FREEDOM SCHOOL
We Read. We Lead. We Rise.
Inspire Life proudly launched our first Freedom School in Summer 2025, bringing this powerful program back to the Jersey Shore after many years. What we saw confirmed what we already believed. When young people are given access to the right environment, they grow.
We are excited to bring Freedom School back for Summer 2026 with six weeks of fun, learning, and reading at no cost to families. This year, camp will run from June 29th – August 7th, 8:30am to 3:00pm daily at Sister’s Academy in Asbury Park, NJ.
Freedom School serves youth entering 1st through 12th grade (approximately ages 6–18). This is not traditional school. This is a space of joy, connection, and belonging where young people build confidence, find their voice, and connect learning to who they are and who they can become.
Freedom School is rooted in the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and continues today as a national model designed to strengthen literacy, build identity, and develop leadership. It offers a lens that many students do not experience in traditional school settings. Scholars engage with books that reflect their identities, explore history in meaningful ways, and are encouraged to think critically about the world around them.
Our scholars engage in literacy through culturally relevant books, discussion, and hands-on experiences. They learn their history. They see themselves reflected. They begin to understand their role in shaping the world around them.
This work is led by our Servant Leader Interns (SLIs)—college students who share their love of academics with younger scholars. SLIs serve as near-peer mentors, building strong relationships and creating an environment where learning feels engaging, supportive, and real.
And we don’t stay in the classroom.
This summer includes field experiences to places like Kula Farm, Sandy Hook for ecology learning, the Princeton Art Museum, the beach, and other spaces that expand what young people see as possible.
As a certified Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School site, we use a model that is proven to work. At a time when reading proficiency rates remain low across our state, this work is not optional. It is necessary.
About Freedom School
Reading Is Power
At Freedom School, we know reading is more than a school skill—it’s a path to freedom.
Each day, our scholars read books that:
Reflect who they are
Share real stories about Black and Brown leaders, families, and kids
Build confidence, curiosity, and strong reading habits
In just one summer, many of our scholars improved their reading by one to two grade levels—the kind of growth that keeps them moving forward long after summer ends.
Learning Through Real Experiences
Freedom School goes beyond classroom walls.
This past year, our scholars:
Visited Princeton University, touring the campus and exploring artwork by Roberto Lugo at the university’s art museum
Took trips to the beach, local theaters, and nearby urban farm
Met with artists, leaders, and professionals from a variety of fields
Built trash art sculptures as part of a project on creativity, sustainability, and community pride—learning about the larger trash‑art mural installed this past October
Practiced conflict resolution and critical thinking through real‑world experiences
These trips and projects open minds, spark big ideas, and help scholars dream beyond limits.
Built by Community, for Community
Our Freedom School is more than a program—it’s a community movement built on love, learning, and pride.
We partner with families, teachers, artists, and local leaders to make sure every scholar is:
Safe and supported
Seen and heard
Ready to grow and lead
We don’t just stop summer learning loss—we build confidence, culture, and community strength.
Join the wait list
✨ Freedom School 2026 is currently full. ✨
This program fills quickly every year because families know the impact. We encourage you to join the waitlist. If any spots open, we will fill directly from that list.
