At Freedom School, our scholars are the passion behind what builds our community up. Their voices are a reminder of the impact and purpose behind our work. We’re excited to share a few of their stories with you.

 

Mariah, Mariella and Marcella Bernal, Level 2 Scholars

 

Meet Mariah, Mariella and Marcella! They are triplet Freedom School scholars who have been with us for the last four years. This summer, they’re attending our Pinewood site, and this spirited trio is excited to share their Freedom School story.

 

Freedom School offers scholars many opportunities during the summer, and Mariah, Mariella and Marcella are especially excited about making new friends and celebrating Jubilee. Harambee! is another favorite part of their day—especially getting hyped during the Red Hot chant!

 

As the summer program gets into full swing, the triplets are looking forward to exploring the city during field trips and experiencing the learning that comes from enrichment activities. They exemplify how the magic of Freedom School creates a space where friendships and academic skills can grow.

 

Mariella shares that Freedom School has helped her “not skip over words” and taught her how to use context clues. She also proudly explains that she’s gotten better at identifying the main idea of a text.

 

It becomes clear to our scholars that Freedom School is about more than just reading—it's about learning to love reading and using that knowledge wherever life takes them. Whether they grow up to be teachers or police officers—like Mariah aspires to be—the foundation starts here.

 

Their advice to fellow scholars? Don’t give up and keep reading! As Marcella puts it, “The more you read, the more you succeed.”

 

Victoria Roary, Level 3 Scholar

 

Meet Victoria! She is a Level 3 scholar at The Grove Freedom School site. At the start of each morning, Victoria looks forward to starting her day in “Harambee!” and singing her favorite cheers and chants.

 

Since being at Freedom School, Victoria has learned to step out of her comfort zone and to demonstrate kindness. She recommends “treating people how you want to be treated. It doesn’t feel nice when people talk down on me, so I wouldn’t talk down on anyone else.”

 

Victoria understands that even at a young age, she has a role in the community—to help others grow and to make a meaningful impact on her younger peers. She encourages younger scholars to keep showing up every day, even when things get hard. “It’s important to get your education because it'll lead you to higher places later in life.” And we’re sure Victoria will reach higher places in her future! After graduating college, she hopes to become a real estate agent or a social worker.  

 

To find out more about Freedom School Partners and how you can get involved please visit freedomschoolpartners.org.