Description​​​​​​​​​​​

Educating for Freedom in Schools (EFIS) was birthed as a result of the Kalamazoo chapter of Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools© program. What started out, in 2008, as a commitment to serve children during the summer, has evolved into a not for profit, 501(c)3 organization eager to serve the needs of some of Kalamazoo County's most vulnerable populations through the integration of the core concepts of CDF Freedom Schools©. EFIS is proud to have had the opportunity to bring the CDF Freedom Schools® experience to 250, K-12 graders in Kalamazoo since its inception. As a newly formed, grassroots youth-development organization, EFIS relaunched the CDF Freedom Schools program in 2012 and currently provides summer and afterschool programming through the CDF Freedom Schools© model. In addition, the organization has future plans to incorporate culturally relevant mentoring, parenting and youth leadership, tutoring, and college preparatory services into its core services.