reading and then discussing, writing, performing skits and acting out what they’d read. They also learn and practice songs and chants of encouragement, self confidence and improvement and take field trips.

Today marked the final event for this year’s school where parents, city and elected officials got to see some of what the school does in action.

Allan Irizarry-Graves, the site coordinator, said that besides reading, the program offers a civic-engagement piece.

This year’s civic engagement was about child poverty.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com