Freedom Schools’ Day of Action: Louisville youth join national lobbying effort for children's health

On Wednesday, July 18, hundreds of local youth participating in the Children's Defense Fund's Freedom Schools' "Day of Action" program will do some lobbying outside the Louisville office of Congressman John Yarmouth and at a local Health Fair on behalf of a children's health care initiative before the U.S. Congress.

The youth have been attending two Louisville Freedom School sites this summer at the Presbyterian and St. George's community centers. On Wednesday, they are joining more than 120 Freedom School sites nationwide as part of this national health care campaign.The Freedom School is an award winning after-school and summer program that annually includes a Social Action Day to teach youth how to engage in social justice activities. It is organized to give the youth a voice and an opportunity to stand up to injustices in their community. This year, with Congress preparing to reconsider the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Freedom School participants will be lobbying their local elected officials for health care coverage for all children.
 

St. George's Community Center, adjoining St. George's Episcopal Church in western Louisville, is offering the Freedom School Program for the first time this summer to the youth from the Parkland-Duvall neighborhood. The free, five-week summer program for youth ages 6-17 years old sets high expectations in learning and helps young people get excited about learning and reading while boosting their self esteem. It also gives young people a platform to make a difference in their communities through social action. Highly trained college students and qualified teachers direct the two Louisville Freedom Schools.

For Social Action Day, held during the summer program's final week, 130 local youth will be found lobbying from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (EDT) July 18 outside the District Courthouse on Jefferson Street, where they will demonstrate "Harambee," a ritual of chanting and dancing (Harambee is Kiswahili for "Let's pull together"). They also will pass out hand bills and voter registration cards as well as present letters to Yarmuth's office.

Then, from 1 to 3 p.m., they will be at the Presbyterian Community Center, 731 S. Hancock St., to participate in a Health Fair in collaboration with the Harambee Nursing Clinic, Passport Insurance, and American Red Cross.