Empowering Young Minds, Uplifting Our Community
Welcome To Kalamazoo Freedom School Of Design
The Kalamazoo Freedom School is a dynamic six-week summer enrichment program centered on the values of love, learning, and liberation. The program runs from June 15th to July 24th, 2026. Operating Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and welcomes youth and families dedicated to justice, education, and the collective empowerment of our community.
What Sets Us Apart
Cross Cultural Exploration And Heritage Based Learning
Books and lessons that reflect our children’s lives.
Voice & Leadership
We help kids speak up and lead with confidence.
Fun Afternoon Activities
Nutritious meals, fun activities, and field trips.
100% Barrier Free Program
No cost for families — just care, growth, and community.
About Us
Founded in the spirit of learning, collaboration, and community uplift, the Kalamazoo Freedom School is part of a nationwide tradition of Freedom Schools dedicated to nurturing young minds and fostering equitable education.
We guide youth to explore their world with curiosity, engage with big questions, and imagine bold, positive futures. Through our Project-Based Learning and Community-Integrated Education framework, students develop skills, creativity, and confidence across STEAM, Visual and Performing Arts, Human Rights Advocacy, and Urban Agriculture & Sustainable Food Systems, supported through our partnership with Michigan State University 4-H.
Founded in the Spirit of liberation—empowering youth to envision, create, and transform.
The Kalamazoo Freedom School of Design, founded in 2008, builds on the rich legacy of the National Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools model. We are committed to creating opportunities, fostering community, and nurturing lifelong learning. Every young person deserves access to educational experiences that celebrate their strengths, amplify their voices, and unlock their fullest potential.
We equip youth with the skills, confidence, and support to navigate an ever-changing world, explore big ideas, build meaningful relationships, and imagine bold futures for themselves and their communities.
What We Offer
Culturally Relevant & Joyful Learning
We design learning experiences that celebrate students’ identities and cultures, turning curiosity and creativity into meaningful action and joyful discovery.
Daily Affirmations & Community Building
We design daily practices that ground students in belonging, care, and confidence while strengthening community connections. Through collaborative projects rooted in critical thinking and empathy, students see their learning come to life in real ways—addressing needs, uplifting voices, and creating meaningful impact in their neighborhoods.
Books That Reflect Our Children’s Lives
We curate reading experiences that mirror students’ identities and experiences, inspiring reflection, curiosity, and action. Through weekly themes—I can make a difference in myself, my family, my community, my country, and my world, with hope, education and action—
students engage with stories as design tools, connecting ideas to real-life challenges, imagining solutions, and translating learning into hopeful, meaningful action.
Healthy Meals & Enrichment Activities
We provide nourishing meals and engaging enrichment experiences that support the whole child—body, mind, and spirit. Through hands-on activities, creative exploration, and wellness-focused learning, students develop healthy habits, strengthen focus, and connect what they learn to their lives and communities.
Freedom Schools Are Not Just Academic
Freedom Schools are not just academic — they are transformative. Our curriculum centers on literacy, identity, empowerment, and civic engagement, helping young people discover the power of their own voices.
We welcome K-12 scholars and are led by a team of dedicated servant leader interns, community members, and youth advocates who are passionate about educational justice.
Schedule & Dates
Daily Schedule
Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Program Dates
June 15th – July 24th, 2026