1. A Journey Through
Houston’s Youth Program for Enrichment
Summer 2010
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Read Aloud Guests
Testimonials
Summer 2011 Dates
Stay Connected
2. READ-A-LOUD Guests
A major part of Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools is guest readers
This year we had many distinguished guests and we salute them!
Saint-Aaronmoris Linda May
Houston Aeros “Chilly” Karrie Momie
Laura Bacon Loretta Rea
Crystal Beverly Jamie Randel
Carolyn DeVaughn Erica Rudgers
Shawn DeVaughn Amanda Semien
Courtney Fuller Katrina Spencer
Byron Hughes Kathy Theus
JT Jackson Damita Walton
Vicki Johnson Toni Walton
Andrea Jones Jan West
Carlton Land Tristan Williams
Cheryl Lawson Karell Williams
A Lesson About Jazz
This summer, the scholars learned a lesson about jazz from
brother-sister distinguished Read-A-Loud guests, Carolyn
DeVaughn and Carlton Land. They read about and played
different types of music from the The Jazz Man by Karen
Ehrhardt. The book highlighted various jazz musicians such
as Luciano Gonzalez and Dizzy Gillespie. The scholars were
excited with this presentation because they previously read a
book about the life of Dizzy written by Jonah Winter. Level 2
Scholar Matthew Mayberry said, “I like music and the story
about Dizzy inspired me not to give up”. Ebony Hollins from
Level 4 added, “I learned more about The Cotton Club. I didn’t know black people
were only allowed to perform and not observe in the club.” We love and appreciate
all our read aloud guests!
Quotes from Scholars
“My 12 year experience at H.Y.P.E. has inspired me to become
a better reader and be a leader and excel above the average.”
-John, 11th Grade
“My experience at H.Y.P.E. has helped me to embrace my
heritage and to be proud of who I am. H.Y.P.E. has also helped
me to believe in myself and know that I can achieve anything that I work hard at.”
– Brittany, 11th Grade
“My favorite field trip was the theatre. I liked the play Alice.” - Vishune, 1st Grade
“H.Y.P.E. made me read for fun and not when I need to. It introduced me to wonder-
ful people I love to be around.”-Chelsea, 7th Grade
“I was a doctor on Career Day. I want to be a doctor because they help people. I
want to attend Oklahoma University.”- Cameron, 3rd Grade
3. HOW H.Y.P.E. HAS INFLUENCED THE SCHOLARS
2010 marked our 12th summer of Freedom Schools! Each year has been filled with excite-
ment, reading and long lasting friendships. Participants, known as Scholars, are divided
into four levels. Every level reads books and learns lessons that encourage them to make a
difference in their self, family, community, country, and world with hope, education
and action. Here are just a few of the lessons.
Level 1 (K-2 Grade) Ms. Summer, Ms. Jamie and Ms. Danita
Levels 1 chose Carvin Winans’ Conrad Saves Pinger Park as
their favorite book this year. This is a book about recycling
and taught the scholars valuable lessons. So what does Level 1
want us to know? They enjoy their creative teachers espe-
cially Ms. Summer’s classroom theme - Peacemakers and the
class made a poster together that engages in their reading
curriculum.
The class said, “We love H.Y.P.E.
because it is so much different
than regular school. If we could
take anything back to school it would be our great interns.
H.Y.P.E. teaches us to be great students and it also teaches
us to love reading. We love H.Y.P.E.!”
Level 2 (3rd-5th Grade) Ms. Ashley and Mr. John
Our most enthusiastic Scholars are the Level 2 girls in
Ms. Ashley’s class. The girls want you to know that they “enjoy
H.Y.P.E. because we get to be as loud as we want to be. They ac-
tually encourage us to be H.Y.P.E. (energized). We also read lots
of books that relates to our lives and most of all we love making
lifelong friends.”
The Level 2 boys class has two students that have been involved for six years and three
students who were attending for the first time. The level 2 boys respect their teacher Mr.
John and they appreciate his support, his sense of humor and how
much he encourages them to work hard. Their favorite book is
Marvelous Martin by Vincent Alexandria because it teaches
them how to stand up to bullies by not being afraid of them.
Student, Walter White says “the book was fresh (interesting)!”
4. HOW H.Y.P.E. HAS INFLUENCED THE SCHOLARS
Level 3 (6th-8th Grade) Ms. Tatiana
Freedom Schools help prepare middle school and high school students for their futures
through socialization, college preparation and internships. Level 3, Ms. Tatiana’s class
says, “Freedom Schools taught us that we have the
power to make a difference! Our teachers at
H.Y.P.E. give us hope for a better future. They edu-
cate us through reading and encourage us to take
action. Because of H.Y.P.E. we know we can be
whatever we want to be and if we work hard we
will be where we want to be.” Both levels 3 and 4
activities included speaking with recruiters from Texas
A&M University, the University of Houston, and Rice
University.
Level 4 (9th-12th Grade) Ms. Crystal
In addition to their activities with Level 3, the Level 4 scholars served as Junior Servant
Leader Interns at Neighborhood Centers’ Harbach Ripley once a week. This opportunity
allowed the Scholars to made a difference in their com-
munity by sharing Freedom Schools activities and the
reading curriculum with new children. Ms. Crystal’s Level
4 class says, “H.Y.P.E. has provided us with the oppor-
tunity to be an intern and work with kids. The class
helped us develop as professionals and to gain self
confidence so that we can give back to the next gen-
eration”.
5. Thanks to the Houston’s Youth Program for Enrichment
Sponsors, Staff and Volunteers…
“We love you, we thank you and we appreciate you…”
2010 Sponsors Site Coordinator
Bert & Brandi Brown Quinton Jones
Christian Heights Community Care
Criss Cole Children’s Fund Servant Leader Interns
Donna Cole, Cole Chemical Sommer Anderson
Melita Hawkins Ashley Ethridge
Albert & Jenise Johnson John Kimble
Pisidia Missionary Baptist Church Crystal Momie
Ron Rea, PhD Tatiana Randle
The Simmons Foundation Danita Sims
Pam Steverson
Jane Taylor, BotShop Servant Leader Intern Assistants
Joyce Woods Shataurah Brown
Lucretia Dailey
Afternoon Activities Jaime Johnson
Jermaine Alexander, Kids2College Gena Martin
Byron Gautier, Project Alpha Dominique Mosely
Alpha Phi Alpha- Kirbey Theus
Delta Theta Chapter
Charles Henson, Volunteer Staff
Future Chefs Project Brandi Brown, Executive Director
Harris County Street Olympics Drucilla Bolden, Project Director
Vanessa Reed, Comerica Bank Sandra Turner
Volunteers Waymaker Life Strategies, Inc.
Gabriel Beverly Board of Directors
Lionel Coleman Toni Walton, Chair
Bernadette Davis Gretta McClain, Secretary
Alma Edwards Kelli King-Jackson
Bridget High
Albert Johnson III
Brownyn Lucas
Denise Mayberry
Eric Tate
Tristan Williams
6. SAVE THE DATE
H.Y.P.E. CDF Freedom Schools 2011
will be serving the
Sunnyside AND Alief communities
June 20—July 29, 2011
Make sure to keep in touch with us until then
by following us on Facebook @
www.facebook.com/hype.fs!
See you next summer.
To donate or get involved, contact us at:
(832) 443-8517 or donate online at
www.houstonfreedomschools.com
H.Y.P.E. CDF Freedom Schools is a project of Waymaker Life Strategies, Inc.