My visit to the Freedom School
Zeon, one of my former classmates from Howard University, contacted me almost a year ago inviting me to come read to the kids of the Freedom School in D.C., where he worked. “Living” in California and working to build Can’t Stay Put™ made it hard to find time to get back to D.C. Thankfully, I was able to collaborate with other HU alum on a couple of projects for CSP. It’s always a plus when you can squeeze all the value out of a trip. Plus, I was leaving for the People’s Choice trip from NYC, so I needed to be on the east coast soon anyway. I say all that to say, I figured it out and was finally able to accept the offer and make it happen.
I was asked to be a “Read Aloud” guest during Harambee. Harambee is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events. Harambee means “all pull together” in Swahili. So for almost an hour the kids are engaged in various activities that reinforced “pulling together.”
Because my friend only referred to the school as the “Freedom School,” I believed I was reading at an actual school. Then it dawned on me that it was the summer time and kids aren’t in school so that wouldn’t make any sense. I rode the metro to the D.C. Armory stop. I was getting all nostalgic reminiscing about going to Howard Homecoming’s step shows. (5 seconds for your college days. Good times.) Once I got off the stop, I realized that the Freedom School was a part of the D.C. General homeless shelter, the biggest shelter in the city. The Freedom School is a Children Defense Fund program that provides summer and after-school enrichment that helps children fall in love with reading, increases their self-esteem, and generates more positive attitudes toward learning.
I decided to bring my own book to read, well one of my nephews books. I chose An Awesome Book by Dallas Clayton. Thankfully, my sister short listed a few books to choose from. She knew I would like An Awesome Book because it’s based on the simple concept of dreaming, and dreaming big. And if you haven’t noticed, I’m alllll about following your dreams no matter how crazy they may sound to everyone else. Funny how the book applies to both kids and adults.
Harambee begins with 3 introduction songs that gets everyone’s blood flowing. After the 3rd song, I was introduced to the group and gave a little intro and went on to read my book. You never know if kids are going to be feeling you or not. But it was all good. They were very much into it. After I finished, they did a chant that prompted me to dance and gig. It was cool. I got my lil two step on. Afterwards, I participated in the other activities. Definitely had a good time. The energy of kids will always pick you up. 
Not until I did some research to write this post did I put two and two together and realized that this was the same shelter that Relisha Rudd went missing from back in February of this year. Relisha was last seen with the shelter’s janitor, after Relisha’s mom asked the janitor to take the girl home with him. I didn’t share this to cast a shadow on the shelter but to shed light on these kids’ reality. Despite the craziness these kids see and deal with on a daily, they were up doing the nae-nae, singing, and best of all, smiling. God continues to remind me to count my blessings. I am so happy I was able to visit, even if just to read and share stories about the places I’ve been. I hope to have taken their minds to a place of dreams and inspiration. Talk about God showing you why there is NEVER a time to complain. No matter how hard the journey gets!
Lo
